Epipens for beekeepers?

[David Fisher]

The instructor at a beginning beekeeping class I took recently suggested that all folks who manage beehives should keep adult and kid-sized Epipens on hand.  (Epipens are vials of epinephrine with an auto-injecting needle used when someone has a life-threatening allergic reaction.)  I asked my doctor to prescribe one of each size, and then found out from my pharmacy that they cost $250 each!  I'd gladly pay that to save someone's life, but I'm wondering if any of you keep Epipens handy in case of bee sting reaction emergency.  I do have insurance, which would bring the cost down to $30 for one (I'd still have to pay full price for the other), but since it's not for me, it's morally questionable having the insurance company pay for it.  Plus I don't want it on my medical records that I'm deathly allergic to something (e.g. applying for life insurance).

Does anyone keep one or more of these around?  If so:

 - how long before they expire?

 - is there a cheaper way to obtain them?

 - have you ever had to use it?

Anyone else have thoughts on this?

Thanks!

David

[Mark Burlingame]

Great question, those epipens are quite expensive.  I am new to beekeeping so don't have them and am not really considering getting them at this time.  This forum is still getting off the ground and so you'll probably find the responces to be a bit sporatic.  In addition to here there is the yahoo group linked at the bottom of the page that is fairly active, and another yahoo group, but I also really like the forums at beesource.com, it gets a lot traffic from all levels of beeks across the country.  Good luck!  Mark

[John Mizell]

While epipen's "Are You At Risk?" page is intimidating to us beekeepers, I am more intimidated by the long list of effects and the litigious nature of complainers. Severe anaphylaxis is also significantly more rare than the number of neighbors arround us who "are allergic."

EpiPen's Cautions:

Epinephrine should be used with caution in patients with certain heart diseases, and in patients who are on drugs that may sensitize the heart to arrhythmias, because it may precipitate or aggravate angina pectoris and produce ventricular arrhythmias. Arrhythmias, including fatal ventricular fibrillation, have been reported in patients with underlying cardiac disease or taking cardiac glycosides or diuretics. Patients with certain medical conditions or who take certain medications for allergies, depression, thyroid disorders, diabetes, and hypertension, may be at greater risk for adverse reactions. Other adverse reactions include transient moderate anxiety, apprehensiveness, restlessness, tremor, weakness, dizziness, sweating, palpitations, pallor, nausea and vomiting, headache, and/or respiratory difficulties.  

911 is 3-8 min away for me.

John

[Mark Burlingame]

Yeah, probably more liability in giving someone an epipen to use, than the potential injury due to a  beesting even with an alergic person.  My thought is if someone has that kind of reaction to insect stings they should have their own epipen, and if they don't then 911 and a few of those benadryl gel strips that dissolve under your tongue is better, perhaps those strips are something that all beekeepers should keep around since it get into your system very quickly that way, good even if one isn't alergic...  Mark

[David Fisher]

Thanks all for the thoughtful comments.  Since a hospital is close by, and simple Benedryl is easy and cheap, I plan on passing on the Epipen solution for the time being.  From what I've gleaned, true severe bee allergies are rarer than the Epipen makers would have you believe.  If I were in a more rural location it would be a different story, I think.

David