Health
Few fans of OTC allergy treatments
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Jan. 19, 2004
The majority of allergy patients have not benefited from the availability of over-the-counter prescription-strength allergy medications, says a national Harris Interactive survey conducted by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
More than half of the 239 adult allergy patients contacted for the survey in November 2003 said they had spent more money out of pocket on allergy medications last year. The majority reported the reason as increased co-payments or lack of insurance coverage for a prescribed product.
The survey was conducted to assess the impact on patients of changes made in late 2002 that allowed the popular allergy medication, Claritin (loratadine), to be sold over-the-counter.
Of those who said health insurance changes had not benefited patients, 84% said insurance companies had gained the most.
More than 60% of those who had switched medications as a result of health insurance changes would prefer to go back to their former prescription allergy mediation, according to the survey.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/01/19/hlbf0119.htm.
