Buying an adrenaline device FAQ

Currently, the only brand of adrenaline injector available in Australia is EpiPen®. 

Anapen® Junior 150 and Anapen® 300 are no longer available in Australia. Anapen® 500 is currently out of stock in Australia. 

There is one brand of adrenaline nasal spray, neffy®

Doses of adrenaline devices

Learn more about adrenaline devices

Read about the brands and doses of adrenaline devices, how adrenaline works and more.

About adrenaline devices

Currently, the only adrenaline devices available on PBS in Australia are EpiPen® Jr and EpiPen®. At present, Anapen® is not available in Australia. 

The first PBS authority prescription needs to be provided by or in consultation with an allergy specialist, respiratory physician or a paediatrician.  This means a GP or nurse practitioner can write a first PBS prescription if they speak with one of these specialists who approve the need for an adrenaline device. 

An initial PBS prescription may also be prescribed after you have been discharged from hospital or an emergency department after treatment with adrenaline for anaphylaxis. 

A doctor (including a GP) or nurse practitioner can write follow-up prescriptions without consulting a specialist. The doctor/nurse practitioner will need to get an authority prescription from Services Australia every time. You can only purchase two in-date adrenaline devices through the PBS on authority prescription at any one time. 

If you use one or both of your adrenaline devices you can replace them with another two devices using a PBS authority prescription, even if it has only been a short time since your last adrenaline device PBS authority prescription. You can also replace expired devices with another two devices using a PBS authority prescription. 
 
Your doctor/nurse practitioner should provide an ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis (red in colour) with every prescription for an adrenaline device, even if your trigger allergens have not changed. 

ASCIA Action Plans can be printed from the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) website.

The ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis is reviewed or updated when you see your doctor/nurse practitioner for a new adrenaline device prescription. The ASCIA Action Plan provides instructions on how to manage and treat an allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis. 

NOTE: Adrenaline devices are not usually prescribed for people with medication allergies even if they have had previous anaphylaxis. This is because medications are much easier to avoid than food or insects, for example. 

A PBS prescription or a medication that is PBS listed is one where the government pays some of the cost so people pay only the standard price of a prescription (that is currently $25 for most Australians and $7.70 for concession card holders). 

If you are prescribed an adrenaline device on a PBS prescription, you will get 2 adrenaline devices for the price of one prescription. 

When neffy® is available in Australia, it will initially only be possible to purchase it with a private prescription for one or two devices. Hopefully it will become available on PBS prescription soon. 

Your doctor/nurse practitioner will prescribe the correct dose of adrenaline device based on the person’s weight. With neffy®, age as well as weight is important. A child must be 4 years or older to be prescribed neffy®. 

Dose recommendations are also written on the ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis so they are easy to find in an emergency. 

The type of adrenaline device prescribed is based on a medical decision by the doctor/nurse practitioner as well as the patient/carer preference. Considerations include the weight of the patient, age of the patient (for neffy®), history of anaphylaxis and how the device is administered.  Training on the chosen adrenaline device is then given.   

It is very important that you know how to use the type of adrenaline device prescribed, especially if it is different from the one you have used in the past. 

• For information on ordering Anapen® stock, the pharmacy should contact the distributor (Arrotex) on 1800 195 055. 
• For information on ordering EpiPen® stock, the pharmacy should contact the distributor (Viatris) on 1800 931 625. 
• For information on ordering neffy® stock, the pharmacy should contact the distributor (CSL Seqirus) 1800 008 275 

If they are unsuccessful, please ask the pharmacy to call Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia on 1300 728 000. 

Your adrenaline device expires at the end of the month shown on the device. 

You should allow enough time to make an appointment to see your doctor/nurse practitioner for a new prescription to take to your pharmacy. 

Remember that the pharmacy may not have the adrenaline device in stock and may need to order it. In metropolitan areas, it may take a couple of days for the adrenaline device to arrive in the pharmacy. In rural, remote, and regional areas, it is likely to take longer. 

It is best to start the process of getting a new prescription at the beginning of the month your adrenaline device is due to expire in case there are any delays. 

You will be able to buy two adrenaline devices on a PBS authority prescription for the Health Care Card prescription price (currently $7.70). 

There is no discount on over-the-counter devices bought without a PBS authority prescription. 

There is no discount on adrenaline devices purchased with a private prescription. 

As neffy® is only available on private prescription at this stage, it cannot be purchased at a discounted price. 

Currently, the only adrenaline devices available to buy for general use (not prescribed for a specific person) are adrenaline injectors. 

As neffy® is only available on private prescription at this stage, it cannot be purchased as a general use adrenaline device. 

Anapen® is currently not available in Australia. 

Adrenaline injectors can be purchased over the counter from any pharmacy without a prescription. The cost will be around $80 to $120 per adrenaline injector. 

There is no government subsidy unless adrenaline devices are prescribed to a specific person on a PBS authority prescription. 

Organisations that buy an adrenaline device for general use should keep an ASCIA First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis (orange in colour) with the adrenaline device they have bought. The ASCIA First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis has a QR code to a webpage that shows how to use all adrenaline devices available in Australia.  

ASCIA Action Plans can be printed from the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) website.

ASCIA has information on adrenaline devices for general use. 

Some private health insurance funds will cover part of the cost of adrenaline devices purchased on a private prescription (not a PBS authority prescription). 

Check whether you can get a rebate (that is, some money back) through your private health fund with your level of private health cover.  

You will need to get a signed receipt from your pharmacist. You will need this receipt to make a private health insurance claim if you are entitled to it. 

Yes you can buy more adrenaline devices. 

EpiPen® Jr and EpiPen® can be bought over the counter from any pharmacy without a prescription. The cost is about $80 to $120 for ONE device.  

EpiPen® Jr and EpiPen® purchased on private prescription will also cost $80-$120 for ONE device.  

The price depends on the pharmacy. We recommend that you ring a few pharmacies to find the cheapest price. 

You must replace your adrenaline device if: 

• you have used it 
• it has been fired/triggered by accident 
• it is about to expire  
• the liquid within the adrenaline injector becomes cloudy/discoloured or has floating particles. The neffy® adrenaline nasal spray does not have a viewing window to check liquid. 
• it has been kept in direct sunlight or in extreme temperatures for extended periods of time and the distributor advises it should be replaced 

NOTE: If you have used an adrenaline device, you should replace it immediately. You should always have at least one in-date adrenaline device with you and replace the other as soon as possible. 

Adrenaline injectors have an expiry date of 12-18 months from when they are made overseas.  

neffy® 1mg has an expiry date of 24 months from when they are made overseas. 

neffy® 2mg has an expiry date of 30 months from when they are made overseas. 

Check with the pharmacy what the expiry date is. If it is a lot shorter than the dates listed above, you could ask them to order you a device with a longer expiry date. 

You may have to wait a couple of days for the order to arrive at the pharmacy, so do not leave it until the last minute to renew your adrenaline device prescription. 

You may also like to phone a few pharmacies in your area to see which pharmacy has adrenaline devices with the longest expiry dates. 

On rare occasions, all available adrenaline devices may have a short expiry. If this occurs, it is better to buy an in-date adrenaline device even if the expiry date is short. 

When neffy® becomes available in Australia, it will initially only be possible to get it with a private prescription. 

The recommended retail price (RRP) of one box of neffy® 1mg or 2mg containing two nasal sprays will be $194 (RRP is a guide only and pharmacies may charge more).  

The cost of buying a single neffy® on private prescription is expected to be approximately $97, however the price will depend on the pharmacy. We recommend that you ring a few pharmacies to find the cheapest price.