Flying with epi pen

[JediBonas]

I shouldn't have a problem taking my son's epi-pen on the plane, right? I'm not sure since it's a needle if there's some regulation or something I should know about. I haven't found anything online, figured I'd check here, too.

 

[JediBonas]

I should specify I know they are allowed on planes, just not sure if I need a drs note with then or if people have had issues bringing them aboard.

 

[Gracie09]

Not a problem. I put medications in a separate bag and declare them at the check point but dh has gel based medication. For an epipen I would just have it in an outside pocket tell the Tsa agent you have it an they will either tell you to take it out or keep it in.

 

[mommymot]

We fly alot and my son has a peanut allergy so I carry 4 epi pens on every flight. Bring them in the box with the perscription label on the outside. I have never had been a problem except one time that i had a single unlabled epipen of my sons in my purse when i was traveling alone. The TSA agent said they were going to confiscate it however when i asked to speak with a manager the manager said it was not a problem just make sure it is labled in the future. The reason I mention it is bacause if you ever have a problem always ask to speak to someone in charge. Not every TSA agent out there has common sense. lol (Most are great)

 

[MSSANDRA]

Never as issue. Just bring enough with you. Our doctor recommends one for every 15 minutes it would take you to get to emergency care.

 

[luvmy3]

We fly alot and my son has a peanut allergy so I carry 4 epi pens on every flight. Bring them in the box with the perscription label on the outside. I have never had been a problem except one time that i had a single unlabled epipen of my sons in my purse when i was traveling alone. The TSA agent said they were going to confiscate it however when i asked to speak with a manager the manager said it was not a problem just make sure it is labled in the future. The reason I mention it is bacause if you ever have a problem always ask to speak to someone in charge. Not every TSA agent out there has common sense. lol (Most are great)

We recently flew and I carried an unlabled one (set of 2) in my purse and my ds had one in his carry-on. Nobody ever said anything about it, thankfully because I had forgotten all ds's documentation for it.
OP, I would just carry a doc's note and the Rx info just in case.

 

[disfan07]

Not a problem at all. I usually take 12 or 14 with me because I tend to need them every 10 minutes so I have enough for at least 2 hours when flying ( and a little cushion of extras just in case one or two jam up) I usually have a few unlabeled ones in my purse and the rest in labeled boxes in my medical carry on bag.

 

[JediBonas]

Wow, now I'm a little concerned as we only have 2 epi pens. We have it for his peanut allergy, he's never had peanuts or a reaction to people eating peanuts around him, but his allergy testing indicated a peanut allergy so we keep an epi pen with us just incase.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Ask your doctor for extra prescriptions. DS6 also has a peanut allergy and has never had to use the pen, but you just never know. We are getting ready to do the "unknown" test and that might alter our thought but for now we always have at least four when we travel. We don't take four into the park we however, never go anywhere with less than two.

 

[AJgear]

My DS10 was diagnosed with a peanut allergy when he was two. We have carried epipens every since. I take two on planes with a Drs letter. I am always asked to take the actual pens out but I think only occassionally to show the letter. He has never had an incident. My dr actually said not to give more than two epipens for one incident as it could be too much adrenaline in the body. I thought the epipen is supposed to offset the adverse reaction so I'm confused as to why you would have to keep using multiple injections.

 

[happymommy]

My DS has egg and milk allergy (he outgrew peanut and sesame) and we travel a lot, ever since he was a baby. I bring several epipens, as well as inhalers and a portable nebulizer (he has asthma as well) and always a large bottle of liquid benedryl (which I would also recommend always having with you for food allergies). No medicine counts for the size rule, and you can even have an extra carry on for just medical things, and it won't count on your carry on limit. I used to have one bag just for meds, and it's always been fine. It's better to have extra and not need it (we usually need benedryl on trips a couple of times) than need it and not have it!

 

[JediBonas]

Our allergist has him in Zyrtec, does this count as something I can only bring a certain amount of on?

 

[wiigirl]

Never as issue. Just bring enough with you. Our doctor recommends one for every 15 minutes it would take you to get to emergency care.

 

[MSSANDRA]

My DS10 was diagnosed with a peanut allergy when he was two. We have carried epipens every since. I take two on planes with a Drs letter. I am always asked to take the actual pens out but I think only occassionally to show the letter. He has never had an incident. My dr actually said not to give more than two epipens for one incident as it could be too much adrenaline in the body. I thought the epipen is supposed to offset the adverse reaction so I'm confused as to why you would have to keep using multiple injections.

