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Over the past years, life-saving medical equipment are made so expensive, patients have no choice but to buy them. Now, families who rely on epinephrine auto-injectors to prevent life threatening allergic reactions another option as CVS unveils its generic version of the EpiPen, but 83 percent cheaper.

The new generic, cheaper EpiPen version from CVS, America's largest pharmacy, comes after nearly 150,000 people signed a petition asking for a lower-cost alternative to the life-saving auto-injector.

Dubbed as Adrenaclick, the new auto-injector dispenses epinephrine, which is vital for people suffering from anaphylactic shock or severe allergic reaction. The package of two pens just costs $109.99 - which is significantly cheaper than the controversial EpiPen that costs $649.99 for a two-pack, the Huffington Post reports.

Patients who also qualify for the promo can get the CVS auto-injector price reduced further if they have a coupon from Impax Laboratories, the maker of Adrenaclick, which offers a $100-discount per pack for up to three packs.

Mylan's EpiPen was embroiled in controversy when its price increased multiple times reaching more than $600 today, up from just about $100 in 2009. The news of the cheaper version of the auto-injector followed when President-elect Donald Trump criticized drug makers for sharp hikes in drug process.

"They're getting away with murder," Trump said as reported by USA Today.

Epinephrine And Severe Allergic Reaction

For anaphylaxis, anaphylactic shock or severe allergic reaction, epinephrine is the first-line treatment. It's crucial in life-threatening allergic reactions and is usually prescribed as an auto-injector. People with allergies who are at risk of anaphylaxis should always have an auto-injector on hand.

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, a food allergy can cause symptoms that range from mild to life-threatening. In fact, food allergy is the leading cause of severe and life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) in the United States.

Hence, doctors recommend that all patients who have food allergies to carry their epinephrine auto-injector with them at all times, especially those who have had a previous anaphylactic reaction such as food allergy or asthma.