Naloxone users are being urged to check their kits after a manufacturer issued a warning surrounding missing needles.
Kits should include two needles, but some by the brand Prenoxad have been found to have only one or none.
NHS Grampian has said the issue hasn’t been reported in the UK yet, but is advising users to check anyway.
To do this, they should not break the seal on the kits, instead checking them by holding them up to a light source.
John Mooney, consultant in public health, said: “I must stress to any kit owners that they should not break the seal on their kit. You can check whether your kit has two needles by holding it up to a light source.
“You should see two dark patches – the wrapping of the needles inside. If you can only see one dark patch or none then you should return your naloxone kit to any naloxone supplier, tell them that you are returning it as it does not contain two needles, and ask for a new kit.”
Safe to use
Naloxone is an emergency medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
Most pharmacies across the Grampian region supply it for free and you do not have to be a healthcare professional to use it.
When checking the kit is complete, users can also take the opportunity to check it isn’t out of date.
Mr Mooney said there are no concerns about the safety of the medication despite the current issue and that it affects a small number of kits.
For anyone concerned, the numbers of the affected batches can be found here.
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