As Epipen prices skyrocket, consumers and EMTs resort to syringes for severe allergies

[KamaAina]

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/as-epipen-prices-skyrocket-consumers-and-emts-resort-to-syringes-for-life-threatening-allergies/

Millions of people with severe allergies carry EpiPens to reverse life-threatening allergic reactions. But as the prices of these auto-injectors have soared, more than quintupling since 2004, many emergency medical responders — and some regular families — are turning to manual syringes as a cheaper alternative.

That’s raising concern among some doctors and patient advocates, who warn that it’s more complicated to get the correct dose and administer it safely with a syringe....

Her 12-year-old son is so allergic to milk that he wears a mask when he goes out in public. Last month, when she filled his prescription for two 2-packs of EpiPens — one to take to camp, and one for home —the cash register rang up a charge of $1,212....

Mylan has raised the list price of EpiPens over 450 percent since 2004, after adjusting for inflation, according to data provided by Elsevier’s Gold Standard Drug Database. A pack of two EpiPens cost about $100 in today’s dollars in 2004. The list price now tops $600. Some emergency medical services buying directly from medical supply companies pay even more — upwards of $900 for a pack of two.

Alas, it will likely take a death to have these lowlifes sued out of existence.

[inanna]

1. This is infuriating!

Greed sucks.

[inanna]

2. Here is what they cost in Canada...

https://www.canadadrugs.com/products/epipen/0-3mg

$206.19 CAD

[safeinOhio]

3. I went to the ER a bunch of times

for reactions. My vet told me to get liquid, injectable Benadryl. He said it was much safer than EpiPens and way cheaper. He was correct. I keep it around all of the time and at the first sign of a reaction I'll give myself a painless shot. You use very small insulin syringes.

They don't tell you or your MD about it because it is very cheap to use.

[NJCher]

4. what about a transdermal?

Your solution sounds good. I think you may have done a public service with that post.

You got me thinking, though. Do they have a transdermal? That would mean just rubbing a little into the skin--almost like putting on a little skin lotion. That's what I found out when my cat started coughing.

My cat developed asthma. My vet wanted me to give her liquid children's Benadryl in the form of a thingie where I put it in her mouth. Even though it was mixed with some fish stuff, I dreaded administering this medication. I hated putting her through the trauma, not to mention the fact that she has esp and knew exactly when I was going to give her the medication. She would run from me and I had to catch her.

I knew there had to be a solution, so I started researching on the internet and I found out about transdermals. It's about a third more expensive, but it's worth it to me. All I do is rub a little on the inside of her ear and voila--she's medicated. No trauma and so easy and fast.


Cher