HEALTH COACH - EpiPens still powerful 4 years after the expiration date, study says

HEALTH COACH -

 EpiPens still powerful 4 years after the expiration date, study says  
 The active ingredient in auto-injectors like EpiPen is epinephrine, more Known as adrenaline, a hormone that can help relax muscles. It can open the airways and reduce swelling in a severe allergic reaction. 
 
 The price of auto-injection devices has increased 400% since 2007, attracting the patients who rely on them to quickly counteract life-threatening reactions. Indignation has increased as more and more insurance providers have dropped coverage of the EpiPen. 
 
 In the midst of criticism, manufacturer Mylan has developed a cheaper alternative generic at the price of $ 300 for two pens. 
 
 With these patients in mind,   researchers tested devices whose expiration dates had passed to determine if they were still powerful and safe. 
 
 
 The author of Lee Cantrell's study, Professor of Medicine and Pharmacy at the University of California, San Diego, and his team  measured the epinephrine concentration of 40 EpiPens and EpiPen Jrs. They found that 29 months after the expiration, the pens contained at least 90% of their declared amount of epinephrine. Pens 50 months - more than four years - after the printed expiration date, more than 84% of the drug. 
 
 "Essentially, all this would still be in the recommended therapeutic range," said Dr. Thomas Casale, professor of medicine at the University of Southern Florida and executive vice president of 39 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. 
 
 The new study builds on previous research showing that epinephrine auto-injectors have a much longer lifespan than the labels shown. A 2015 study found that some retained more than 90% of their indicated dose two years after their expiration. 
 
 
  
 
 
 ] Despite the results, Casale, who did not participate in the new study, said that patients will probably not want to take a chance with a potentially dangerous drug. 
 
 "Until these labels are changed, patients are in a bad situation, because they are concerned about the existence of a fatal event and do not Have an effective drug, "he said. 
 
 Cantrell and Casale say that if someone has an allergic reaction, epinephrine expired is better than nothing. 
 
 "Our paper does not suggest that people take expired medicines," said Cantrell. "We can not make this leap based on our data, but what we can say is that if you have nothing else and you have a deadly reaction, use it certainly Epinephrine expired ". EpiPen competitor alternative Auvi-Q coming back soon "data-src-mini =" // i2.cdn.cnn.com / 
 
 
 
 Cnnnext / dam / assets / 161026145456-auvi-q-epinephrine-autoinjector-returns-small-169.jpg "Auditions-data-src-xsmall =" // i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/161026145456 -epinephrine-autoinjector-returns-medium-plus-169.jpg "data-src-small =" http://i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/161026145456-auvi-q-epinephrine - Autoinjector-returns-large-169.jpg "data-src-medium =" // i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/161026145456-auvi-q-epinephrine-autoinjector-returns-exlarge-169. Jpg "data-src-large =" // i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/161026145456-auvi-q-epinephrine-autoinjector-returns-super-169.jpg "data-src-full16x9 =" //i2.cdn.cnn.com/cnnnex T / dam / assets / 161026145456-auvi-q-epinephrine-autoinjector-returns-full-169.jpg "data-src-mini1x1 =" // i2.cdn.cnn. Com / cnnnext / dam / assets / 161026145456-auvi-epinephrine-auto-injector-return-small-11.jpg "data-request-loading =" not loaded "data-eq-pts =" min: 0, xsmall : 221, small: 308, medium: 461, large: 781 "src =" data: image / gif; Base64, R01GODlhEAAJAJEAAAAAP /////// wAAACH5BAEAAAIALAAAAAAAAAAAIKII + py + 0Po5yUFQA7 "/> 
 
 However, Hufnagel says that she knew her expired pens were still good and kept them just in case. "I keep others as backups because I know in my brain that they are always good," she said. 
 
 "The reason I buy new? I want to be a good mother and follow the recommendations.That, and schools will not accept them if they have expired," she said. 
 
 Although some schools purchase EpiPens, most still require students to provide theirs and enroll them at the nurse's office. As with all drugs, school policy requires that families update  prescriptions  and replace them when they exceed their expiry dates. 
 
 Replacing pens can be expensive. The prescription was covered by Hufnagel's insurance, and an online co-payment card of the company brought the total of   to zero. But the family insurance provider has recently stopped covering the brand device. To avoid paying $ 600 out of pocket, they opt for the generic device cheaper. 
 
 Mylan, who also manufactures the generic version   offers co-payment cards that have brought the family price back to $ 10 for two pens. All additional pens needed would be purchased at a cost of $ 300 each. 
 
 "Safety and Efficiency" 
 
 
 Since the controversy over prices began, the shelf life of auto-injectors has been studied by chemists and manufacturers .   When exposed to light, heat or air, epinephrine may degrade and lose its effectiveness. 
 
 In an email statement, Mylan said the expiration date is the last day when the drug is "safe and effective". 
 
 "All epinephrine products have an expiration date that they come in an auto-injector or vial," the statement said. "An expiry date is the last day, depending on the quality control tests performed, that a product has been found to be safe and effective when stored under the conditions outlined in ;insert. 
 
 "Given the lethal nature of anaphylaxis, patients are encouraged to complete their EpiPen Auto-Injector at the expiration, about every 12 to 18 months. "
 
 Doctors and patients rely on manufacturers 'information to get the best." 
 
 Doctors and patients rely on manufacturers' information to get the best Information on the safety and efficacy of their medicines. 
 
 Most patients like the Hufnagels religiously respect the manufacturer's guidelines even amid increasing evidence of the power of the devices. 
 
 "As far as adverse drug reactions beyond the expiration date, I have not seen published study This shows that it is Really a danger, "said Cantrell.