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Original poster

Epipens: How do you get rid of them?

34 replies

desperatehouswife · 02/06/2008 14:41

I have some out of date epipens that I can't seem to get rid of. Two chemists have told me they can't take them and I should give them to my GP. But I think when I tried this before, they wouldn't take them either. Think the nusre took pity on me last time!

Any suggestions? They are unused, just out of date. Thanks

OP posts:
BettySpaghetti · 02/06/2008 14:43

I thought chemists were supposed to accept and dispose of out of date/unused medicines?

MERLYPUSS · 02/06/2008 14:46

Chemists wont take needles but I thought epi-pens were sealed so there is no confusion if it has been used or not. What about the hospital ?

Original poster
desperatehouswife · 02/06/2008 14:46

Thanks for reply Bettyspaghetti. Apparently not, the pharmacist told me they have to have a licence to accept needles!

OP posts:
Original poster
desperatehouswife · 02/06/2008 14:47

Merlypuss - hopsital means 30min drive

OP posts:
Aniyan · 02/06/2008 14:48

I've been on this merry-go-round few times - you have my deepest sympathy!

I used to take them to GP as chemist wouldn't take them. Last time, GP wouldn't take them, and told me to ring the refuse & recycling people at the council and ask them what to do. Later that week I went to the chemist to pick up a new batch of epipens & asked their advice on the old ones. 'Oh, we'll take them' they said . The rules seems to change randomly and secretly - what's the betting I take the old epipens to the chemist and they won't take them after all!

Ringing your local council might be a good idea if you can't find a friendly chemist - good luck!

Original poster
desperatehouswife · 02/06/2008 14:53

Aniyan, yes it's very tempting to just bin them but would hate to think if a child got hold of one.

Will try council and gp again. GP might be more likely to take them than receptionist. Otherwise it might have to be hospital trip to find an unsupervised sharps box!

OP posts:
BettySpaghetti · 02/06/2008 14:55

Are some chemists "registered" as needle exchanges/needle disposable points for drug users? Would one of those chemists take them?

Actually thats reminded me, I came across a public toilet recently that had a secure needle/sharps disposal unit in the cubicle.

Aniyan · 02/06/2008 14:57

This is the kind of story that local papers love - if you can stand the thought of being photographed looking sad with an epipen in your hand and being called a 'concerned mum' .

Never know, it might get a reaction and some nice chemist/GP might come forward - at the very least you'll get a policy statement from your local health authority!

mrspnut · 02/06/2008 15:00

Ring your local drug and alcohol agency - they probably have a secure sharps bin that can take them, or they will know who has.

used2bthin · 02/06/2008 15:03

The GP should take them, I've got a sharps box for myDD's used needles and pricker things for blood tests(lancers?) but they won't dispose of them themselves, they get me to go with them to the big bin where sharps boxes are put. If any of that makes sense! So basically the receptionist at the GP gives me the sharps box then when its full I seal it in front of them and they show me where to put it.

Original poster
desperatehouswife · 02/06/2008 15:48

Hi used2bthin (did you see my reply to you earlier in your thread?)

I'm being a very bad mother now and 'listening' to ds read whilst on the computer. Talk about multi-tasking.

I used to have a sharps box when my dh had to have injections but don't see the point in having one now just to throw away a couple of epipens every other year. Thinking back, maybe that was what the nusre took at the gps and not the epipens.

Local paper idea would be hilarious, I could hold up 'two epipens' at them in the photo.

Got to find something for tea now and ask questions about reading book!

OP posts:
used2bthin · 02/06/2008 18:04

Hi yes I did but I think you've replied to me again since I'll pop over there and have a look now. I've got a really tiny sharps box, it just goes in the cupboard. DD only needs injections when really ill so again not using them much and the lancers are tiny things so I've only ever had to get a new box once and that was recently. So may be worth asking for a little one? But that may have been what you had before ignore me if so! Right am off to the other thread!

wheresthehamster · 02/06/2008 18:09

Could you ask at school if they could dispose of them? They will have a sharps bin if anyone uses epipens or has ID diabetes

coral · 02/06/2008 19:52

Have you tried the pharmacy at a branch of Boots? I have been handing my expired unused epipens in there for the past 10 years without any problems, most recently only a few weeks ago. They won't take them though if they have been used.

Original poster
desperatehouswife · 02/06/2008 20:43

Thanks for the suggestion coral, I tried Boots today but they said they didn't have a licence.

My ds' school don't have a sharps box, they gave them back to me to dispose of.

Have looked on the council website and it seems that I might have to book them to come and collect as they come under 'hazardous waste'!

Admittedly, didn't have time to try doctors today but will try them.

What a palaver for two tiny tubes!

OP posts:
kay3 · 03/06/2008 22:34

Our epipen training nurse likes them back to use for future training. Hope this helps.

Original poster
desperatehouswife · 03/06/2008 22:40

Thats a good idea Kay3. Anyone in West London do epipen training? Actually, I could post anywhere, I suppose.

OP posts:
tealady · 03/06/2008 22:49

I take mine to the anaphylaxis campaign
www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/contact_us/contact_us.html
who use them in their youth training workshops so that youngsters with allergies can have a go at using a real epipen (on an orange)

I don't think they can be posted though - we are fairly near to their offices so I can deliver.

Sidge · 03/06/2008 22:54

I work in a GP surgery and we can't take needles/pens from patients, or accept their sharps bins as we have to pay to have our clinical waste removed and incinerated. If we accept patients' waste it would cost the GP practice a fortune.

In our area you have to phone environmental health at the council, and they will remove sharps and bins and if necessary bring you a replacement bin.

glenthorpe · 04/06/2008 06:06

Try your practice nurse as a starter or
have you any friends that are diabetic,ask them if you can put them in their sharps box

tatt · 04/06/2008 07:26

my local pharmacy accepts them, although I think they give them to the local gp to dispose of. If it didn't I might get my prescription dispensed elsewhere. We use all our old ones for training so they always have a cork stuck on the needle.

desperatehousewifetoo · 04/06/2008 17:33

Wanted to try to call the school nurses at my local health centre to see if they did training at all but didn't get the chance today. My ds' school doesn't have a school nurse, so that's no good.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

mogwil · 05/06/2008 15:22

My consultant told me to use the out of date epi-pens to practice on an apple. He didn't tell me what to do with thereafter, I hadn't even thought about it.

desperatehousewifetoo · 05/06/2008 16:42

Have left a message for school nurse to see if she wants them or knows anyone who does. Took me all morning for call to get through at health centre though! won't hold my breath for a reply.

sorry about name change halfway through the thread!

GordontheGopher · 06/06/2008 19:22

Gosh I never even thought about this and used to bin them. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!