Big news on epinephrine injector costs
The epinephrine autoinjector protects people at risk for life-threatening anaphylactic reactions, which cause a swollen throat and tongue, respiratory distress, edema and low blood pressure.
In 2007, Mylan acquired the right to sell EpiPen, the brand-name epinephrine auto-injector. Since 2007, the price for a two-pack went from $93.88 to $608.61. NBC news reports that it costs Mylan about $35!
To obtain a lowerpriced, 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 percent off), so ask what your rate will be, and know that Mylan’s My EpiPen Savings Card has restrictions.
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. KIDS’ NEW INSOMNIA HABIT: WAKING UP TO TEXT
According to a study in the Journal of Youth Studies, 20 percent of kids ages 12 to 15 regularly wake up during the night to send or check messages. As a consequence, they’re exhausted at school, and that translates to poorer grades, troubled relationships and greater susceptibility to illnesses.
Children 12 to 15 need 9-11 hours of sleep a night, but the researchers say that almost 18 percent of 12- to 13-year-olds and 28 percent of 14- to 15-year-olds reported that they go to bed around or after midnight. They’re hitting the hay way too late for sufficient sleep, and many are waking up later in the night to get online.
What’s the solution? All cellphones on the kitchen table. Parents, share the pain. No other communication devices in the bedroom. Lights off at 9 p.m., and that means computers, tablets and gaming stations are offline at bedtime. It’s important for their health (yours, too), grades and future. Email questions for Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen to youdocsdaily@sharecare.com.