Epipen criteria

[Sheilsie]

My 4 year old DD has multiple food allergies (dairy, egg, nuts, sesame) where the worst reaction so far has been hives and vomit (lots of it!) but I always worry that the next reaction will worse. She also has asthma/virus induced wheeze which used to end up with her being in hospital once or twice a year (when the reliever inhaler wasn't touching the wheezing) but ever since we got a steroid inhaler she has had no bad scares.

When we were at clinic last December I asked about the criteria for getting an Epipen and they said she didn't meet them. Does anybody know what the criteria actually is and also whether you are able (legally) to buy Epipen privately?

DD is due to start school next month and I believe that, even though they have epipens for other kids, they won't be allowed to use them on my DD if she needed it. This does make sense I suppose but fills me with panic eg. what if an ambulance couldn't get there on time!

[ukey]

www.epipen.co.uk/hcp/your-epipen-adrenaline-auto-injector/who-should-have-an-epipen-adrenaline-auto-injector/

[Vatta]

I think you have to have a prescription - Lloyds online pharmacy has a service where a dr asks you some questions, and they can then prescribe an epipen assuming she meets the criteria.

[ukey]

www.epipen.co.uk/hcp/your-epipen-adrenaline-auto-injector/who-should-have-an-epipen-adrenaline-auto-injector/

[ItsNotATest]

No, you can't buy them over the counter, they have to be prescribed. An allergy clinic with access to your DD's allergy history are likely to be providing better advice than well-meaning folk on MN who know nothing about your DD.

[Sheilsie]

Thanks everyone! It was the consultant at our hospital team who said DD didn't meet the criteria when I asked about it. But DD does have food allergies and asthma which is listed as one of the "indications" on the epipen website you told me about. So I'll ask again when we are next at clinic. I can't feel that we're being penalised because her asthma has been so well controlled since we started the steroid inhaler. Hopefully the risk of her needing an Epipen is low but I think it's surely got to be higher than somebody with no allergy/breathing issues and I would feel less worried if she had one!

[ukey]

CAN children's allergy network on FB

also

UK parents of kids with nut allergy peanuts on facebook


many people have been thru the whole epi pen issue


a lot seems to depend on where you live and who you see.