Many Families In The Dark About Cheaper EpiPen Alternative

BOSTON (CBS) – Diagnosed with a severe peanut allergy, one wrong bite could be deadly for 10-year-old Dylan Frazier of Duxbury. That’s why his mom, Kristen, keeps EpiPens everywhere. “We keep one in the cafeteria. We also keep one in the classroom and in the sports bag,” she said. The Fraziers’ insurance doesn’t cover the cost of all those extras, so they end up with hundreds of dollars in out-of-pocket costs just have that peace of mind. What Kristen and many of her friends who have kids with similar allergies didn’t know is there is a cheaper alternative. It is the generic epinephrine auto injector. It has been on the market since 2013 and the cash price is as much as $430 cheaper than the EpiPen. “I’m surprised that I didn’t hear about this because I think I’m pretty astute as to what is going on,” she said when we told her about the drug. The device is actually the generic for another brand of epinephrine injector called the Adrenaclick. “It’s the same medication,” explained Dr. Arthi Thangarj of Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Plymouth. So why aren’t doctors prescribing it? She believes it’s a lack of awareness among patients and some physicians. Emergency Room Doctor Ron Berrol agrees. “It’s like Kleenex. We don’t say ‘facial tissue,’” he explained. “When I think of epinephrine auto injector, the first word that comes to mind is EpiPen.” According to Dr. Berrol, the manufacturer of EpiPen, Mylan, also does an exc...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Health Local News Syndicated Local Watch Listen Dr. Mallika Marshall EpiPen generic epipen Source Type: news