Auvi-Q Epinephrine Injector

by Kelley Lindberg


There’s a new sheriff in Allergy Town.  He’s packing epinephrine, and he’s not afraid to talk about it.

And that’s what makes him cool.

Auvi-Q is a new epinephrine auto-injector from Sanofi. It’s about the size and shape of a smartphone (so it can slide easily into a pocket), but what really sets it apart is that fact that it has a voice. It will literally talk you through the process of administering the epinephrine. When you take it out of its plastic case, the voice guide automatically begins to tell you what to do (remove the red plastic guard, place against outer thigh, press and hold for 5 seconds).

The Auvi-Q also has visual cues, like lights that point you in the right direction and let you know when the injection is finished. And the instructions are also printed on the case, for people who are hearing impaired or if you’re somewhere too noisy to hear the audio instructions, like a night club or concert.

The FDA approved the Auvi-Q in August 2012, and it’s now available in U.S. retail pharmacies across the country. You need a valid prescription from your healthcare provider to obtain one. They are sold 2 to a package, and each pair comes with a non-active demo unit that you can use to practice with or train other caregivers with. The Auvi-Q also comes in 2 dosages: 0.15mg for patients who weigh 33 – 66 pounds, and the adult version of 0.3mg for people who weigh 66 pounds or more. It hasn’t been studied in children smaller than 33 pounds.

Check out the Avui-Q website for more information about Auvi-Q, and be sure to watch the Auvi-Q demo video. While you’re there, you can also sign up for their Let’s Talk Auvi-Q Support Program, which includes savings offers that they say will make it so that “most patients will pay no more than $25 for an Auvi-Q prescription.”

Here is a link to the Sanofi press release describing Auvi-Q.

I haven’t seen one in person yet, so leave a comment if you have one and what you think about it.

And I welcome this new sheriff to town. We can never have too many good guys on our side in the battle against food allergies.