Health Canada warning about Epipen autoinjector devices

Pfizer Canada has advised Health Canada that, in a very small number of cases, some Epipen (0.3 mg) and Epipen Jr (0.15 mg) auto-injector devices may not slide out of their carrier tube easily, or at all.

Consumers and pharmacists should check that devices can be removed from their carrier tubes with ease.

Although the chance of this occurring is very rare, failure to administer epinephrine as soon as possible during an anaphylactic response could lead to patient disability or death.

The number of Epipen or Epipen Jr auto-injectors with this issue is estimated to be two auto-injectors out of every one million.

The issue is with the carrier tube, and not with the device itself or the drug that it delivers (epinephrine). Some carrier tubes have a defect that partially blocks the opening of the tube and may prevent easy release of the auto-injector from the carrier. The company has identified the root cause of this issue and put corrective measures in place.

Products are not being recalled by Pfizer because the risk can be easily addressed by consumers and pharmacists checking devices—before an emergency situation arises—to make sure they slide easily out of their carrier tube.

Should you have a device with this defect, please return it to your pharmacist for replacement.

Epipen and Epipen Jr are used to deliver an emergency treatment of adrenaline (epinephrine) to patients who are at risk or have a history of life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis).

According to the company, there have been no reports of malfunctions related to this specific issue in Canada.