Which allergy meds have gone generic or OTC since last year?

February 7, 2008 10:33 PM

Seasonal allergy relief: I've read a bunch of the previous questions, but was wondering about allergy medicines that have gone prescription to over-the-counter or brand-name to generic since last spring. I know there's a generic Zyrtec now, but was wondering if there are any others that might be more affordable/available than they were last spring.
posted by mediareport to Health & Fitness (6 answers total)

Costco sell their generic Claritin as 'Allerclear' (or did not long back) for about $15 per 300 tabs, which is a pretty good deal for me.
posted by anadem at 11:12 PM on February 7, 2008

Nothing other than Zyrtec. Claritin (loratadine) went OTC a couple years ago, and nowadays is pretty dirt cheap (in generic, at least).
posted by neckro23 at 3:13 AM on February 8, 2008

Just FYI - there's a new drug called Xyzal. It is nothing more than Zyrtec slightly changed enough to squeeze more money out of a patent.

Loratadine is dirt cheap.
posted by pieoverdone at 4:15 AM on February 8, 2008

Nope, nothing new. If you have insurance, you're probably better off getting a script for a generic allergy med than paying OTC prices. But I guess that depends on the quality of your insurance...
posted by misanthropicsarah at 6:33 AM on February 8, 2008

Straight generic Claritin is also fairly dirt cheap at Target and works fine. (Don't get the kind with any pseudoephedrine in it, it's more expensive and not worth it.)

I use Zyrtec occasionally, but I don't care for the side effects. It makes me a very weird type of tired where I can't sleep.
posted by gjc at 6:59 AM on February 8, 2008

Response by poster: Actually, gjc, straight generic Claritin doesn't work at all for me; the more expensive kind is noticeably better but not great. These things are so variable from person to person, you know? I'm just looking to see if anything has changed in the marketplace since last spring.
posted by mediareport at 7:25 AM on February 8, 2008