If you carry an EpiPen in case of a deadly allergic reaction, you’ve probably noticed the price skyrocket over the last decade. The injectors now cost over $600 and still expire after a year, so it may be tempting to carry an expired EpiPen, or none at all. There’s an alternative, though: the Adrenaclick is a different device that delivers the same drug.




According to GoodRx, a two-pack of Adrenaclick injectors costs as little as $142 with a free coupon. That’s still not cheap, but it helps. (GoodRx’s prices include both name-brand Adrenaclick and its generic version.) The two devices work differently, though: for example, the Adrenaclick has two caps to remove, not one. Make sure you read the instructions.

Since the devices are different, your pharmacist can’t just substitute Adrenaclick if your prescription says EpiPen, so you’ll need to ask your doctor to prescribe the one you want. You should also verify that Adrenaclick is covered under your insurance. Call the number on the back of your insurance card, and they should be able to tell you.


If you still want to stick with EpiPens, their maker, Mylan, is offering a coupon that knocks down your copay by $100. (They call it a “$0 copay” coupon, but read the fine print.) This lets them keep charging the higher price to insurance companies and to anyone without the coupon. It’s a pretty standard page out of the drug company playbook, and it’s totally legal.

So, for that matter, is price gouging. The Senate Judiciary Committee is asking Mylan for details on why they raised prices, but that’s only because they’re hoping to find violations of antitrust laws. If it turns out Mylan increased the price just because they felt like it, that’s totally legal. Read more about this situation at the link below.

Why Did Mylan Hike EpiPen Prices 400%? Because They Could | Forbes

Updated 8/25/2014 to clarify that, as a commenter noted, the cheapest prices come from a listing that includes Adrenaclick’s generic version.