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In the heat of summer, patients who carry EpiPens should think twice about leaving them in their car to avoid a decrease in their effectiveness

A small pilot study, published in聽, found that even a single, short-time exposure to heat in a car during a sunny day can decrease epinephrine concentration in autoinjectors. If such degradation turns out to be progressive or cumulative, it could result in significant underdosage of epinephrine during anaphylaxis.

鈥淲e want to urge everyone to never expose their EpiPens to high temperatures or leave them in their vehicles,鈥� said first author Dr Piotr Lacwik. 鈥淯nderdosage during an anaphylaxis episode can have deadly consequences, so it is important patients keep autoinjectors stored correctly.鈥�

Epinephrine autoinjectors (EAIs) have recommended storage temperatures of 20鈥�25掳C, with excursions of 15鈥�30掳C permitted. During the summer months, however, EAIs may be exposed to high heat accidentally when being stored in locations with unregulated temperatures, such as inside a vehicle.

Alarmingly, the study concluded that despite the decrease in epinephrine concentration in the EAI there were no recognisable changes in the solution鈥檚 appearance.

鈥淭his is a very small pilot study,鈥� Dr Lacwik said, 鈥渂ut it鈥檚 an excellent reminder for patients to take great care when carrying their autoinjectors.鈥�

For their safety, patients should always keep their EpiPens with them and refrain from leaving them inside a car during warm weather, even for a short time.

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice聽is the official journal of the聽.

Image credit: 漏stock.adobe.com/au/kichigin19