New Epipen Guidance

[harverina]

Hi all,

Some of you may be away that BSACI has recently advised that people who are prescribed epipens only need to carry one at any time. This advice goes against the guidance provided by NICE and the AC, among others.

A petition has been started by a fellow member of the allergy community who has worked tirelessly to have our voices heard.

Can you please take the time to read and sign? It only takes a minute and could have a huge impact on the recommendations being reviewed.

Thanks in advance for your support with this.

https://www.change.org/p/this-petition-supports-the-carrytwo-campaign-we-ask-the-bsaci-to-reverse-its-recommendation-of-one-auto-injector-pen-back-to-two?recruiter=75048423&utmsource=shareepetition&utmmedium=copylink

[harverina]

Bumping for traffic

[harverina]

Bumping

[Smutlybobs]

Done!

[dingit]

My Dd has problems with getting them on prescription. Her gp will only prescribe two, and she is supposed to keep one at school. At one point her guide leader wanted one too! There should be a campaign for them to be kept a bit like defibrillators.

[AveEldon]

Signed
Do you think this relates to the price hike by the manufacturers?

[Penfold007]

Signed. My consultant says I must carry to pens and my GP agrees

[Snowjive]

Signed

[harverina]

It shouldn't be affected by the price hike no as that hasn't impacted the UK. It's costs roughly £28 per epipen so compared to other medicines they are low cost. And not a huge drain on the NHS at all.

The petition is doing amazingly well. Thanks to those who signed - please share in social media too!

[chocomochi]

Thanks. I've signed.

Our consultant agrees we need four pens (two for schools and two for home), but one particular GP gets all huffy when we go for a repeat prescription when they expire.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

I didn't know about this at all! Fortunately in ds's care plan from Guys it states he needs 4,2 at home and 2 at school. The number of times I've had to show the GP the care plan to get the correct number is ridiculous.

Oddly they've now been put on repeat prescription and we can get as many as we like , this is after years of battling with the surgery

We have them in every bag now

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

By ' repeat'i mean I can just request them at the pharmacy.

[Bugsylugs]

Harverina £28 is expensive however should have 2 on the person at all times, in a locked cupboard in the teachers office is no good etc massive bugbear of mine re schools also shelf life of epipens are really short. There is a new pen out easier to use if not had training, longer shelf life correct dose for adults and cheaper.

I agree if schools won't allow children to carry pens then there should be a generic stash for school

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Is the new pen called a Jettix or something?

[Bugsylugs]

Emerade is the one I know of hadn't looked at jext. Emerade also comes in a 500mcg. Jext same as epipen 150 and 300mcg

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

I was told by the GP ( the one GP that I saw that was actually helpful) " not to be fobbed off with anyone trying to prescribe the Jettix as it isn't as good as a normal epi pen"

I just wondered if you knew what the difference is.

[palanca]

Thanks

[canteatcustard]

there are 3 auto injectors available on the NHS.
one is epi pen
one is jext
one is emerade.

The jext and epi pen are very similar , you remove the cap and press to thigh for 10 seconds.
the emerade remove one cap, but hold for 5 seconds.

All are easy to use and emerade has the full adult dose. One is not better than the other, apart from what I see as the benefit of 5 second delivery.
We have used all 3 auto injectors, and we saw the benefit of the shorter deliver of emerade.

[alontiensmjhbw5]

we use epipens at the moment, though have trainer devices for epi, emerade and jext. always good to be prepared.

[harverina]

We carry epipens. Our GP did change us to next a while back but our consultant asked them to change it back - she felt more people were familiar with epipens. I think that is changing though and emirades are becoming increasingly "popular".

Regardless of which one you are prescribed the most important thing is to make sure you and anyone else knows how to administer and also to #carrytwo.

Thanks everyone for signing. Please share on Facebook and twitter and share any photos as well with #wheredoyoucarrytwo.

[harverina]

Jext not next! Sorry for so many typos!