Epi-pens

Late last summer I had a severe allergic reaction to an insect sting -
probably a hornet, possibly more than one. I've been to an allergist
who tested and found me allergic to wasps, hornets and yellowjackets,
and have been getting regular venom injections to try to develop an
immunity. But prudence still dictates carrying an epi-pen, which I
haven't needed the last 6 months because the cold weather has driven
these critters out of sight, but which I'm about to start needing
again as spring weather advances in fits and starts.

My concern is with the durability of the medication, stuck as it is in
a black saddlebag where it can get quite hot. Any experiences of
suggestions about this issue, including how to package it for best
protection from the heat? Has anyone actually had to use one out "on
the road"?

"Ron Wallenfang" wrote in message
oups.com...
Late last summer I had a severe allergic reaction to an insect sting -
probably a hornet, possibly more than one. I've been to an allergist
who tested and found me allergic to wasps, hornets and yellowjackets,
and have been getting regular venom injections to try to develop an
immunity. But prudence still dictates carrying an epi-pen, which I
haven't needed the last 6 months because the cold weather has driven
these critters out of sight, but which I'm about to start needing
again as spring weather advances in fits and starts.

My concern is with the durability of the medication, stuck as it is in
a black saddlebag where it can get quite hot. Any experiences of
suggestions about this issue, including how to package it for best
protection from the heat? Has anyone actually had to use one out "on
the road"?

I asked my allergist about this, and she suggested that I wrap a layer of
foam around it and seal it in foil (and label it clearly on the outside),
and then just replace it annually. I think there are several different
insulated cases on the market as well.

I carry mine in a kit that stays with me all the time -- in the rack trunk
if I'm riding, in my shoulder bag if I'm not -- since I may need it for food
allergies as well. I've only needed it once, thank the gods, and if I recall
correctly it was in the Fall, which means it was about 6 months old and had
been through one summer of riding. It worked fine.

Be sure to insist on an expiration date at least 18 months away when you
fill your prescription. You may have to insist forcefully.

R

"Rich Clark" wrote: I asked my allergist about this, and she suggested
that I wrap a layer of foam around it and seal it in foil (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I'm not suggesting that I know more than your allergist, but then again--I
have a degree in mechanical engineering, with a heat transfer option.
Insulation may be giving you a false sense of security. Your medicine will
take longer to heat up if it's wrapped in foam, but it will also take longer
to cool down. Whether you gain or lose depends on things that even your
allergist may not know.

On Apr 18, 11:45 pm, "Leo Lichtman"
wrote:
"Rich Clark" wrote: I asked my allergist about this, and she suggested

that I wrap a layer of foam around it and seal it in foil (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I'm not suggesting that I know more than your allergist, but then again--I
have a degree in mechanical engineering, with a heat transfer option.
Insulation may be giving you a false sense of security. Your medicine will
take longer to heat up if it's wrapped in foam, but it will also take longer
to cool down.

That was my thought. Instead of roasting quickly, it's slow cooked
for a long time.

Austin

Ron Wallenfang wrote:
Late last summer I had a severe allergic reaction to an insect sting -
probably a hornet, possibly more than one. I've been to an allergist
who tested and found me allergic to wasps, hornets and yellowjackets,
and have been getting regular venom injections to try to develop an
immunity. But prudence still dictates carrying an epi-pen, which I
haven't needed the last 6 months because the cold weather has driven
these critters out of sight, but which I'm about to start needing
again as spring weather advances in fits and starts.

My concern is with the durability of the medication, stuck as it is in
a black saddlebag where it can get quite hot. Any experiences of
suggestions about this issue, including how to package it for best
protection from the heat? Has anyone actually had to use one out "on
the road"?

As this in you case a chance of making the difference between life and
death, I would be a little more careful about how it was carried and
where. Whenever we ride we have the necessories we take in addition to
what we have on the bike, Money, ID, cell phone, keys. You might
consider your epi pen graduate to this category. Although if you forget
to bring it you are in trouble. In equipment intensive sports one needs
to recognize what is considered life support equipment and plan accordingly.

I was once stung multiple times in the middle of no where on a ride and
hoped in fact I was not allergic to the stings and luckily not. The
bees got caught in my leg hair as I was riding so made for a valid
excuse to shave em. Had I been allergic and annalphalaxsis(sp?) ensued
I would have been dead meat.

They do discourage leaving the epipen in a closed car under a sun, so,
I guess heating the epinephrine above 100 degrees for hours is no a
good idea. Just how hot do you expect your saddle bag to become?
Epinephrine is a very simple molecule which I would expect to be
relativley stable chemically (to my untrained eye it appears similar
to bensoic acid which is used as a preservative in fruit juices):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epinephrine

I would not expect it to go bad as easily as, say, a power bar (and
I've kept powerbars in a bag for weeks w/o much effect). If you are
still concerned, get a new pen every 6 months. And.... don't wear
those bright colored jerseys, bees confuse them with flowers.

it sucks that you are allergic to bee stings. I do have an epipen, but
my allergy is a certain type of a berry which I know I won't eat on a
bike ride (and I don't accept power bars of a type that I don't know.
e.g. Cliffbars DO have that allergen). Also, if I must eat a new food,
I take a tiny bite, wait it out for 10 min, and then eat the rest.
Again, this strategy is not of a big help to you.

this article appears to contain the information you want. Free
registration is necessary:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/472699

On Apr 21, 2:34 am, "
wrote:
this article appears to contain the information you want. Free
registration is necessary:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/472699

Very interesting and comforting information! The instructions say to
store epinephine at 25 C, and that it's OK between 15 and 30 C
(59-86F) for "excursions". I suspected those numbers were
conservative. The study you cite suggests they're very conservative
indeed. Relative to the 59-86 range, I ride in sub 59 temperatures,
even in insect season, a lot more often than over 86 temperatures.
Typical summertime high/low temperatures in Milwaukee are 80 and 60.
The study doesn't really address the low end of the range, but I also
suspect 59 is an arbitrary and not a real risk number.

My high temp concern is for the San Francisco - Milwaukee trip I'm
planning for this August, which is likely to feature some pretty high
temperatures along the way. But from the study, it appears I
shouldn't have much of a problem.