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Many experiencing sticker shock with cost of the EpiPen

Posted at 5:14 PM, Aug 22, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-23 10:30:40-04

DENVER -- School is back in session and many parents are getting their child’s EpiPen prescriptions filled for the new school year.

But, many who suffer from allergies that cause anaphylactic shock are getting a case of sticker shock instead.

Dr. Leon Greos, who’s an allergy doctor with Colorado Allergy & Asthma Centers in Centennial said EpiPen prescription prices have gone up 30 percent in the past year alone.

“Every day the phone rings with patients having a hard time affording their EpiPen as the cost went up 15 percent last year and another 15 percent just recently and it’s over $600 now in most pharmacies for patients to get their EpiPen filled,” said Greos.

The EpiPen is now costing patients over $600 while the generic alternative called Adrenaclick can cost between $150 and $200.

If you would like to save money and be able to price compare prescriptions, a free app called ‘Good Rx’ will allow you to check what local pharmacies are charging for medications on the market.

If you’re looking for more alternatives to the EpiPen anytime soon, you may be in for a disappointment said Greos.

“The other devices that come along are novel and so people have to be trained up on how to use them, there can be some confusion about how to use them and that’s one of the worries that the FDA has as new products come to the market,” said Greos.  “Is it so different that somebody’s going to be confused and make a mistake and not use it when they really need it?”

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