Claratin OVER THE COUNTER & $1 off coupon starts 12/11!!!

[Analog]

Claratin goes over the counter on 12/11, and look in the walgreens circular for the $1 off coupon. Its about time dudes!

 

[MontyBurns]

This is not a hot deal for anyone with insurance. If you have insurance, you will likely pay more for Claritin than you did before.

 

[GregFish]

I use Claritin and have insurance, but always buy Claritin when I go to Canada, where it has been over the counter for some time. Even with my insurance coverage, it is cheaper to buy Claritin over the counter in Canada than it is with my insurance card in the US. So, yes this may be a great deal for everyone with alergies and at least it will be much easier to come by now and you don't have to go to the doctor to get a prescription for it.

 

[Kevin]

If you need Claritan, get the D-24 Hour. Works good but lasts more like 18-20 hours...

 

[Ark]

$3.99 for Pack of 5 of 10mg regular tablets was advertised today.
It will be $24 for month.
So if you insurance co-pay is less than $24 - you will be loosing money.

 

[murderburger]

This is a great opportunity for more self medication. But seriously this is good news because Claritin can now be made generically. The only reason you paid so much was Schering Plough gouged the consumer. Calritin now has to compete against all the other antihistamines which costs about ten dollars and under.

 

[ValsalvaYourHeartOut]

Originally posted by: murderburger
This is a great opportunity for more self medication. But seriously this is good news because Claritin can now be made generically. The only reason you paid so much was Schering Plough gouged the consumer. Calritin now has to compete against all the other antihistamines which costs about ten dollars and under.

It costs hundreds of a millions of dollars and almost 10 years to develop a new drug in order to go from laboratory to clinical trials to your pharmacy, not to mention resources spent on demonstrating superiority vs. existing drugs and marketing to the doctors who do the prescribing. Claritin is a wonderful second-generation anthistamine that is a hellava lot LESS sedating than the current OTC antihistamines, which I'm sure anyone with seasonal allergies appreciates. To recover its initial financial investment, the manufacturer always charges a little more during its patent period, however, the insurance companies usually end up paying anyway. I don't think any drug company is out to "gouge" the consumer, believe it or not.

Valsalva

 

[murderburger]

ValsalvaYourHeartOut, you are correct i am wrong. Businesses indeed do charge fair market value for their proucts. The business model of increasing profits at the expense of the health of the company no longer exists. Schering Plough's gross profit margin on their prescription drugs alone was 79%. I don't resent any company making a profit but Schering Plough made back on their investment and then some. Why do you think they are fighting the FDA ruling? They are fighting it because they are so dependent on this drug for their profits. They haven't developed any thing significant since. They should've used some of those millions on research instead of fighting the end of their patents. Insurance companies indeed end up paying the difference but the consumer will end up paying more on their end when the co-pay increases.

 

[ebaker]

I heard Aetna is plans to stop covering prescription Zyrtec, Allegra, and Clarinex. They want you to get over the counter Clarithin instead. I'm sure Pacificare will do the same, because they both suck equally.

 

[Kevin]

That sucks. I've got prescriptions for both Allegra and Claritan, and to me they are both totally different. Claritan dries you our whereas Allegra loosens everything...

 

[huesmann]

Originally posted by: murderburger
ValsalvaYourHeartOut, you are correct i am wrong. Businesses indeed do charge fair market value for their proucts. The business model of increasing profits at the expense of the health of the company no longer exists. Schering Plough's gross profit margin on their prescription drugs alone was 79%. I don't resent any company making a profit but Schering Plough made back on their investment and then some. Why do you think they are fighting the FDA ruling? They are fighting it because they are so dependent on this drug for their profits. They haven't developed any thing significant since. They should've used some of those millions on research instead of fighting the end of their patents. Insurance companies indeed end up paying the difference but the consumer will end up paying more on their end when the co-pay increases.

They aren't fighting it any more...they actually applied for OTC approval now. Probably because they know the deadline when generics can begin producing it is coming up and they want to get it in drugstores for people to buy as much of it as possible before generics start coming out. Also, they have used a loophole in the drug-patent laws to come up with a Claritin-Plus kind of drug, which is slightly better than original Claritin, and since it's not the exact same formula, they get to have a new patent on it for however many years. People that want/need the "best" drug out there will be buying the Plus version, the smarter among us (HDers )will be buying generics.

 

[Growltiger]

Sorry about my OT response...

While a lot the cost of drugs goes toward the research and production, a lot of it also goes towards buying lunches/dinners (and other items like pens, supplies, etc) for physician's AND their staff. I worked in an office and we always had reps come with lunches for us (and I'm not talking sandwiches). All we had to do was listen to their little presentation, which no one really cared about. I object to this practice just as I object to the drug company advertising campaigns we see on television and magazine. Eliminate these things and you would probably see a reduction in the overall cost of medication.

I don't object to companies trying to get new patents on the same product. It makes sense for them to do this b.c. R&D takes time and FDA approval takes up time as well, which cuts into your patent life. It makes sense for them to alter the same thing than start all over again, especially when money is the bottom line.

 

[DealMonkey]

My allergies are really pissing me off lately. Maybe it's the change in weather. Will this stuff really help?? Is it any better than stuff that's already OTC?

