travel4425

Does anyone know if cruise ships carry epipens? I am allergic to bee stings and wondered if i should get one from my doctor before i go or if they would have them avalible on the ship.

Percy

I would think the Doctor on the cruise ship would have one.

Ask your cruise ship to inform you on this.

If you get severe allergic reactions to bee stings..I would carry and Epipen.

The "pen" is not exactly cheap..but your health is more important.

Jeff801

Epipens are, according to the package insert, for immediate relief.

Depending on availability from a remote source seems imprudent to me.

abram

I always carry my Epi-pen; what if you get stung by a bee when you're off the ship on an excursion?

qwovadis

Always carry on to save with a note of medical need from my MD. More expensive more hassle quality not as great on some ships. I always carry a good medical kit detailed on
mdtravelhealth.com always keep my epi-pen in there.

jacketwatch

You should carry one with you at all times just in case. Though I am not allergic to stings I got stung by a hornet on the Star Princess while in the Baltic sea. You never know. Unless you are going to the Arctic. I don't think there are bees there.

Aristotle

You should always be prepared for predictable emergencies, even if remote. You will not always be on the ship and that is when you need to be prepared. I would not rely on anything from the ships infirmary. On our last cruise, the passengers doctor was mostly unavailable, except during very specific office hours. We saw him a few times on shore. My wife needed attention and mostly relied on me, although it's not always good to treat one's family. In fact, be sure to take all your regular meds with you, foreign countries may have quite different names for drugs. Even Generics are different. I tried to buy Pepto bismal (Bismuth subsalysalate) in Ireland and they had no idea what I wanted. Another reason to anticipate needs is that many drugs are available overseas that are not used here beacause of safety issues. Be careful and be prepared.

Percy

Good Advice from Aristotle:

Since you know you are allergic to bee stings ( and maybe other allergies) , you should carry an Epipen with you .

Holidays ( or anytime is not the time to get sick).
I have firends who do not use an Epipen at home (rather relying on oral medication)...

but on holidays they prefer to have an Epipen.

I assume that if you are on oral medications, that you obviously bring them with you.

Aristotle,did you try to buy the Pepto Bismol in a Pharmacy or a convenience store ?

If a Pharmacy, I am surprised that if you told them you wanted Bismuth Subsalysalate, they would not know what it was.

Generic Drug names are ( suppose to be ) worldwide.

I would expect a Pharmacist in Budapest know what drug I wanted if I asked for Acetaminophen..but not if I asked for Tylenol!

But I would not expect a regular store owner in Budapest to know what Acetaminophen or tylenol was !

Your not related to the famous Greek Philospher are you

jacketwatch

Another example is that in Hong Kong try as we might we could not find dramamine anywhere which is quite effective for my wifes motion sickness. I was amazed that a modern place like this did not have it so from now on if we are abroad we will take enough to last. They had some other, local meds which were either ineffective or made her fell worse.

Aristotle

No. Just sounds good.

In Dublin, I went to a pharmacy, as I would not expect a convenience store clerk to have any idea of the subtleties of pharmacies. I am not sure that generic names are world wide. That would be too logical. Never he less there are plenty of OTC's in other countries that have not been approved here because of safety or effectiveness issues. Compozine, which has caused my patients plenty of trouble - long ago now - is available in some places OTC. It is very effective for nausea, etc, but has horrible and frightening side effects. Reinforces my advice to be personally prepared to deal with as many health issues as you can before travelling. And even in the US.

Percy

I agree .

We seem (at times)to be a little behind Britain to approve some drugs.

I just feel that if the Food and Drug Act in Britian appoves a drug, then there should be little reason not to approve it in Canada or the USA.

Britain is a very good country for medical and pharmaceutical care.

There always has to be a little politics I guess.

socaltraveler

You could get stung anywhere far from the ship's doctor, carry an epi pen, will ft nicely in the cargo shorts.