More than just an allergist, Dr. Lieberman has been a passionate advocate for allergy safety across Texas. He’s spent years advocating at the Capitol, helping pass legislation to equip schools with emergency epinephrine. “Food allergies are a huge public health problem,” he says. “Anytime there’s an opportunity to educate and keep people safe, I’m in.”
For decades, injectable devices like the EpiPen have been the only option. However, that may soon change thanks to a new, needle-free epinephrine device called Neffy.
Dr. Allen Lieberman of Austin Family Allergy & Asthma shares his insights on Neffy, the latest nasal spray epinephrine gaining traction for its ease of use, longer shelf life, and potential to save more lives.
What Is Neffy and How Does It Work?
“Neffy is a nasal epinephrine device,” Dr. Lieberman explains. “Epinephrine is used for people who have an allergic reaction, like it’s a peanut allergy or people allergic to fire ants. Typically, it’s only been available in the injectable form. So we’re excited to have it now available in a nasal form.”
He adds, “It’s kind of like Narcan. So, we feel the real advantage of this is that it’s a nasal spray instead of a shot. People know how to use it because of all the emergency care with Narcan, which is used for opioid overdoses.”
Why Is Neffy a “Game-Changer”?
Imagine you’re a school nurse in a high-stress situation where you need to save a child’s life. However, you’re struggling to administer the medication because it’s a needle, and the child is scared of needles. Every second is precious when it comes to an allergic reaction. It’s much easier to give kids a nasal spray than a shot. Even if you’re not afraid of needles, shots still aren’t pleasant to receive. On the other hand, administering a shot in a high-stress situation can be intimidating, especially if you’re not a medical professional but just a bystander. A nasal spray makes the process faster, simpler, and far less stressful.
Dr. Lieberman believes the delivery method could lead to faster intervention in emergencies. He said, “We feel it’d be more likely to be used earlier because it’s administered nasally. Allergic reactions can get worse if they’re not treated promptly. So if you wait 10 or 15 minutes because you’re fighting over a shot, you lose valuable time. Hopefully, this will result in earlier administration and better outcomes.”
How Does Neffy Compare to an EpiPen?
EpiPens and Neffy perform the same when it comes to stopping allergic reactions. However, Neffy shines in other areas. He remarked, “It does have a longer shelf life where EpiPens, which typically expire within a year. These have a longer shelf life because over 90 percent of the Epi devices go unused.”
Another benefit of Neffy is that it can survive better in the heat, which is excellent for Texans. Dr. Lieberman explained, “Neffy has better stability than traditional Epi injectors. You can’t leave them in your car during the summer. If you’re a camper or a golfer, you go to the beach and worry about heat exposure. Neffy doesn’t have those issues.”
A Push for Legislative Change
Dr. Lieberman’s advocacy extends to Texas policy, too. He’s actively working to update school epinephrine laws with SB 1619. The primary aim of SB 1619 is to amend the language of the previous bill to change “epinephrine injections” to “epinephrine devices.” This seemingly simple change is vital to ensure that schools and public spaces can utilize nasal epinephrine sprays to treat allergic reactions.
He stated, “There’s just no opposition to it because it doesn’t cost anything. It’s not a mandate.
So school districts won’t have to spend more. It just cleans up the verbiage to make this available, and I know the nurses in the school districts would love to have that.”
The Future of Neffy in Schools and Public Spaces
Dr. Lieberman believes wider access to Neffy could significantly impact public health. Having Neffy in locations like daycares, restaurants (where food allergy training is already being implemented), and even potentially airplanes could provide crucial immediate treatment in emergencies. He said, “The more places we can have it available, the more advantageous it will be. It’s definitely lifesaving.”
According to Dr. Lieberman, one of the most exciting developments is the expanded access for younger kids. Neffy has been approved for use in children weighing 33 pounds and over. Initially available for those 60 pounds and over, Neffy may soon be accessible for smaller children. While it still requires a prescription, its availability in pharmacies for this younger age range is a big step toward making epinephrine therapy more accessible. The smaller size of the Neffy device also makes it easier to carry.
Neffy: Nasal Epinephrine in Austin
If you or a loved one feels that nasal epinephrine would be a good fit, schedule an appointment with a provider today. Dr. Lieberman can talk you through allergy safety while at school or in public settings and help you feel safe when dealing with allergies. Call (512) 346-7936 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Lieberman at our Domain location in Austin, TX. However, any allergy provider can help you explore nasal epinephrine to see if it’s a good fit for your life.
