Epi-Pen vs. Auvi-Q. Weight, shape, etc.

[Richard May]

So my Epi-Pen is about to expire and I just replaced it with Auvi-Q, a less expensive alternative (and my doctor helped me get it free). It’s pretty cool in that it will talk a person through administering it. It weighs a little less, and has very different form factor. Thought I’d share the details for anyone else who carries one.

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[Richard May]

And a side shot.

[jimmy b]

Interesting Richard. I would like to look into this alternative as I was really pissed about the disgusting price hike by the makers of the Epi-pen a while back. I don’t have to carry mine but I still need to have one for home care infusions. Is the active drug the same and do you know if the costs per unit are less on the alternative. If so I would delight in taking my business elsewhere and saving my insurance company the difference.

[Richard May]

I shouldn’t have qualified it as less expensive. However, their pricing scheme is very attractive.

I got mine for “$0 out of pocket” with my insurance through their Affordability Program. Plus, they mailed it directly to me.

It is epinephrine, the only difference between the two is the injection system.

 

[Art …]

Richard

you do carry some prednisone and benedryl pills in your emergency kit as well right ? being that these devices main purpose is to keep you alive until the pills have time to take effect.

[Richard May]

Oh for sure!

I carry ranitidine (Zantac), which is an H2 blocker, and Benadryl, an H1 blocker. My allergy is to peanuts; in the past it has manifested as hives several hours after eating them.

The epinephrine is mostly a “what if the allergy decides to change gears” kind of thing. I think I’m more likely to use it on someone else! Either way, having it gives my loved ones a sense of security.

It is arguable that I am packing someone else’s fears. OTOH it does give me some comfort to have it.

[BlackHatGuy]

“However, their pricing scheme is very attractive.”

Unless things have changed since the original announcement, it’s not all that attractive to insurance companies. As I understood it, there’s no out-of-pocket cost to those with insurance (regardless of insurance co-pay), no charge for those with no insurance making under $100,000/yr, or $360 to those paying cash. But the bill is a stiff $4500 to insurance companies. It will be interesting to see how many insurance companies block the device at those prices.

Also interesting to see when CVS releases their generic ‘epi-pen’ for $110 with a $100 coupon.

[Richard May]

Nobody ever pays retail in the health market. The whole scam is based on obfuscating prices, creating confusion, and nobody really knowing what, if any, the actual price is.

The $4500 price tag is simply a number. We don’t know what insurance companies negotiate to pay—for a $30 device—behind closed doors.

What it really means is that the manufacturer only wants to cut deals with large corporate clients. So we, the final users, can’t really say anything about the price. In some ways it’s an ingenious method to avoid public scrutiny.

[Author]

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