Generic, cheaper EpiPen scheduled to be released

By Alana Cerrone

acerrone@abc6.com

@Alana_Cerrone

Hayden Sullivan learned the hard way that he has a life-threatening nut allergy.

"I just remember coughing a lot and it was really hard to breathe -I was really swelled up."

He was only in 2nd grade. Since then it’s only gotten harder to live with that allergy, especially now that he’s starting his freshman year of college.

"They have this huge dessert area but I stay away from that stuff."

Thankfully, he hasn’t had to use his EpiPen on himself, but he does have to replace his two-pack when it expires every year.

That costs $600 for the name brand, and now $300 for the generic.

The question for Hayden and so many other allergy sufferers is…is it worth risking the generic?

"If it doesn’t work as well I definitely wouldn’t want to risk it…it’s a life or death situation that it comes down to."

Asthma and Allergy Physicians in Providence is telling patients the generic is safe.

"It’s the same medication in both the generic and the EpiPen it’s the device that’s different."

Depending on the insurance, the generic could also save patients and their families hundreds of dollars, especially when just one pack is not enough.

"We see a lot of children particularly with food allergies that need to have EpiPens in several different places they need them at school at home…parents are very concerned about being able to afford these life saving devices."

Mylan, the company that makes EpiPen, also said it will be doubling the limit for patients to be eligible for its assistance program and offer co-pay cards. But those cards will only be available for the branded version, not the generic. The generic version is scheduled to come out in the next couple weeks.

© WLNE-TV 2016