This week, pharmaceutical company Mylan increased the price of an EpiPen by over 400%. Friends of mine are now facing a copay of $250 for one device, while NBC News reports that the cost can exceed $500 without insurance. Many families are struggling to afford this expense, putting them at risk for life-threatening anaphylaxis. It’s a truly alarming situation.
Only a parent of a child with severe allergies can truly understand how frightening this scenario can be. When my daughter was just 2 years old, she was stung by either a wasp or a bee during a playdate. What started as a simple itch quickly escalated to spots all over her body. By the time we got home just five minutes later, her entire body was swollen, making it difficult for her to open her eyes.
She went into shock on the way to the hospital, where she almost needed to be intubated. Following treatment, she was prescribed a week of steroids — and trust me, a 2-year-old on steroids is a sight to behold — along with Benadryl to help manage the reaction. She was covered in spots for a day and a half afterward and left with a prescription for an EpiPen.
How the EpiPen Works
Here’s how the EpiPen works: While my daughter knows to steer clear of bees and wasps, there’s always the possibility she could be stung. I carry the EpiPen in a special pouch everywhere we go. When the moment comes, I uncap it, hold her still (because she’s not a fan of needles), and inject it into her thigh through her clothes, counting to 10 as I do.
Mylan claims that the epinephrine in the EpiPen “constricts blood vessels to increase blood pressure, relaxes smooth muscles in the lungs to reduce wheezing and improve breathing, stimulates the heart (increases heart rate), and alleviates hives and swelling around the face and lips.” However, using the EpiPen is just the first step; we still have to rush to the hospital to ensure that we’ve effectively managed the anaphylactic shock, which in severe cases can be fatal.
We keep two EpiPens on hand — one for immediate use and another as a backup in case the first fails. While my daughter carries them, I’m the one who really looks after them. An EpiPen can halt or at least postpone anaphylactic shock, which can lead to hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling of the lips and tongue, making it even harder to breathe. It can also cause heart complications, such as low blood pressure, rapid heart rate, and chest pain. Anaphylaxis is no trivial health issue, and without immediate access to an EpiPen, the consequences can be dire.
The Price of Safety
NBC News also shared that Mylan stated the price changes reflect “important product features and the value the product provides” and that they have “invested significantly to support the device over the years.” However, many argue that the low production cost of epinephrine does not justify such a steep increase in price. The Huffington Post points out that the cost has soared from $100 for a pack of two pens in 1999 to over $600 today. Meanwhile, Mylan’s main competitor, Auvi-Q, faced a full recall last year, giving Mylan an unfair advantage in the epinephrine market, as reported by the New York Daily News.
As a result, many parents can no longer afford EpiPens, which need annual replacements. This leads some to keep expired pens, risking ineffective doses. Considering that about 1 in 50 Americans suffer from anaphylactic allergies — with insect stings and peanut allergies being the most common triggers — this presents a significant public health danger.
Let’s hope that other companies reintroduce their products or that new solutions for epinephrine delivery become available. Until then, the ability to protect against anaphylaxis is a privilege that only some can afford. The mere thought of my child facing a sting or ingested allergen without that safety net is terrifying.
Conclusion
In summary, the rising cost of EpiPens poses a serious challenge for families dealing with severe allergies, threatening access to life-saving medication and putting lives at risk.