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-paperbrain- t1_ixzuhw8 wrote

Reply to comment by ShalmaneserIII in ELI5: If allergies, and especially anaphylaxis, are so common, why do we still need prescriptions for epi pens and such? by boomokasharoomo

>If you forget to pack one for your kid on vacation, should you need to see a doctor to get one?

You don't need to. You can have your doctor's office send the prescription to a local pharmacy.

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ShalmaneserIII t1_ixzulv7 wrote

Unless it's a weekend, holiday, etc.

Really, what harm are you trying to prevent by keeping the thing prescription?

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deadpandiane t1_ixzvnv5 wrote

If you want to buy it over the counter you might be able to. I remember someone else that wanted to get one without a doctor for reasons. (I think they were on Vacation) It still had to be ordered and was expensive.

It is covered by prescription so people get them and get them replaced. Prescriptions get them to people and get replaced regularly. This system gets a life saving treatment to people that need it.

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Clewin t1_iy0wcl0 wrote

The same thing happened for a while with asthma inhalers. HFA propellant requirements took the OTC Primatine Mist off the shelves and despite promises that cheap inhalers and OTC HFA inhalers would appear in a couple of years, big pharma reformulated the propellant every 10 years to keep it perpetually under patent. Primatine had to develop and patent their own HFA to return to the OTC market.

Incidentally, asthma inhalers are kind of a directed epi and do help with anaphylaxis in the lungs. For example, Fel-D-1 is a common protein in cat saliva that can trigger anaphylaxis in asthmatics. For me, I also get red eyes and congestion with sneezing along with gasping for breath. Dogs produce less allergens for me, but I definitely notice when they haven't been bathed in a while. Dogs may be more of a fur allergy than saliva, cats are definitely saliva.

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