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Original poster

Junior Epipen availability

21 replies

pottypotamus · 26/08/2019 14:20

Hello, I'd like some advice on how to go about trying to get hold of another junior epipen.

My son suffers from a nut allergy and is required to have an epipen on him at all times. He is 4 and about to start school. We have only ever had 1 epipen as getting hold of another one has been impossible.

His school are insistent that his epipen stays permanently at school, so we would be without one at home. His current one is also expiring Oct 2019.

Every single pharmacy I call says they are out of stock and have been for quite some time and don't know when they will get more. What do I do when the one we have expires?

OP posts:
EvilEdna1 · 26/08/2019 14:25

I work in a school office and parents have been having delays getting new or second epipens for months. If you can't get a second one just tell the school what the issue is and insist that it is brought in every day and collected at home time from the office. It's a pain but it is done with other meds.

bluetue · 26/08/2019 14:52

You need to get a doctors apt and get a prescription for an alternative version, I had the same problem last year when there was an epipen shortage. 3 minimum is needed, school, home and for you to carry at all times.

I think the one I got was called Jext but not sure if there is a kids version of this.

namechange34 · 26/08/2019 14:58

Talk to your gp about suitable alternatives. There is a children's version of Emerade.

Viebienremplie · 26/08/2019 15:11

The epi-pen situation is currently desperate, JEXT are also out of stock. I'm down to the last month on DDs pens (going 4 months over the bbe date as it is). Not sure what we'll do if we can't get one. I've been trying for literally months.

My mum ordered some adult ones a week ago and got them straight away though, seems to be just the kids ones they are failing to stock.

JenniR29 · 26/08/2019 15:14

Epipen is out of stock in my pharmacy. Get the doctor change the prescription to Jext or Emerade, the same thing just a different brand. I managed to get both in stock just last week.

MarigoldGlove · 26/08/2019 15:19

Yes, you either get another prescription or the epipen goes into school every day with your dc and you bring it home again. You can get insulted shoulder bags that the dc can carry to make the whole theming a bit more manageable. It just becomes a habit eventually.

They can’t ‘insist it stays at school permanently ‘ if you’ve only got one and he can’t eat or drink anything at all when he’s not at school!

lurkingattheback · 26/08/2019 15:23

Hi,

As others have said, Epipen is a brand, and there has been an international shortage for a while, pushing prices up. There are other brands.
Maybe ask for the school policy. Surely a pen should be with the child at all times, that would mean the person collecting the child would need one. Would it be used for other children, would it be taken out on trips?

Original poster
pottypotamus · 26/08/2019 17:29

Sorry I seem to have gotten confused. I assumed Epipen was the name of all adrenaline auto injectors. My son currently has an Emerade 150ug junior pen.

This one has been going to nursery everyday and coming home with us every evening.

I have had a prescription at my local pharmacy for a second one for 9 months with the chemist telling me every time I call that they are out of stock.

With the expiry of the current one looming, I'm getting concerned we won't get another in time.
I have left a message at doc surgery for them to get back to me with alternatives that are in stock.

OP posts:
RockNRollNerd · 26/08/2019 18:33

Not sure about Emerade but for Jext and Epipen the advice is that even if they are out of date they are still effective as long as the adrenaline in the window is clear.

As regards the school you will have to insist it comes home every day. There isn’t another option as you can’t have no adrenaline to hand outside of school hours. If the school are difficult about this contact the Anaphylaxis Campaign for support and further advice.

F33lguilty · 26/08/2019 18:38

Hi, I recommend having your doctor re-write the prescription as a generic adrenaline pump rather than EpiPen. The manufacturers are releasing them in 2s but only if requested by the pharmacy directly. I had several smaller pharmacists tell me that they couldn't supply them but a large Boots branch phoned around and managed to fill the prescription with different manufacturers.

MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 26/08/2019 18:41

Call your doctor and explain the situation. You actually need 4, 2 at school and 2 at home.

You won't get an epi pen as they've been recalled but you might get Jext or ds got Emerade(I think) last time.

There's absolutely no point the school keeping them in the office either,make that VERY clear. Your child needs to carry the epi pens with them at all times.

Can you tell we've had battles before ? Wink

MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 26/08/2019 18:42

Not sure about Emerade but for Jext and Epipen the advice is that even if they are out of date they are still effective as long as the adrenaline in the window is clear

For only 6 months though iirc

Surfskatefamily · 26/08/2019 18:43

You can get them on the online pharmacies. Around £50-70.
You fill in the request then a doctor will contact you and sign off on the prescription.

velocitygirl7 · 26/08/2019 18:44

You need two asap, please go back to your gp and insist. My ds has two that he carries with him at all times and two that are kept in the first aid room at his school.
My gp is sensible and totally supports prescribing 4, it isn't uncommon for epipens to fail and more common is for the person (understandably) administering it to panic and use it incorrectly. If the first one fails, there isn't realistically time to wait for the paramedics, so a 2nd one is essential.
I have to be paediatric first aid trained as part of my job and they always advise schools to have 2 epipens per child.
A bit off topic, sorry!

MonkeysStoleMyBanana · 26/08/2019 18:54

We put in a request for Emerade 150 this week and got two with no issues. Had a hard time with Jext last year so doctor changed to Emerade which seems to be easier to find.

Original poster
pottypotamus · 26/08/2019 20:14

Thank you all for your advice, I will go back to my pharmacy holding my ds prescription and ask exactly what has been prescribed, whether general adrenaline pen or an actual brand.

And then go back to GP and insist they help me obtain at least 2 more.

OP posts:
LL83 · 26/08/2019 20:23

Emerade, Jext or EpiPen are all interchangeable.

I had problems getting Emerade last year and pharmacist said they could get EpiPen. He ordered it for me and I organised a new prescription from doctor as it did specify emerade.

My child has 2 epi pens that stay in nursery and 2 that go everywhere with him. I expect it will be the same when we get to school.

MrsPellegrinoPetrichor · 26/08/2019 21:33

Ds used to carry the epi pens in his book bag from the age of 5-18. School tried to make a fuss but I said he wouldn't be attending school if he couldn't carry life saving medicine with him at all times,in the manner they are supposed to be carried. Funnily enough,they gave up then 😉

Now I have the worry of ds going to uni and praying he remembers to take them with him all the time.

lurkingattheback · 26/08/2019 21:56

Just adding this about Emerade.

www.cas.mhra.gov.uk/ViewandAcknowledgment/ViewAttachment.aspx?Attachment_id=103265

Piffpaffpoff · 26/08/2019 21:59

My go told me to speak to the pharmacy, find out what brand they were confident they could get and then he changed the repeat prescription to that (emerade I think?)
It’s a nightmare.

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