If you or someone you love has a life threatening allergy (anaphylaxis), chances are you have at least one EpiPen on hand at all times, many stored at home, and perhaps even a few at facilities or schools you may frequent regularly. An EpiPen is an auto injector (spring activated needle) which expels epinephrine (adrenaline), and should be handled with care.
How to use, care for and store an EpiPen may be common knowledge among those who require one, however, disposing of EpiPens can prove taxing, and potentially nerve-wracking. With a needle many inches long chocked full of a foreign agent, many anaphylactics have a small collection of expired or faulty EpiPens sitting in their homes, without a clear idea as to where or how to correctly dispose of them. Here are some of your options – and preparations you should make – when it comes time to dispose of an EpiPen.
If possible, return your EpiPen to the plastic case it came in and screw the large green lid on as tightly as possible. If your EpiPen has been used, carefully avoid the exposed needle at the head of the injector while placing it back inside the plastic case. You may want to do this over a napkin or paper towel in case any solution left in the injector drips out of the syringe.
Call the following professionals to confirm that they will assist you in properly disposing of your EpiPen. Health care professionals vary greatly in their services, so take the time to pick up the phone before assuming any of the following will relieve you of your epinephrine injector.
Your pharmacist disposes of their own stock of expired EpiPens and will often take yours as well. They also know their customers, (perhaps they even filled the prescription in the first place) and will not be suspect of you when you walk in with a tube full of adrenaline. Bonus for you: You can get a new EpiPen prescription filled at the same time to replace the one you’re throwing away and save yourself a trip.
Your doctor’s office will have a ‘sharps’ disposal, and will sometimes take auto-injectors as well.
The local hospital, the emergency room or allergy clinic in your local hospital may all accept an EpiPen for disposal as they themselves will be disposing of their own used sharps and needles daily.
Medical Labs, especially those where blood work and needles are a staple will sometimes take EpiPens for disposal.
Always ask if the facility charges a fee for disposing of your EpiPen. Many do. Often, it’s well worth the extra couple of minutes it takes to call the next professional on the list to get the service for free.
If all else fails, you can dispose of your EpiPen in your household garbage. Especially in cases where the EpiPen has been used, use extreme care and ensure that the injector is completely secure in it’s plastic case. Place the EpiPen directly into a garbage can that cannot under any circumstances be accessed by a child.
