“Where’s your EpiPen?”

I’ve asked that question more times than I can count. I'm the mom of a food allergy kid. I have the sleepless nights. The grey hairs. The worry lines of that fate.

My son, Connor, has had life-threatening anaphylactic allergies to foods—including to eggs—since shortly after his birth. It’s flat out terrifying to know that an accidental bite of the wrong food could literally kill your child or someone you love if you aren’t careful.

Our family always has 2 EpiPens on hand in case an accidental cross contamination of food happens. And, each start of the school year, we leave 2 EpiPens there too. Why? EpiPen shots can mean the difference between life and death, with just minutes making a difference, if an anaphylactic allergic reaction happens.

*EpiPens are making headlines lately not because they are saving lives, but because the cost is skyrocketing for "no obvious reason," according to the Washington Post, other than increasing corporate profits and giving executives massive raises.

—> Tell the CEO of Mylan, the company that manufactures lifesaving EpiPens, to stop overcharging now:http://action.momsrising.org/sign/epipen_price/?source=blog

As a mom, it’s hard to even put into words how thankful I am that EpiPens exist. I was horrified to learn the price for EpiPens has sky-rocketed by 450% in recent years to now cost over $600.00, making this lifesaving medicine out of reach for too many families. It should be noted that the actual medication, epinephrine, that’s in one EpiPen dispenser costs only $1. 

So where’s all that money going? Well, NBC News and others have reported that as prices have skyrocketed, so have the salaries of the executives at Mylan. In fact, the Mylan CEO’s total compensation went from $2,453,456 to $18,931,068, a 671% increase. You read that right: The CEO of Mylan, the manufacturer of EpiPens, is paid nearly NINETEEN MILLION DOLLARS. Meanwhile, due to overpricing, lifesaving EpiPens may be out of reach for families.

The only real purpose of EpiPens is to save lives. Price gouging for this type of medication is flat out wrong and unacceptable.

*Join me in telling the CEO of Mylan the company that manufactures lifesaving EpiPens, that a 450% price increase is outrageous! Selling the EpiPen packet of two for more than $600 is unconscionable, particularly because the actual medication, epinephrine, that’s in one EpiPen dispenser costs only $1. It’s time to bring the price down.

http://action.momsrising.org/sign/epipen_price/?source=blog

I asked my son, a person who lives with the daily reality of having life-threatening anaphylactic allergies, what he thought about the whole situation—and here’s what he had to say:

“My whole life I have had anaphylactic, life-threatening allergies. EpiPens aren't just peace of mind (for me and my family), they are the only real way to treat life-threatening allergies outside a hospital. I know people who might not be here today if their families couldn't afford them. People shouldn't die because they got stung by a bee or accidentally ate the wrong food. EpiPens save lives, overpricing them is irresponsible and puts lives in danger. Companies who make lifesaving medicines like EpiPens deserve to make profits, but not at the expense of the lives of those they are supposed to help.” - Connor

Just last week I was packing to go on a family vacation in the Sierra Nevada mountains and I found myself asking my regular question, “Where is your EpiPen, Connor?” It turned out his were expiring soon so we needed to get 2 new EpiPens for our trip. I called up the pharmacy and put in the request. Then when I went to pick them up I found out that if I didn’t have the kind of insurance coverage that I have now, it would have been $730.00!!!

Not okay. Outrageous. As my son said: "Companies who make lifesaving medicines like EpiPens deserve to make profits, but not at the expense of the lives of those they are supposed to help.”

Please post this action link on Facebook and Twitter—and share far and wide. The more attention we get for this issue, the faster we’ll be able to get a more reasonable price and save lives.

*Here’s that action link again so you have it handy: http://action.momsrising.org/sign/epipen_price/?source=blog

Thank you for ALL you do!