I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV.. I am not an expert, we have been on our allergy journey for about 5 years, we have a WONDEFRUL pediatric allergy doctor and I belong to several support groups and have quite a few friends with allergy kids. I do a ton of research and keep up with all the allergy news.

Here is why we always have extra pens:

Pens can mal-function. It does not happen a lot, but it does happens. You need to have a back-up.

Sometimes mom (read me) can make mistakes. I accidentally injected myself with DS's pen once.....pen wasted.

Things can happen to pens. You can accidentally leave one in the car and it gets too hot, it can fall out of the bag, you loose your backpack.... Scary when you need one at ALL times.
When traveling, we check the pens daily to be sure the liquid is still clear and it has not been compromised.

Sometimes. one or even two shots are not enough. No, you do not want to give more than two shots, but if your child does not respond to one or two shots, and can not breath, and you are waiting for 911 to respond, you are going to give that second or third or even fourth pen. Yes, it could do damage to the heart, but the alternative is your child dying before you can get to the ER. An Epi-pen is suppose to stop the reaction, but sometimes the reaction is so severe that that just does not happen. Scary...Sick to you Stomach feeling, but something every allergy parent needs to be prepared for.
This can be an issue as you child reaches the 65lb weight limit for epi-pen jr. Something else to consider.


Benedryl- Many doctors are now rethinking using it as a first line of defense. It can sometimes mask symptoms and delay the use of epi-pens. After the child died this summer from taking a bite of a peanut butter rice krispy treat, many doctors are questioning whether to use or not, and many are now recommending using the epi-pen even if there is not symptoms and you know there was a ingestion of the allergic food.

IF THERE IS EVER A DOUBT.....USE THE PEN!!!

The thing about an airplane that scares me is how far away you are from an ER. Most times you can get a child to the ER within the 2 15 minute time frames of epi-pens. On a plane that just may not happen.

Ask all these things of your doctor.....knowledge is power!!!

 

[happymommy]

Our allergist has him in Zyrtec, does this count as something I can only bring a certain amount of on?

Any medicine, Rx or over the counter, does not count in your carry on. You can bring whatever of it you need, and I always try to bring more than I think we'll need! I think you can look it up if you want to make sure, but it's on the TSA website somewhere.

 

[bumbershoot]

TSA does not ask for prescriptions. TSA doesn't care if you have things in original containers. For the Zyrtec question, TSA doesn't care about pills.

You will want to have the epipens separate from other things to help them see that that's what they are (makes their jobs easier AND benefits us by not having to take things out or have second and third looks done of our bags), just like any other medication with liquid in it.

DH travels with actual syringes and only has the prescription labels with him when he goes internationally, and has only had ONE time that the labels were needed, and that's because the drug he takes is illegal in Australia without a prescription. TSA doesn't care.

 

[AJgear]

Thanks MSSANDRA for the reasons for carrying multiple pens. As I have never had to use an epipen I hadn't really given much thought to malfunctions and user error. User error is really of particular concern for us, having never used one (except for practice on fruit). I agree also that any damage caused by too much adrenaline is worth saving a life as you wouldn't be using a 3rd or 4th pen unless the situation was very desperate.

It's very scary and the first leg of our flight is 13 or more hours over ocean. I think the best approach is be well prepared and try not to worry too much about it as otherwise it will be too terrifying to contemplate.

 

[MSSANDRA]

You are so welcome. We have to teach our children to learn to take the necessary precautions to keep themselves safe while never teaching them to live in fear. That is a very difficult thing to do. I have used fear to make other adults in our lives understand how serious this can be, but my goal is to never have our little guy live in fear. We will fly, and cruise and vacation and live as normally as we can. We have not flown that distance yet but I am sure at some point we or he will and I want him to do so with safe confidence! hugs for your trip. I am sure you will do great!

 

[JediBonas]

You are so welcome. We have to teach our children to learn to take the necessary precautions to keep themselves safe while never teaching them to live in fear. That is a very difficult thing to do. I have used fear to make other adults in our lives understand how serious this can be, but my goal is to never have our little guy live in fear. We will fly, and cruise and vacation and live as normally as we can. We have not flown that distance yet but I am sure at some point we or he will and I want him to do so with safe confidence! hugs for your trip. I am sure you will do great!

Thanks for all your help. I plan on getting another two pack of his epi pen jrs for the plane so we will have four for the flight. His only reaction has only ever been eczema but he's never had peanuts and I'm not about to risk not having enough epipens incase something crazy happens.