OT: Need an affordable Epi autoinjector?

allenrcp wrote:i'd even go a step further. ampule, syringe, and needle will suffice.

And that's what I had for 20 years and still have to get if I travel in rural areas on vacation. However, self-medication by children, even 17 year olds, is not allowed in our schools today, so they had to make them teacher-proof (the kids know how, it's the teachers that don't). Some schools don't even allow a teacher to give the child epi in an emergency - they have to call a nurse!!

here's another article on action taken to save money by emergency workers.

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-new ... same-drug/

Note: I have never had an epi pen. I had the same kit as the EMS workers in the article. Never needed to use it, so tossing it away after one year didn't hurt so much. Only a few dollars....

It's a shame that the messed up system makes the only safe place for
kids with allergies to be home schooling.

chunkyfrog wrote:It's a shame that the messed up system makes the only safe place for
kids with allergies to be home schooling.

No lie. But, in some cases, teachers are stuck with the law in their state. The best bet is for people (including those who have no kids) to lobby for changes in laws.
http://www.pediatricsafety.net/2013/09/ ... -pen-laws/

BTW, the local Red Lobster restaurant has always kept epi on hand (you can suddenly develop shellfish allergy even after eating it for a lifetime). Saved my brother 30 years ago.

Here's another alternative that was just announced:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldFFJRdhVs8

SewTired wrote:teachers are stuck with the law in their state

Good pun!

Just discussed on Dr. Oz;
Ask your doctor to write a prescription for
generic Adrenaclick.
It is exactly the same, with an extra cap over the needle.
Instead of over $600, doesn't $140 sound a whole lot better?
Your pharmacy should order it for you if the RX specifies it.

palerider wrote:a freely printable ampule crusher to make it easy to use the glass ampules of epinephrine.

http://www.intermedpartners.com/oo-box

I don't know anyone who uses an epipen (that I know of) but if you can buy an ampule for 4 bucks, why not just give a shot the way diabetics do, several times a day? I am sure there is a lot I don't understand but it looks like the Epipen was a solution for a problem that doesn't exist.

A problem that doesn't exist? What do you call an anaphylactic reaction to e.g. peanuts that comes on very quickly and kills soon afterward without intervention? What are you talking about?

You don't make kids take 4 shots a day of anything for something that may never take place at all... that's crazy!

Julie wrote:A problem that doesn't exist? What do you call an anaphylactic reaction to e.g. peanuts that comes on very quickly and kills soon afterward without intervention? What are you talking about?

You don't make kids take 4 shots a day of anything for something that may never take place at all... that's crazy!

I think you've misinterpreted his post.

How so? Oh... he meant diabetics do it many times a day (but not necessarily the epipen users)? Guess it depends how you read it.

Julie wrote:How so? Oh... he meant diabetics do it many times a day (but not necessarily the epipen users)? Guess it depends how you read it.

well, I read it like:

"I don't know anyone who uses an epipen (that I know of) but if you can buy an ampule for 4 bucks, why not just give a shot the way diabetics do, several times a day?"
why spend 300$ for a single use, single injection gadget when you could get an ampule for 4$ and a syringe and needle for a couple bucks, and simply give a shot like thousands of people do every day. add in the fact that they expire and have to be thrown away and new ones bought whether used or not.

" I am sure there is a lot I don't understand but it looks like the Epipen was a solution for a problem that doesn't exist."
what's so magic about the epi pen that it makes it worth 300$?

in answer, it's fast and convenient and doesn't require anywhere near the training or practice of a syringe and ampule.. but that doesn't make it worth 300$ a pop.

Of course it doesn't... that's outrageous, but whatever was meant by the previous post(er), I can't see kids using meds x 4/day when the epipen is something they are quite likely to never use at all.

The automatic injector is intended for very fast use, often by someone
whose condition is rapidly deteriorating, maybe even close to losing consciousness.
The injection needs to be administered by someone with no experience, if necessary.
No one treats allergy with insulin. This is making no sense at all.
Not having epinephrine available could mean DEATH for someone with a severe allergy.

flightco wrote: I don't know anyone who uses an epipen (that I know of) but if you can buy an ampule for 4 bucks, why not just give a shot the way diabetics do, several times a day? I am sure there is a lot I don't understand but it looks like the Epipen was a solution for a problem that doesn't exist.

Educate yourself. ----> http://www.scibabe.com/epipen/

Lets bring it down to CPAP Users level. You can treat Sleep Apnea with a ASV, or a Electrolux, one provides convince the other would be low price option.You pay for the convince, or more like your INS does then we all pay in higher rates. Jim

Good Marketing, makes big $$$, not very cost effective.