NORTHEAST — Canada is experiencing a shortage of EpiPen auto-injectors.
EpiPens inject epinephrine into a person who is experiencing anaphylaxis, which closes up a person’s airways. Peanuts are a well-known allergy that causes the condition.
According to the Saskatchewan health ministry, EpiPen Jr. remains available in limited supply in Canada and is not affected by the current issue.
EpiPen and EpiPen Jr. are the only epinephrine auto-injector products marketed in Canada at this time.
Tisdale
As of Aug. 2, Lacroix Drugs had two EpiPens left in stock.
“We hope that people will try to be careful with the ones that they have and not try to horde them, because in case somebody else who really, really needs one, somebody has two sitting at home that nobody else can have,” said Evan Huvenaars, pharmacist at Lacroix Drug.
Pharmasave in Tisdale was out of stock.
Nipawin
As of Aug. 2, Pharmasave in Nipawin had four left in stock, while Davus Rexall Drugs Ltd. had one. Loblaw Pharmacy also only had one in stock.
Melfort
Shoppers Drug Mart in Melfort didn’t want the information on their EpiPen amount made public.
“I think everybody needs to contact their pharmacy that they deal with and discuss it with their pharmacist,” said Darin Banadyga, pharmacist at Shoppers Drug Mark. “If you want to say ‘we have this many’ everybody will start going to that pharmacy and we will run out.”
As of Aug. 2, Pharmasave in Melfort had two adult and two children EpiPens left in stock.
Loblaw Pharmacy and Melfort Independent Grocer would not give out the information at this time without upper management present.
Rexall Pharma Plus was out of stock.
“It’s been off and on since the third of June,” said Eric Pederson, pharmacist at Rexall Pharma Plus.
The shortage
Health Canada expects the shortage to last until Aug. 31.
“This means that while some pharmacies may currently have some inventory on-hand, it will likely be depleted in the coming days or weeks,” Health Canada wrote on July 30. “Pfizer Canada does not expect to be able to provide new supply until the end of August.”
In the meantime, Health Canada is telling Canadians not to stockpile the medication and reminding them that EpiPen products expire on the last day of the month indicated on the package. An August expiry date expires on Aug. 31.
“In light of the shortage, if you are experiencing an anaphylactic reaction and have only an expired auto-injector, use the expired product and immediately contact 911,” Health Canada wrote. “Regardless of whether the product is expired, you should get to the nearest hospital as soon as possible following the administration of the product, as instructed in the product labelling.”
