PlayDates and Chardonnay: The cost of EpiPens

Having a few expired EpiPens laying around can be a great accomplishment if you have food allergies. You've made it another year without a major reaction! Sadly for a lot of families, an expired EpiPen can also be a huge financial burden, especially if your without medical insurance, an unfortunate reality for many these days.

Studies have found that though there may be some loss of potency, an expired EpiPen can still be used to treat anaphylaxis if it is the only medicine you have. So, if you are unable to refill your prescription don't be so quick to dispose of your expired EpiPens. The product will still start to deteriorate at or around the expiration date therefore I personally would not recommend using an EpiPen that has been expired for more then 90 days unless it was the only one I had in an emergency. Keep in mind that proper storage can also help extend its shelf life. Avoid exposing your EpiPen to extreme heat or cold. Never keep an EpiPen in the glove compartment of your vehicle.

It is recommended that a 2-pack of EpiPens be kept at home, school (usually required), work, etc. and carried with you at all times. Unfortunately, this can be very expensive. Because of the high cost, many people separate their EpiPens leaving only one at home and carrying the other one on them. If you are one those people, I highly suggest that you at least pair your current EpiPens with an expired one in case a second dose is needed.

Do, however, continue to promptly refill all your prescriptions as soon as possible. For expired Epi-Pens that are no longer needed, use them to practice on an orange or a grapefruit, let a teacher or family member use them for practice, or donate them to a local support group to practice with. See Epi's and Oranges for more on how to practice using your old EpiPens.

It can also be helpful to refill prescriptions at 3-6 month intervals throughout the year rather then all at once depending on your insurance. With the rotation of these expired EpiPens, I like to keep a few expired (up to 3 months) at places my son frequents, such as grandmas, aunts and uncles, and friends homes. This way we always have a backup should we unexpectedly misplace, or forget our set of EpiPens. Do Not Rely On These! It is vital to always carry a set of EpiPens with you at all times though it is better to be safe then sorry and an expired EpiPen is better then no EpiPen.

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