Epi pen expiry dates

[anotherdayanothersquabble]

Probably been covered before but what have you been advised about epi pen expiry dates, which are now shorter than before. One consultant advised that it was ok to use epi pens that had passed their expiry date but I didn't clarify how long. I have just realised that DS's have expired. Of course the GP can write another prescription but wondered what others do? Get a new prescription every year for home and school?

We only went a little over once when there was a shortage and was advised they were still o.k. and usable but they lose a little percentage of effectiveness each month over the expiry. We always get new ones before they expiry in general.

Don't feel you have to use them past the expiry because of the consultant saying that though. Put it this way, you want them to give the best effectiveness if your ds were to have anaphylactic reaction. But if ever you accidently go over the expiry atleast you know it is usable.
We had over a years date on our Epipens when we got them last but I do find it annoying sometimes as smaller chemists seem to give older stock that has been sat on their shelves for a while. Best going somewhere larger where the stock is been regularly used and replaced to get the best dates. .

I've had to carry adrenaline for years, literally had a little Tupperware box with syringe, needle and tiny glass ampules!! Epi-pens are so much easier but over the years the use by dates have varied from six months to a year. My local pharmacy is really good about ordering in nice new ones with long dates for me. My GP and the consultant have made it very clear I shouldn't use out of date, cloudy or ones that have got very hot and have always given me a prescription to replace my pens. I keep them in my handbag and in my desk draw seems to work for me. When I went away somewhere very hot my GP told me to refrigerate them but replace them when I got home.

As I'm an adult a prescription season ticket is my best friend.

Thanks for the unanimous response!! I must put a reminder in my diary to get a repeat prescription!!

Sorry to hijack this thread, but is anyone finding it difficult to get hold of the epipens? It seems to be out of stock everywhere and have only got one for my dd.

We have so many epipens - two for home two for school two at friends house who looks after her & one at my mums.
I give the out of date ones to my friend who runs first aid courses & he uses them to display model to his class.
Sometimes they do have a shortage on them but it rectifies itself pretty quickly