Mumsnet Talk

at the seminar hosted by Action against allergy one of the attendees [not sure if on MN or not] pointed out that most GPs do not look at requests for repeat prescriptions very carefully so they requested further Epipens.

I have just tried this and it worked so we are now proud "owners" of 4! hurrah!

didn't realise some people weren't allowed more than 2.
So did you have to keep taking it to school and back all the time?

Oooh, good ploy babybarrister.

We wanted 6 (us, nursery & cminder) but settled at 4 after discussions with GP who only wanted to give us 2. I might just try your trick...

sadly I cannot really take the credit ....!

Had same problem and got 6 in the end after really pushing! (nursery, grandma and home) Bue was then explained that the policy in Barnet/London was that the child should have his epipen with him, all the time, obviosuly mine is 3 so cannot do it yet but it sort of made sense, the GD (very very good one)...said that "child and epipen must always be together". At nursery they keep the epipens/piriton in a cupboard in the teachers room (a little area inside the classroom) but there are times when they go to the back playground, or they had the fire alarm two days ago and everyone was out for an hour...obviously epipens stayed in, now, what if there was a bee? or a biscuit around? I know it is very unlikely and such bad luck for all of that to happen together...I am looking forward to my child being a bit older and being able to carry a brilliant funky very boyish belt I saw in America with one epipen in it, never to be forgotten.

also take this chance to ask you: I was always told epipens had a 6 month expiry date, but 5 od the ones I was given should last for over a year (June to september 2010) is this normal? Might have to conatct the provider and reconfirm...second thing, how do you look after it in very warm weather? We are going on holidays at xmas to hot weather...I do keep them in one of those medical kit bags that keep them cool, but is that enough? anyone travelled to hot weather with epis?

I was told that the Epipens were light sensitive rather than heat sensitive. They should always be kept in the yellow tubes. Although we were told not to expose them to severe heat they would be ok with ambient heat ie. kept in the shade on holidays.
With the Use by Dates; they are manufactured with a yearly expiry date but sometimes you can be unlucky and get one from the pharmacy that doesn't have long left on it. Very annoying!
Have you seen the packs here;
www.alwaysreadthelabel.info

Thanks tinitalker.

I was told not to explose them to over 25 degrees (and never ever in the fridge), and away from the sun as well as you said...
I'll keep them in the shade and in their bag.
Will I be allowed to travel with all 6 on the plane? I have a letter from GP explaining...

Should be fine. Take a repeat prescription as well as the letter. Airlines are very blase about Epipens.

One thing that helped me was a tip to keep them in a thermos flask for our emergency pack in the car! This really helped when we first started to carry the epi-pen and I was worried we'd forget them.
You can also ask your chemist to make sure your pens have a long life when handing in your prescription.
And, I think the pens discolour if they've been effected by light/heat? Sound right to anyone else?

I've never had a problem taking epi-pens on planes; getting them to feed my child on a plane is a totally different matter though!!!

My charge has two in makeup bag with small pots of her creams and pition this we take with us in a hand bag. i usually keep in my bag all week Two at nursery ,two in her bedroom and two in the change bag.
Never had a probelm getting more from the GP however the chemist finds it hard to get hold of them at certain times of year