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Back-to-school budget buster: EpiPens

Don't Waste Your Money
Posted at 5:20 PM, Aug 19, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-20 05:04:39-04

(Original report courtesy Cassie Carlyle WMAR)

Think new Nikes are expensive? Parents who have to buy a popular medicine for their children are struggling with the skyrocketing cost. It's the pen you never want to have to use. The EpiPen.

The life-saving device administers epinephrine when someone is experiencing a severe allergic reaction, and now it costs five times as much compared to a decade ago. So parents who are gearing up for the school year now have to tack this pricey item onto their school supply list.

Parents who have high deductibles have to pay out of pocket for things like EpiPens, which can now cost more than $500 just for one box that contains two devices.

Each year, patients have to update their prescription to buy a new EpiPen. The devices become ineffective after their expiration date.

"I always ask them are you having trouble filling your prescription because with higher deductibles patients are having to pay out of pocket," Allergist Dr. Alma Herrera said.

Dr. Herrera says the biggest problem she sees is people can't afford to stay up to date with their prescription.

Money That Could Have Gone to School Supplies

Stephani Malloni is a mother of three children. Two have severe peanut allergies. Malloni says she could spend the money she uses on EpiPens in other parts of the family budget. 

"She could think of clothes," she said pointing to her daughter, "and he could think of sports stuff, it would go further," Malloni said.

But for a mother, she said, you have to have the device to protect your children. " I'm scared, but it is relieving to have it just in case, even though I don't want to give it to him," Malloni said.

The manufacturer, Mylan, defends the price, saying "Mylan does not set the final retail cost of its products, and additionally offers a patient assistance program."

What Can You Do?

Dr. Herrera said there is virtually no alternative, after the cheaper version, Auvi-Q was recalled for a malfunction.

You can often find discount coupons for as much as $100 off atGoodRX.com.

Some allergy doctors are now prescribing the generic medicine inside the EpiPen separately, then filling individual syringes for nurses to use. That can bring the cost down to $30 or less.

But many doctors and nurses do not approve of that home remedy, and call individual syringes dangerous if not injected by a medical professional.

In addition, most schools will not accept individual syringes in place of the EpiPen, as they have no guarantee of what is actually in the syringe.

And while some other drugs exist to counteract allergic reactions, experts say it is important for parents to know there is no substitute for epinephrine during a child's severe reaction. It's not worth risking their health, or their life.

So for now, many parents are left in a financial bind until another alternative comes around.

As always, don't waste your money.

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