EpiPen Failures Cited in Seven Deaths This Year, FDA Files Show

It's not just about the price anymore. Complaints about the lifesaving device have doubled since 2016.

By Anna Edney

‎November‎ ‎02‎, ‎2017‎ ‎4‎:‎00‎ ‎AM

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-02/epipen-failures-cited-in-seven-deaths-this-year-fda-files-show

QuoteThe FDA received a total of 228 reports of EpiPen or EpiPen Jr. failures during the same time period, according to documents made available as a result of a Freedom of Information Act request. In addition to the deaths, 35 people were hospitalized, according to the reports.

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BTW, regarding FOIA requests ...


"Governments turn tables by suing public records requesters"

By RYAN J. FOLEY

Sep. 17, 2017

https://www.apnews.com/7f6ed0b1bda047339f22789a10f64ac4

QuoteAn Oregon parent wanted details about school employees getting paid to stay home. A retired educator sought data about student performance in Louisiana. And college journalists in Kentucky requested documents about the investigations of employees accused of sexual misconduct.

Instead, they got something else: sued by the agencies they had asked for public records.

https://twitter.com/alexeigonzmd/status/923925367727034374

May belong in a different thread.

Completely agree momma2!!

My3guys, the thing is, we shouldn't have to wonder about that!

This whole thing has me wondering...dangerous I know. I'm thinking back to our incident last year in FL that I posted about. The whole thing definitely appeared like a reaction...first epi relieved symptoms for few minutes. Then they came roaring back. Gave second epi. Symptoms didn't get worse...but didn't subside for a while. By that time he'd been given IV Benadryl and we were in the ambulance. I expected more relief from the epi. It makes me wonder if all the fluid dispensed. It seemed like it worked at the time... we will never know at this point. Guess I should let this go...

Anyone hear if Mylan/Pfizer issued a response to the FDA yet?  Would such a letter be made public?

My cousins carry EpiPen and my aunt has been hesitant to switch to Auvi-Q. I know that EpiPen is the titan in the market (market share) and has history, but these revelations are troubling. Sanofi pulled Auvi-Q completely over a couple dozen reports (all lots) and it didn't return to the market for ~18 months.

I will update the sesame & FDA threads a bit over the next few days.

There are times (like now) I feel that the weight of public health bank perseverates on an emotional lifestyle PEANUT-NO PEANUT argument. 

Meanwhile...

• FDA has massive clusterfudge in the autoinjector market.  No prevention, no competition, all too little, too late after-the-fact.  And where are the FDA at on sesame added to FALCPA? 


• The ACAA might be amended to allow private right of action.  Yet the social conversation is still on nut bans on planes? 


• EMS are not remotely in sync with epinephrine administration as convention plans indicate.  Training needs a significant overhaul for the recognition of anaphylaxis (and differentiation in assisted and/or adjunctive drugs when patients have comorbid asthma) to fully implement the intention behind the legislation to allow administration of epinephrine to the most basic scope.


• Private practice OIT receives little attention compared to FARE/Aimmune CODIT and now FDA qualified health claims are allowed on labels that are based on promising evidence in very select segments.

This is no way directed at my doc.  He lives with the same or more that we do, and he has never fallen into the "PEANUT! PEANUT! PEANUT!" tar pit.

Likely going to drive down to son at college and take him another set -- one composed of 2 different lots.  He had 2 sets to begin with, but one is with the travelling athletic people and 1 set with him.

I see now I should get another set to him -- split up from his sister's sets.


Effing Mylan.

Feeling really glad I decided to bite the bullet and go with the non-Mylan generic, though who knows if that is better.

Seriously considering asking for a vial and syringes as a back up. 

 


Just a reminder to... as another poster mentioned upthread-- carry two from different lot numbers if you possibly can.

This is something that most of us old-timers have done for a couple of decades now, since the LAST big kerfuffle and recall back way before Mylan owned the brand, even.  It's a rescue med, and without it operating flawlessly... yeah-- bad, bad things happen.

If a device CANNOT fail you when you need it... plan accordingly.

It'd just really really be nice if we as consumers and patients had a little bit of help-- heck, even just "transparency" I'd settle for that-- from the manufacturers.

I'm just beyond words right now.  I figured it was all the same somehow: Mylan and Pfizer.   

Copying what I wrote in my local allergy group:

Allerject had similarly reported (though never publicly confirmed) dosing defects and recalled every single unit in North America, completely re-engineered their manufacturing process, and came back to market with a more reliable device (in America only). But, if EpiPen did that, we'd have nothing but phials and syringes like AnaKits before - not a situation anyone wants to be in. I'd rather have two devices with a 99% efficiency rate than a phial and syringe.

I just want to cry.  Seriously.  Like I need more anxiety over my allergies right now.  Allerject needs to come back to Canada.  Or we need a miracle cure.  Where can I get one of those? 

It was on my Facebook Feed today.   

I just came on tonpost this.  Livid doesn't even begin to describe what I feel right now.