Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Actual cost of the medicine inside: only a couple of bucks. Cost to this family to obtain: now $600. EpiPens also have a relatively short shelf life and require yearly replacement.
Rising cost of potentially life-saving EpiPen puts pinch on families
EpiPen - CBS News - August 16, 2016
Families with severe allergies often rely on EpiPens to deliver a dose of potentially life-saving medicine if a child has a bad reaction. But the cost of the EpiPen is surging, putting the pinch on many families.
The EpiPen is filled with epinephrine, which can counter the effects of a severe allergic reaction.
The auto-injector's price has risen by more than 480 percent since 2009.
The actual cost of the drug inside the EpiPen is only a couple bucks, reports CBS News correspondent Vinita Nair. So the manufacturer is essentially charging hundreds of dollars for a case -- and a trusted name. . . .
. . . They have to replace the injectors every year when they expire.
The Henegars remember paying as little as $80 for them five or six years ago before they switched to a high-deductible health plan.
"We really noticed it in the past year, year and a half when we went to go have it filled. It was $600," Lexi said. . . .
[Full article at link above.]
Among several excellent comments, see post by DOGCATMOM on Aug. 16 evening as this might be something others need to consider, the additives.
Excerpts:
. . . I am between a rock and a hard place, and I find it difficult to believe I'm the only person here. I am anaphylactically allergic to bee-, wasp-, and hornet stings.
I am *also* anaphylactically allergic to the preservative in the Epipen, a member of the benzo-alcohol family. . . .
. . . And then the Heavens opened up. A woman identifying herself as and wearing an ID badge confirming her title introduced herself to me as the Assistant Pharmacist for the Hospital. I nearly wept with relief.
Her careful listening to my history allowed her to identify the death ingredient as benzalkonium, benzalkaloid compounds, in fact the entire chemically related family.
This is now in my medical record with the same flag as Penicillin. . . . [End comment excerpt from DOGCATMOM] -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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MannaMe
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33330
posted
My child needs an Epi-Pen also. The cost is ridiculous!
Her doctor has recently started something new - they give you a vial of epinephrine and the syringe in a case - for around $50.
This is affordable. We can fill the syringe ourselves.
Posts: 2252 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2011
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Sublingual epinephrine tablets versus intramuscular injection of epinephrine: dose equivalence for potential treatment of anaphylaxis.
Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Manitoba, Canada.- 2006
Excerpts:
. . . CONCLUSION: Sublingual administration of epinephrine 40 mg from this tablet formulation resulted in EPPCs similar to those obtained after epinephrine 0.3 mg intramuscular injection in the thigh.
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: For treatment of anaphylaxis in the community, self-injectable epinephrine is underused.
This novel, fast-disintegrating epinephrine tablet formulation for sublingual administration is a feasible alternative that warrants further development. -
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- The studies I scanned have made no note of that. Still, if so, being bitter would be better than dying. There are usually ways to counteract bitterness without making it as attractive as candy (for safety) . . . yet, even a kid might not mind a minute of bitter if they could then breathe.
It may be that it would be bitter for the profits of EpiPen. Sublinguals would have to be much less expensive (though I'm sure they could still surprise in this way in the blink of an eye).
A sublingual approach would also give patients / parents more control and an easier way. That also does not always go over well with some powers. -
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
New Generation of Epinephrine Can Be Given as a Tablet Instead of as a Shot
December 3, 2014
Excerpt:
. . . This week, in the journal Allergy and Clinical Immunology, researchers tested a new form of epinephrine that can be given as a tablet under the tongue (sublingual). In this study, epinephrine levels peaked sooner when given sublingually compared to an intramuscular injection.
These results suggest that administering epinephrine via a sublingual tablet may be as effective as administering it via a shot.
At the least, the sublingual route has the potential to simply and quickly deliver the medicine when it is needed. Before this route and formulation are approved, more clinical testing and comparisons will be needed. -
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Epi was originally sold in vials with a needle and syringe provided. The Epi-pen came along later.
If you'll notice the amount of new epic-pen commercials that are out now, it is overwhelming.
"Mylan spent $35.2 million on EpiPen TV ads in 2014, up from $4.8 million in 2011..."
Epi in vials had an expiration date for far longer than the new pens do. Actually, the pens also had a longer duration before the expiration, but they've moved it up to sell more.
We knew with the vials, that we could keep and use the epi after the expiration date as long as it was still a clear liquid and hadn't yellowed. That saved me lots of money over the years.
