Epi Storage Tips At Home And On the Go

Epinephrine is the first-line treatment for a severe allergic reaction, or anaphylaxis. That makes it an essential medication for people with severe food, insect venom, medication and latex allergies. It is primarily available as an auto-injector or a nasal spray.

Whether at home or on the road, epinephrine should be readily available at all times. Make sure you have quick and easy access to epinephrine at all times. Carry it with you when you leave home.

How should you store the emergency treatment at home? What about when running errands or when you’re traveling? Simply put, wherever the epinephrine is safe, secure and easily accessible is the best place to keep it. Could be in your medicine cabinet at home. Could be in a backpack or purse. Epinephrine nasal sprays and some auto-injectors are also small enough to keep in a pocket.

Make sure to tell family members and friends where to find the epinephrine in case of an emergency. Keep it in a carrying case that is marked for epinephrine or emergency medical treatment.

Here are some more tips:

Temperature matters

Epinephrine should be kept at regular room temperature (68 to 77 degrees F). It should not be exposed to extremes – too much heat or cold – for long periods of time. Do not store the epinephrine in a vehicle’s glove compartment or trunk. Do not store it in the refrigerator or freezer, or with ice packs.

If an epinephrine auto-injector is left in the car on a hot summer day or a cold winter night for more than a couple hours, the medication may become degraded and no longer reliable. New auto-injectors should be obtained as soon as possible.

For epinephrine nasal sprays, you can keep the product in higher temperatures – up to 122 degrees F – but no more than a few days. If the nasal spray is kept in high heat for more than a few days, it should be replaced as soon as possible.

Do not freeze an epinephrine nasal spray. If the device is frozen, it will not spray.

Monitor the medication

Epinephrine auto-injectors come with a protective case of the outer carton. This protects it from air and light. When exposed to air or light, epinephrine can change quickly to pinkish or brown in color.

The protective case includes a clear window. Check the clear window regularly – including prior to use – and inspect the medication visually for discoloration or particles.

Do not use the epinephrine if it is colored or cloudy, or contains particles.

Also, do not remove the protective case on the auto-injector. The case is designed to prevent damage to the medication. (It is not waterproof, however.)

Look for a carrying case

Store epinephrine in a safe place with easy access, especially when traveling. Since temperature is a factor in storage, it may make sense to use a medical carrying case that has insulation. This can help ensure the epinephrine is safe and effective when you need it.

Some manufacturers offer a carrying case you can obtain when you get your prescription filled. ARS Pharma, maker of the epinephrine nasal spray neffy®, offers a free carrying case on its website.

Keep them together

Epinephrine auto-injectors and nasal sprays come in packages of two for a reason. It’s estimated that 15-30% of anaphylaxis episodes require more than one dose of epinephrine to stop symptoms. So it’s important to have a second dose of the emergency medical treatment. Keep the two doses together for quick and easy access during a serious allergic reaction.

If you want to keep epinephrine at home and at school or work, ask your doctor or pharmacist about the possibility of purchasing a separate 2-pack for each location.

Check expiration dates

Epinephrine auto-injectors have a 12-18 month shelf life, while nasal sprays have a 24-30 month shelf life. Use a calendar or a reminder on your smartphone to keep track of expiration dates.

If during a severe allergic reaction all you have available is an expired epinephrine auto-injector, go ahead and use the device. It may still contain some medication. Taking expired epinephrine is better than taking no epinephrine at all. But doctors maintain it’s very important that patients refill their epinephrine prescription when it’s expired.

If you don’t have epinephrine or it’s expired, go to the emergency department for treatment.