Auvi-Q relaunch

[hezzier]

Well, our luck has run out.  Called in for our 3rd refill of Auvi-Q and the guy on the phone apologized that it was taking forever.  It seemed like it was all good and gave me a delivery date.  He called back later saying that we needed a pre-authorization but that he had put in the paperwork for it so it might take a couple days.  Allergist office called asking why they got a request for a pre-authorization for a prescription that was done back in March.  I explained to the nurse that they had made a mistake and sent us the Auvi-Q on the free program so we were trying to get our third set.  There is really nothing that they can do.  I may try and call back tomorrow and see if what happens.

A real bummer since we are down to one set of Auvi-Q's since DS left them sitting on his desk in the sun for a week.

[name]

They arrived today.  COLD to the touch with a COLD PACK inside the insulated jacket.  I am done with Auvi-Q.  Soup sandwich.

[spacecanada]

So long as they didn't freeze they should still be good, according to a Canadian study a few years ago.  Heat is far worse for epinephrine autoinjectors than the cold.  Allerjects/Auvi-Qs are supposed to be water-resistant too.  I would call the company before discarding them. 

[name]

For how long are they good?  THAT is the question.  One that shouldn't even be the case for a company setting the market price on these at a total of $15,000 for 3 twin packs.  Rescue medication more than half the price of my new low end car should not be something I have to wonder about. 

Calling fulfillment took place long before I posted here.  Lots of shrugging, not terribly convincing any substantial thought was popping on that end.  I would not accept any other piece of equipment for deployment in the field that was handled under conditions clearly contraindicated let alone for a patient, never mind my own kids.  I'm not opening up to debate if I'm done with them.  I AM.  Last time I went a few rounds directly with the head of brand when they were with Sanofi.  Kaleo clearly cannot unfornicate distribution with any durable consistency.

[nyguy]

For how long are they good?  THAT is the question.  One that shouldn't even be the case for a company setting the market price on these at a total of $15,000 for 3 twin packs.  Rescue medication more than half the price of my new low end car should not be something I have to wonder about. 

Calling fulfillment took place long before I posted here.  Lots of shrugging, not terribly convincing any substantial thought was popping on that end.  I would not accept any other piece of equipment for deployment in the field that was handled under conditions clearly contraindicated let alone for a patient, never mind my own kids.  I'm not opening up to debate if I'm done with them.  I AM.  Last time I went a few rounds directly with the head of brand when they were with Sanofi.  Kaleo clearly cannot unfornicate distribution with any durable consistency.

I'd complain directly to Kaleo, but as someone who keeps my epinephrine on my person, the size and form factor is really critical to me as I carry it on my person (in a jacket or in my pants pocket) and not in a backpack or separate carrying case.

The ASPN people are not the people who have real action, they just send it out randomly to a network pharmacy. Calling fulfillment is going to get you ASPN, not Kaleo.

[GoingNuts]

DS saw his allergist Wednesday AM before heading back up to school.  Allergist wrote him a prescription for AUVI, so he'd have both Epipen and Auvi.  He asked if there were any discount cards, and his allergist said they would ship them directly to him with no copay. He had them by Friday morning. 

[TwoDDs]

Also just got free Auvi's subsequent to allergy appointment.  14yo is thrilled to have them back.

[hezzier]

So bummed that we cannot get anymore of these.  What's the latest theory of how long they are good for?  I think DS's set expire this month.

[spacecanada]

Istudies have shown that epinephrine autoinjectors are good for up to four years, with something like 80% potency, but I would never let a primary device expire.

Someone in my local allergy group is in contact with Kaléo and in discussions about bringing them back to Canada.  Apparently the $300/device cost is too high for insurance companies here to cover.  (That is the cost she mentioned, in Canada.). The new robotic manufacturing method has made these much more expensive to make.  So she is building a case from local families to bring to Kaléo showing demand here... But I doubt many people will pay $600 per set, when people already complain that $100 is too much for one EpiPen, and many people here still don't carry two.  Me, I'd pay the $600 for infinitely more comfortable devices when training every day - seriously.  Allerject fit in all my pockets, EpiPens fit in NONE, not even my cycling jersey, and waist pouches are starting to injure my back when running long distances. 

This link may be helpful here with regards to temperature:
https://community.kidswithfoodallergies.org/blog/researchers-review-effects-of-heat-cold-on-epinephrine
Yes, yes... I know the source, but it's a good article.

[hezzier]

Well, he has a set of epi pens at school as a back up so he would only carry the auvi's to school.  If he was going anywhere else he would need to carry a set of epis, which we have plenty of.  Finding a pair of pants or shorts that fit epis in the pocket is nearly impossible.  Once he gets to HS, they carry their backpacks everywhere.  Most kids don't use the lockers because the building is so spread out that it's not convenient to use them.  So we just have one more school year to get through.