I would like some basic info. Have a frind who almost died from a bee string. Had not been allergic up to this sting. Should one have one handy just in case of an anaphylactic shock scenario?
How do you get, how expensive, how long are they good for, etc. the

Need an Rx from doctor, out of pocket can run around $540 w/o insurance coverage (can be less with a discount card), generally shelf life is about a year when kept at room temp.

Answered in 1 response. Ain't this place great.

ORC - My wife found out exactly the same way and this is how it went down.

FWIW, the out of pocket cost for the generic Epipens is absurd. It's inexcusable.

A coworker has children with peanut and shellfish allergies so he explained them to me as follows.

They shouldn't be left in the car. Stores at room temp or a bit cooler if possible. Should still be safe up to 6 months after expiration date if they haven't turned cloudy. Look for discounts.

There are a couple of styles now. The traditional cylindrical stabby type and one shaped more like a betamax tape. The betamax style is newer and marketed toward being able to put in back pocket.

True a RX is needed, but in the event of an emergency any EpiPen will work for if available. Different sizes for adults and children.

I used to be allergic to bee stings and carried one for 10 or more years, then ceased to be allergic and I no longer carry one.

The insurance I had at the time paid all but a few dollars of the cost but today I imagine it'll cost a fortune.

quote:

The insurance I had at the time paid all but a few dollars of the cost but today I imagine it'll cost a fortune

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Weren't you the guy that supported Pharma Bro? Same thing happened with the Epipen until regulators stepped in. This drug has been around for ages and costs little to make the profits are going to the CEO and shareholders not to R & D.

Google "Manchin epipen scandal" to see why epipens are so damned expensive.

Bee sting allergies are often generated from being stung over the course of your life. Eventually your immune system overreacts.

Same for local plants/flora -hence “allergies”

I have been stung by wasps several times. The first was a big nothing, but each one got progressively worse over the past 45-50 years.

I normally get two Epipens twice a year from the VA. The problem is that one cannot leave them in the heat as in one's car or outside in Florida's summer. Makes it a bit hard to have it with me, should I need it.

A friend's brother-in-law was outside working
(building a house IIRC), forgot his epipen, got stung and died before paramedics could get there.

Kinda scary.

Bob

I have developed an allergy to stings over the years. Was stung a couple of weeks ago and had an allergic event. Mrs df gets epi-pens by virtue of her work. She had one in her emergency bag and stabbed me with it. May have saved my life. Never had a reaction like that before.

Yup… Can be one and done.

Anaphylaxis is no joke

quote:

Originally posted by Shaql:

Answered in 1 response. Ain't this place great.

Yeah, but it took nine minutes. Way too long.

quote:

Originally posted by Blackmore:
Google "Manchin epipen scandal" to see why epipens are so damned expensive.

She threatened to sell direct and circumvent the Obamacare regional distribution middleman price gouging process and .gov sent the wolves at her

My sons mother worked for Dey Pharma all the way until the last layoffs a couple years ago. she was amazed at how difficult .gov made it to lower the prices and how much misinformation was released

check the company website, you may be able to get a coupon off of it

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by Shaql:

Answered in 1 response. Ain't this place great.

Yeah, but it took nine minutes. Way too long.

Best I can do while at work...

Yup…the epi-pen for adult dosage is 0.3 mg of epinephrine 1:1000…..the drug itself is cheap, your paying a ridiculous price for that auto-injector device but it does make it fool proof.
Health care professionals use the small glass ampule, break the top off….and with a seperate syringe and needle draw out 0.3 mg…..the entire ampule has 1.0 mg in it……not something anyone would want to attempt if they are the one having a reaction…so they are not available to general public or individual patients. Here’s the killer….that 1.0 mg ampule costs 3 dollars!
I used to order them and other meds for work

... and when the expiry date comes around, don't throw the epipens out.

Use them for training, with an orange.
That's we would do; the kids have life threatening peanut allergies.


</chris>

quote:

Originally posted by tigereye313:
FWIW, the out of pocket cost for the generic Epipens is absurd. It's inexcusable.

Only in this country

Go anywhere else and it’s reasonable.

We get boned subsiding the rest of the world’s costs.

quote:

Originally posted by cgode:
Health care professionals use the small glass ampule, break the top off….and with a seperate syringe and needle draw out 0.3 mg….

I was an EMT during the fires of 1988 in Yellowstone. Got a call from the Park Service. One of the firefighters was allergic to bee stings and got stung. Grabbed an ER Doctor, and a case of the glass ampules. Stabbed epi about every 10 minutes on the 60 miles back to the hospital. She survived.

PC

good info guys. Thank you. In leiu of an epipen will benadryl help with an allergic reaction?