American Home Recalls Allergy Emergency Kits

American Home Products Corp. on Tuesday recalled more than 500,000 emergency injection kits for treating severe allergic reactions and asthma attacks because the drug may not work.

The kits are routinely carried by people who are prone to acute asthma attacks or have deadly allergies to certain foods or bee stings. Users inject themselves with epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, to counter the reaction.

AHP’s Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories unit, which makes the epinephrine, said that routine tests found that the drug was not as potent as it was supposed to be.

The recall is the latest setback for American Home, which faces legal problems over its diet drugs and Norplant contraceptive device.

The recall involves three kits: the Insect-Sting Treatment Kit packaged and distributed by Derm/ Buro Inc., and the Hollister Stier-Ana-Kit and Ana-Guard, both packaged and distributed by Bayer Corp. All are sold by prescription.

Consumers should contact their pharmacists or health-care providers to determine whether their kit is being recalled or call Wyeth-Ayerst at (800) 999-9384.

People who are prone to allergic reactions can suffer anaphylactic shock, in which swelling of the airways can cut off breathing and the heart can stop. The hormone epinephrine is used to increase blood flow and restore breathing.

Shares of Madison, N.J.-based American Home , down more 40% this year, fell 50 cents to close at $41.50 on the New York Stock Exchange.