UPDATED: Epinephrine Auto-Injector Recall

Updated: An original article implied a different maker of the epinephrine injectors. Patch regrets the error.

By Alexander Nguyen (Patch Staff)

A French drug maker is issuing a recall for all its epinephrine auto-injectors, under the brand Auvi-Q because it may deliver the wrong dosage.

There have been about 26 cases of suspected device malfunctions in the US and Canada, according to the Food and Drug Administration’s recall notice.

Sanofi SA, the maker of the epinephrine auto-injectors, is recalling about 490,000 packs of the devices in the U.S. Sanofi is the parent company of Genzyme.

If someone was experiencing a serious allergic reaction and did not receive the correct dose, there could have significant health consequences, including death, according to the FDA.

Consumers should only use Auvi-Q during an emergency if no other devices are available, the FDA said.

In these reports, patients have described symptoms of the underlying hypersensitivity reaction, according to the FDA. There have been no deaths associated with the reported cases.

Auvi-Q is packaged with two active devices and one trainer device in a corrugate box, and was distributed throughout the United States through wholesalers, pharmacies and hospitals.

Anyone using Auvi-Q should stop immediately and contact their health providers for a prescription for a different epinephrine injector.