Can anyone advise on the Epipen supply shortage and alternatives

[Sophiesdog11]

DS is 20, always known he had an allergy to nuts but first proper reaction was 18mths ago, on a meal out at uni. He took Piriton and was ok. Got tested at GP (I think it is tree nuts and peanuts he is allergic to but cant remember exactly) but wasn't prescribed Epipen at that point.

Nothing since, until a couple of weeks ago, but he is obviously careful what he eats.

Got a years placement, bought a sandwich from canteen when in a meeting (normally takes own lunch), apparently he should have asked whether it was nut free but there were no signs up to that effect!! Anyway, he had a reaction in terms of face swelling a little and going really red. Antihistamine took the reaction down eventually but he went initially to OOH and then GP, who prescribed an Epipen and a more thorough allergy test.

He has tried to cash prescription and it seems that there is a major Epipen shortage in England. He has tried a no of pharmacies in his area (South coast) and also rang one near us in Cheshire. Most just said there is no stock and they cant get any. The one who he gave his prescription into is going to try their supplier again tomorrow, but it doesn't look promising.

So - does anyone know of any pharmacy within striking distance of south coast or Cheshire that may be able to source an Epipen? Or should he go back to GP and ask for an alternative to Epipen - I think they are Jest and Emerade. If so, are they readily available ?

I am trying not to panic, as I know he has only ever had two reactions, neither life threatening, but....I will feel happier when he is carrying an Epipen or equivalent.

Emerade is available,some places have supply issued with Jext. If your chemist emails a copy of prescription and order to manufacturer of epipen or the wholesaler alliance’s emergency order section they have been sending stock in

He needs to go back to the GP and ask for an alternative prescription

Our local doctors are issuing alternatives to epipen.

I think the brand names are jext and emerade. You will need a new prescription.

Dd was moved to Jext a while ago because of problems with epi-pen. We've always managed to get one from the bigger pharmacies (most recently 2 weeks ago) but the dates on them are never very long.
Jext are identical in style and the way they are used, although touch wood, we've never had to use one.

Thanks for the responses

I will pass on your advise, Shiraz, regarding the chemist emailing the wholesaler or manufacturer, but it looks like he will have to go back to GP.

What I cant understand is, why did GP prescribe epipen in first place? The shortage is well known it seems, so surely GPs should be aware and prescribe alternatives?

I had to search all over for Ds too, finally found a pharmacist who said he had to fax the prescription over to the supplier and then call and tell them about Ds's allergy (pertty severe, no cut and dried trigger and was blue lighted to A&E) He was going on a foreign holiday and needed to take one with him just in case seeing he didn't speak the language much. They deemed him worthy and sent him a twin pack. Just kep talking to pharmcists and ask everywhere if they can ask the suppliers.

Gosh, that sounds a nightmare Troels. Fortunately he isn't that bad, though OOH told him he could get worse with every reaction, but with 18mo between the only two he has had, I have to hope there wont be another until he sorts out a pen of some sort.

We too have hols coming up, but they are to Ireland mid-Sept and then NY later in year, both English speaking and he will be with us. And he was fine on a 3 wk US hol last summer.

I think he will try ringing some more pharmacies tomorrow, but also contact the surgery to look at getting an alternative, which will probably be the easiest and quickest solution.