By Charlene Tebbutt

P.A. pharmacies still have EpiPen drug despite national shortage

Jul 31, 2018 | 5:00 PM

Health Canada is warning about a possible shortage of EpiPens, but locally, news of the low supply is not raising alarm.  

Health Canada issued a warning this week that supplies of EpiPens will be limited due to issues with the manufacturing company. The EpiPens are produced by Pfizer Canada, which says new supplies of the auto injectors won’t be available until late August.

Several local pharmacies contacted by paNOW said they either hadn’t heard of the shortage, or had supplies of the pens still in stock. Many said they have not heard concerns from patients over the limited supply.

EpiPens are used to inject emergency doses of adrenaline, or epinephrine, to patients with life-threatening allergies. Pfizer is the only company in Canada to produce EpiPens, and there are no other injectors currently on the market.  

In a release Monday, Pfizer Canada said patients should expect shortages of the EpiPens in the .3 mg size. The company said EpiPens Jr., in the .15 mg size, is still available in limited quantities.

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In light of the low supply, Health Canada is warning reminding patients that EpiPens expire on the last day of the month shown on the packaging and could still be used in emergency situations. In the case of an allergic reaction, anyone with an expired EpiPen is advised to use the injector and then call 911.

Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt