Can you get an Epi-Pen FOR someone who's stubborn and stupid?

[Paul F.]

So I was over at my mom and dads place a while ago, and my dad was eating some peanut butter... and saying how "every time I eat peanuts, I get a scratchy throat and cough..."....

Naturally, I try explain to him how allergies work, and how nut allergies tend to be "kill you dead" kind of allergies... but he's too damn stubborn. He's going to keep eating peanut butter because "I don't have any allergies...".

SO.. I'm wondering, is there some way to obtain, legally, an Epi-Pen FOR someone else? Someone too damn stubborn to listen to reason?

:turbo:

[Psurfer]

I thought that was a female hair removal device.

[Paul F.]

To be clear; I mean the injector full of epinepherine (sp?) to keep one from dying from anaphalaxis (sp?) from eating nuts you're allergic to.

[space-time]

why not?

check with his doctor to make sure he does not have some medical condition where epi-pen is not recommended, and if he's all clear, then get an epi-pen.

FYI: without prescription is about $130 (I paid $30 and insurance paid $100) and you have to renew every year.

[Paul F.]

Hmmm.. maybe I'll see if my mom (who has the same insurance, and the same doctor, I think) will do it.

[Dennis S]

Doctors may not recommend epinephrine because of his age and potential to affect his heart. That's what the always told me in the ER. They gave me 100 mg of benadryl when I had allergy attacks. So, if the epi-pen idea doesn't work, maybe you can stash some liquid benadryl at his place.

[Spiff]

I like the liquid Benadryl idea as well. Too many things cam go wrong with the epipen compared to Benadryl.

[tenders]

If he hasn't developed a severe allergy to them now it's unlikely he'll develop one. He probably has a mild allergy. If his reaction isn't bad enough to make him not want to eat them I don't think there's much to worry about. But the epi-pen isn't the only response to an unexpected allergic reaction; every house should have a bottle of Benadryl around. It works pretty quickly and is one of the safest drugs around. Note: I'm not a doctor but I have a daughter who is allergic to peanuts.

[Paul F.]

tenders;
I don't know that that's true... Talk to Space-time about how he developed a hazelnut allergy later in life...
And my dad developed a severe allergy to crab in his 50's after eating it for many decades.


I'll check out the liquid Bendryl idea though...
Sounds like a useful thing to have around.

[space-time]

Paul F. wrote:
tenders;
I don't know that that's true... Talk to Space-time about how he developed a hazelnut allergy later in life...

this is correct, I ate hazelnuts all my life, and two years ago (age 39) I ate hazelnuts from the same damn box on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday boom, Anaphylactic shock. Luckily I was still breathing but otherwise completely passed out. Ambulance was here in 5 minutes, they put an Oxygen mask and IV and took m to the hospital. I woke up about 1/2 hour later. Later allergy was confirmed via blood test, and one year later the numbers were even higher, so it seems like it's getting worse. It's time for another exam now that I think about it. I carry an epi-pen, and when I travel I take both of them (they com ein 2 packs). Sometimes in Europe they ask me what this is all about at the airport since I carry them in my carryon. They never even looked at them in US. I guess more people travel with Eines here than over there.

but yeah, back to the topic: have him consult an allergist, and decide what is better, Benadryl or epi-pen. In also carry Benadryl, but my reaction was so fast that I doubt Benadryl would do anything.