The most recent batch of Mylan’s EpiPens and EpiPen Jrs. distributed nationwide have been voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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This latest recall is hugely concerning for people who need EpiPens on a daily basis to protect them from dangerous or life-threatening allergic reactions. Thirteen lots of the EpiPen injectors are being recalled due to the possibility of defective parts with the mechanism.
Allergies run rampant throughout the United States alone, and an estimated 50 million people suffer from some sort of allergies, while specific food allergies affect almost 15 million people, with 1 in every 13 of those people being children. The biggest offenders when talking about allergies that require the use of EpiPens are food allergies — with peanut or lactose allergies being most prevalent in children and seafood being more active in adults. These types of allergic reactions have the tendency to become anaphylactic, which is the state in which an individual can experience typical allergy symptoms like a runny nose or skin rash, but also hives, trouble breathing and swollen lips or tongue.
This isn’t the first time that Mylan has been under fire. Last year, the company increased the costs of their EpiPens by a huge margin, raising the price from $100 for two devices to $600 — to be paid completely out of pocket. People everywhere expressed their anger over the price increase, arguing that something so necessary and practically lifesaving should not be on the verge of unattainable.
The FDA notes that any EpiPens sold between Dec. 17, 2015, and July 1, 2016, should not be used, but anything bought or used before or after that date range do not need replacement. In the event that you are unsure of your EpiPen’s status and whether or not it has been recalled, the FDA’s complete list of affected EpiPens is available here.
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