-DM

 

[Growltiger]

Originally posted by: DealMonkey
My allergies are really pissing me off lately. Maybe it's the change in weather. Will this stuff really help?? Is it any better than stuff that's already OTC? -DM

Well, you'll get faster results from an OTC medication b.c. they generally do not have the long lasting life of prescription allergy medications. Keep in mind that Claritin (or Allegra or any other med) may work some, but certainly not for everyone. Zyrtec (from what I understand) is good for people with both indoor and outdoor allergies, while Claritin is for outdoor. If you have allergies at this time every year, then check with your Dr. to see what's your best bet.

 

[carmann]

From what I understand the OTC Claritin will run about $20 for 20 pills. This is more than my husband normally pays with his garbage Aetna insurance. I just called in another refill for him which will cost $20 for 30 pills. Hopefully the price will drop real quick as he has to take a pill everyday.

 

[uibd]

Originally posted by: murderburger
This is a great opportunity for more self medication. But seriously this is good news because Claritin can now be made generically. The only reason you paid so much was Schering Plough gouged the consumer. Calritin now has to compete against all the other antihistamines which costs about ten dollars and under.

Are you sure it can be made generically now? Did its patent run out or you just saying that because its OTC now?

 

[Dznuts007]

Originally posted by: carmann
From what I understand the OTC Claritin will run about $20 for 20 pills. This is more than my husband normally pays with his garbage Aetna insurance. I just called in another refill for him which will cost $20 for 30 pills. Hopefully the price will drop real quick as he has to take a pill everyday.

$20 for 20 pills ain't too bad consider what it used to cost before they were going to go OTC. I think a month's supply cost around $70 bucks or more...

 

[Analog]

wait till it goes generic.

 

[svidanag]

It costs hundreds of a millions of dollars and almost 10 years to develop a new drug in order to go from laboratory to clinical trials to your pharmacy, not to mention resources spent on demonstrating superiority vs. existing drugs and marketing to the doctors who do the prescribing. Claritin is a wonderful second-generation anthistamine that is a hellava lot LESS sedating than the current OTC antihistamines, which I'm sure anyone with seasonal allergies appreciates. To recover its initial financial investment, the manufacturer always charges a little more during its patent period, however, the insurance companies usually end up paying anyway. I don't think any drug company is out to "gouge" the consumer, believe it or not.

Valsalva

You think they pay for this themselves? The US government gives them BILLIIONS AND BILLIONS to develop drugs which they never have to pay back.

PS Which works better? Claratin or Allegra?

 

[climb4]

Originally posted by: ValsalvaYourHeartOut

Originally posted by: murderburger
This is a great opportunity for more self medication. But seriously this is good news because Claritin can now be made generically. The only reason you paid so much was Schering Plough gouged the consumer. Calritin now has to compete against all the other antihistamines which costs about ten dollars and under.

It costs hundreds of a millions of dollars and almost 10 years to develop a new drug in order to go from laboratory to clinical trials to your pharmacy, not to mention resources spent on demonstrating superiority vs. existing drugs and marketing to the doctors who do the prescribing. Claritin is a wonderful second-generation anthistamine that is a hellava lot LESS sedating than the current OTC antihistamines, which I'm sure anyone with seasonal allergies appreciates. To recover its initial financial investment, the manufacturer always charges a little more during its patent period, however, the insurance companies usually end up paying anyway. I don't think any drug company is out to "gouge" the consumer, believe it or not.

Valsalva

When I stop seeing ads for drugs run during the expensive primetime spots and my wife no longer gets kickbacks for selling/recommending certain brand drugs I may beleive this! ALL drug manufacturers are theives and con artists!

 

[spazola]

i am screwed, i take 1 claratin d 24 every day for hives. i have no choice but to take it everyday and rite now with aetna i pay $6.00 for 100 threw there mail order.:|

 

[Analog]

Originally posted by: spazola
i am screwed, i take 1 claratin d 24 every day for hives. i have no choice but to take it everyday and rite now with aetna i pay $6.00 for 100 threw there mail order.:|

better stock up.

as far as which is better, claratin keeps me awake, allegra is not as effective, but neutral, and zyrtec makes me drowsy. Pick one suited to what you will do in the hours after taken.

 

[jcrash]

Actually, none of them work as well as benadryl (clinically proven), but they don't want the public to know that.

Plus, some people find benadryl sedating (for others it is like caffeine).

 

[Kevin]

Originally posted by: yellowfiero

Originally posted by: spazola
i am screwed, i take 1 claratin d 24 every day for hives. i have no choice but to take it everyday and rite now with aetna i pay $6.00 for 100 threw there mail order.:|

better stock up.

as far as which is better, claratin keeps me awake, allegra is not as effective, but neutral, and zyrtec makes me drowsy. Pick one suited to what you will do in the hours after taken.

The OTC medicine isn't going to be as strong as the prescription I believe. You should call to find out.

To me, Claratin and Allegra are complete opposites. Claratin is great when just your sinuses act up. Allegra is good if you have a sore throat/cough plus sinus congestion. For me, the Claratin just dries me up, making my sore throat even worse. I've never taken Zyrtec but if it makes you sleep, I'll have to ask the next time I get sick...

 

[Analog]

Originally posted by: jcrash
Actually, none of them work as well as benadryl (clinically proven), but they don't want the public to know that.

Plus, some people find benadryl sedating (for others it is like caffeine).

Man, benadryl knocks you out cold. Some doctors recommend it for sleeping pills. Its hard to sneeze when you're asleep.