Health Canada is warning that some EpiPens might have defective packaging which makes them difficult to remove from their cases (in an estimated 2 out of every 1 million units)
It’s the tube it comes in, not the device or the drug itself that is defective.
The problem affects the EpiPen (0.3 milligrams) and EpiPen Jr. (0.15 milligrams) devices with an expiry date of September 2020 or earlier.
How to check your EpiPen:
- Flip open the carrier tube cap
- Gently turn the tube upside down
- Let the device slide into your hand, without shaking it or dropping it
- Check the tube to make sure that the rim is not deformed
- Do not remove the blue safety release from the auto-injector. It should be left on until the device is going to be used.
- If everything seems fine, put the device back in the tube and close the tube.
- Do NOT remove the blue safety release from the auto-injector device. The blue safety release should be kept on the auto-injector until the time of use
If you have a faulty device, return it to your pharmacist for replacement.
