Big news on lower epinephrine auto-injector prices

The band Berlin hit the charts with “Take My Breath Away” in 1986, a year before the first epinephrine auto-injector was approved by the Food and Drug Administration. That device was a game-changer, protecting people at risk for life-threatening anaphylactic reactions, which actually do take your breath away by causing a swollen throat and tongue, respiratory distress, edema and low blood pressure. They can happen from contact with an allergen such as peanuts, insect bites or chemicals, like latex.

In 2007, Mylan acquired the right to sell EpiPen, the brandname epinephrine auto-injector. Since 2007, the price for a two-pack went from US$93.88 to $608.61. NBC news reports that it costs Mylan about $35!

Thankfully, you can lower the cost. However, to obtain a lower-priced, generic EpiPen your doctor must write you a prescription for an “epinephrine auto-injector,” not “EpiPen.” Also, not all discount coupons deliver what they imply (up to 75 per cent off), so ask what your rate will be, and know that Mylan’s My EpiPen Savings Card has restrictions.

So, what discounts are available? CVS offers a generic two-pack for under $100; discount coupons are available online from national drugstore chains and places like GoodRx.com. Just Google “EpiPen discounts.” For the brand version: Walgreens, RiteAid and others offer EpiPen two-packs for around $200. Then there’s Auvi-Q. The EpiPen alternative hits shelves this month -- free to folks with commercial insurance or with no insurance in households earning less than $100,000. Will insurers and pharmacy benefit managers go along with the plan? We’ll see. And there’s Mylan’s discount: a two-pack for $300.