My DS is anaphylactic to peanuts, and we have been prescribed 2 epi pens.

Are the 2 epi pens supposed to be stored separately, eg, 1 in the nappy bag and 1 in the medicine chest at home, or are they supposed to be kept together in case we needed to use both of them?

I assumed they were supposed to be kept separate, but have just purchased an epi pen storage pouch which states that it is designed to hold 2 epi pens. I have heard that I should keep them together, and to use the second one if the first one doesn't work, but it wasn't from a reliable source and I have never heard of an epi pen not working and a 2nd one being used?

Can anyone shed any light on this? If not, I'll ring our allergist and check. Thanks.

I keep ours both together with the idea that we may need to use a 2nd if the first one isn't enough.

Personally, one is always in the same spot at home. Never moves. The other is the travelling pen, to take with us when we go out. My rationale is to do with KNOWING that there is one pen easily accessible at all times, and it wont be hiding in a bag etc from outings that we've forgotten to put back in the cupboard.

I can also see the rationale for having a 'back up' pen in case the first wasn't used properly, however I see more risk in not being able to find one when needed, than to have one used incorrectly. We've made sure to practice many times on our expired pens etc.

We did this too.

After the kids started full time schooling, we only have the travelling ones stored in the same location inside my bag (together with a bottle of antihistamine).

HTH...

Apparently epi pen training protocols have changed now, but I heard a terrible story from our kinder teacher about a child in another state who had an anaphylactic reaction to food at kinder. Epi pen training used to involve you administering the practice epi pen to your own leg, and the kinder teacher (presumably in shock/panic) automatically administered the epi pen to herself as this was what she had been trained to do So I do think of keeping the two epi pens together in case there is a problem with one of them or it is administered incorrectly.


Kajae I can see your point also, on occasion I have left the nappy bag in the car and not been able to locate it quickly - thankfully never in an emergency - but I can see the benefit of keeping one at home in a designated spot.

Maybe I really need three epipens???

We keep both epi-pens in an epipen bag so they are easily recognisable and are left in the same spot all the times when at home, right under the action plan stuck on the wall.
Two are carried together at all times with anti histamine as well when we are out. Have heard many stories of people injecting into themselves in panic or one not being enough.
HTH

I don't have one but a friend has 4, 2 at home and 2 that travel.

Both my cousin and I require epipens for our allergies (nuts & sesame for her, bees for me) and we've both fallen into the same habit:
I have two at any one time - one lives in my handbag, in a special zip-pocket. It never gets removed unless I change handbags - but EVERY bag I own has a zip-pocket (I sew one in if there isn't one already) so it's a reminded to transfer the epipen. The "spare" is left at home in medical-kit which lives in the hallway cupboard.

My allergist told me that an expired pen is still fine for up to 6mths past its' expiry IF it has been stored in the correct temperature range and not exposed to direct sunlight, and the fluid is still clear in the window, so I also keep my expired pens a seperate bag in the medical kit as a just-in-case (we live 30kms from the nearest ambulance depo and then it's 30kms back to the hospital so 45mins later I'd get help!)...

One is always in my bag and the other always at childcare. But after reading how many people have both together as a back up (I have been warned about injecting myself) I am worried I should have two...isn't there a limit of two at time, or is that incorrect?

I have an epi pen pouch that holds one epi pen and a bottle of paediatric zyrtec drops (small bottle fits well).

That stays in my handbag, nappybag or kids backpack. Basically, wherever DS2 is. We also carry ventolin and spacer, so easy to remember to swap it all.
It will get put into my handbag if nappybag gets left in the car.

The other one is still in it's box on top of the fridge. DS2 starts kinder in Feb, so will have to re-evaluate our procedures.

Sunny003,

We sent 2 to kinder everyday in a pouch that holds 2 pens and says Epipen on it, peace of mind for me and the staff to know they have a back up.

my2poppets

Thanks.
I wish the pouch would hold 2 epi pens & zyrtec!

My DS has a red pencil case that has his two Epipens, a practice Epipen (in a separate bag that clearly states 'for practice only'), his Zyrtec and a syringe and his a copy of his Action Plan. This pencil case is in a large clear ziplock bag that also has his Ventolin and spacer.

Each day he goes to school he takes it out of his bag and places it in the top draw of his teachers desk. He then brings it home every afternoon. (DS is going into his second year of school this year - last year he did not forget once!).

After school and on weekends/school holidays it stays in mine or whatever adult he is with bag.

*the reason that the practice Epipen is in the same bag is just in case he needs to be left with some one that hasn't had the appropriate training or needs a refresher. Trust me it is in a separate bag and there is no chance it could be confused, you should see how I have marked it!

Hope this helps you.

I know of a situation where the child kicked when the pen went in and didn't get the full dosage. The allergen was already in the system and when ambos arrived the very first thing they did after taking details was draw up a second shot of adrenaline as the intake of allergen was greater than the amount of adrenaline used. Sure enough about 15 mins after the first jab, the child started to go back into anaphylactic shock and needed the second jab - they had four more jabs in hospital over 6 hours

I guess together or seperate the important thing to know is that one epipen may not be enough in the long scheme of attack...

Eyesabove, adrenaline only lasts for about 10-15 minutes this is why the kid would have gone back into anaphylaxis, this is why it is so important to call an ambulance so there is more adrenaline on the way for the person suffering the anaphylaxis and that the person gets watched in hospital for 4-6 hrs minimum after anaphyalxis. Adrenaline is a naturally produced hormone- the one we get when we get a terrible fright, both injected and self produced adrenaline metabolises in our body very quickly and therefore wears off quite quickly and there is the chance they will need more once it wears off.

Everyone now gets 2 epipens on the PBS each time they are used or expire. This is so that one epipen can stay at school/childcare/work in a central place where everyone knows where it is and the other epipen stays with the person or their parent/carer.

You can buy more epipens but they are at full price (ie $100+) if you get them with a regular script though and have private health insurance then you can claim some back from your health insurance.

My DD (nearly 10) has 3 epipens. We have one that stays at school all year, goes on excursions, to sport etc. but is stored in the office, where everyone knows where it is. Her second one is in a epipen pouch in her bag as she catches the bus home, or goes home with friends etc she has one. the 3rd gets packed in her ballet bag on ballet days or I carry it in my handbag if we are going out together so that she never has to remember to transfer it from one bag to another.

I have never had to administer more than one dose of adrenaline, but if the first dose of adrenaline is delayed (ie you wait to see if they get better on their own) the chances are they will need more adrenaline. This is why timely administration as soon as possible after the first sign of anaphylaxis is vitally important.

I also have a copy of her action plan with each epipen and her zyrtec tablets.

Thanks 30bt - your post was helpful.

I'm glad the PBS has been extended to include the second pen - the cost for such an essential piece of technology is astronomical.

Touch wood none of you ever has to use yours!