Zyrtec Now Available Over The Counter

KCRA.com ^ | 1-24-08

[Dysart]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Starting Thursday, allergy sufferers can find the most-prescribed allergy medication available for over-the-counter sales.

Zyrtec is the brand name for cetirizine and is approved to relieve allergy-related sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, and also, itching from hives.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved it for sale without a prescription in November.

Dr. Rajan Merchant from Woodland Healthcare said it is the same formula as a doctor would prescribe.

"The efficacy is the same; the dosage is the same as the prescription strength. But the reason it is going over the counter is because we have enough safety data that confirms it is usable as an over-the-counter medication," Merchant said.

Merchant estimates Zyrtec will sell for between $20 and $25. That mean some consumers may be paying more now for the drug than they did when it was covered by insurance. But a generic product may soon be available.

[tpanther]

How does this stuff affect blood pressure?

Usually it doesn’t, you might be thinking about decongestants like sudafed.

I like claritin better than zyrtec, also OTC and in generic form (loratidine) and cheaper. Never made me drowsy.

[null and void]

I have samples.

I need a reason to try the samples!

[Rb ver. 2.0]

Anyone tried this stuff for cat allergies?

[null and void]

What is your cat allergic to?

[toldyou]

“Re: Viagra, I asked the pharmacist if I could get it over the counter. He said I could if I took two...”

ROTFLOL!

I just got it...you are TOO funny!

Hey, I can get you more than two....

not that you need it to get it over the counter...

[Rb ver. 2.0]

As soon as I posted I knew that would be among the replies!

[toldyou]

“I need a reason to try the samples!”

I am a reason!

[Dysart]

Yep. Works on my cat allergies (I try to avoid the little darlings but sometimes I can’t) and the asthma that accompanies it.

Pfizer needs to send me a check for this thread.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

I’m going to try it then. My parents have cats and both myself and one of my sons are allergic. We usually take Allegra or Claritan when we visit but after 2 days those don’t work and we end up being miserable.

[toldyou]

“Good stuff, but boy, does it make you sleepy.”

I’m surprised to hear that.

I’ve taken allergy meds in the past, which made me sleepy.

Zyrtec does not.

[null and void]

Source please?

[null and void]

I’ll be here all week, try the veal...

[quantim]

Walgreens has their generic out already, did see that. But it was like maybe 10 tablets or something, kinda’ pointless for those that use it for months at a time. Costco had a 75-day pack for a decent price.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.........

[toldyou]

“Source please?”

You here at FReerepublic always insist on a source!

Can’t you, just for once, take my word for it?

[null and void]

Okay, but just this once...

[murphE]

But in NY I have to show ID and have it recorded at the pharmacy counter to get Actifed all because some people found a way to make meth out of large quantities of it.

[toldyou]

“Okay, but just this once...”

Thank you!

So I don’t get other chances?

[Ditter]

It is the only prescription that I take and it doesn’t make me sleepy at all. When I need a sleeping pill I take Bendryl.

Over the counter Zyrtec is great news.

[null and void]

That depends on what you do with this chance, doesn’t it?