Eli-Pens originally could be purchased one at a time. Today many of the kits are sold as a unit of two.
How Marketing Turned the EpiPen Into a Billion-Dollar Business
"That started EpiPen, which delivers about $1 worth of the hormone epinephrine, on a run that’s resulted in its becoming a $1 billion-a-year product that clobbers its rivals and provides about 40 percent of Mylan’s operating profits, says researcher ABR|Healthco."
"... the device’s soaring price—up 32 percent in the past year alone—has forced some families to make difficult choices in order to afford the life-saving medicine. The price increases are among the biggest of any top-selling brand drug, according to DRX..."
"After insurance company discounts, a package of two EpiPens costs about $415, DRX says. By comparison, in France, where Meda sells the drug, two EpiPens cost about $85."
They blamed it on the rising costs of deductibles. Thanks again, Obamacare!
They also said each pen costs about $1 to make. (not counting packaging, of course)
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- "They blamed it on the rising costs of deductibles. Thanks again, Obamacare!" (end quote). The networks love to use that ole line of blame. The pharmaceutical companies provide most of their paychecks.
Oh, for crying out loud, that is bunk. It's not about the rising cost of deductibles or about the ACA. It's coming from the profit driven board room of the pharmaceutical companies & the insurance companies who get their profits, too.
This is a very inexpensive substance. The president has nothing to do with the mark up.
This is private sector corporation-driven greed. That the pharmaceutical companies or insurance companies are able to charge whatever they want, though, well - that is a very serious flaw in any proper medical plan for every citizen. -
[ 08-22-2016, 08:05 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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(I didn't say the president had anything to do with rising deductibles .. but Obamacare does)
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- To use the term "Obamacare" imparts blame on the person.
I don't see how the ACA can be blamed for this particular medicine's skyrocketing increase unconnected to the cost of the substance. It just does not make sense. They are just capitalizing on the corporate mechanics / monopoly. -
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Keebler said... "It's not about the rising cost of deductibles or about the ACA. It's coming from the profit driven board room of the pharmaceutical companies & the insurance companies who get their profits, too."
That is exactly right. The CEO admitted to raising the cost because she could. They do it for the want of money. That is the bottom line.
Quote- "The price increases are among the biggest of any top-selling brand drug, according to DRX, a unit of Connecture that tracks drug pricing.
And Mylan spent $35.2 million on EpiPen TV ads in 2014, up from $4.8 million in 2011, according to researcher Nielsen. Mylan disputes the ad spending figures but declines to offer alternatives."
posted
Someone on another group posted this to me tonight:
The station I listened to tonight did also say "The company cites insurance plans with higher deductibles for the increase in the cost." If by "The company" they meant manufacturer, it will be interesting to see how they respond based on some of the facts from this article.
"Yes, the exorbitant price increases imposed by Big Pharma impact more than allergy patients. Diabetics have also fallen victim to Big Pharma's GREED. Insulin and related therapy for diabetics have skyrocketed to levels that even patients with prescription drug insurance can no longer afford.
Long- and short-term insulin, brand and "generic" versions, have increased in price from $500/month to over $1,000/month since the implementation of Obamacare. At those prices a patient reaches maximum yearly insurance pay-out in just a few months, leaving the patient to depend on less effective meds and nonprescription alternatives such as supplements, herbs, and spices, or simply going without therapy.
Without affordable prescription meds, doctors are seeing significant and life-threatening health deterioration in their patients.
One can not help but tie the price-gouging to the advent of Obamacare because of the timing. Could it be that the powers-that-be agreed to Big Pharma's free range of excessive price increases for the middle class in return for supplies of free meds for a few low-income programs? That is not an even deal, my friends!
So now . . . what say you, Members of Congress? You are back in session in September. Perhaps the truth will put some much needed pressure on Big Pharma. After all, you have received a lot of campaign donations from them."
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
I watched the news report about this and they said the CEO of Mylan got $2.5 million in compensation about ten years ago and now it's up to $19 million !!! GREED, GREED, GREED over the top while people continue to suffer and die because the costs of medicine are astronomical and unattainable for many! Disgusting and obscene!
The pharmaceutical industry is only in it to make profit at the expense of sick people! Outrageous! Where is the compassion and humanity??!!??
Posts: 8981 | From Illinois | Registered: May 2006
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posted
Our local TV station just had a segment on the Epi-Pen controversy and Consumer Reports suggested another one, Epinephrine Auto-Injector (also called generic Adrenaclick), which is cheaper.
They said, "The difference is in how the injector pens are designed and how they work."
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