Allergy Drugs: What's The Difference? - evaluation of Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra

Healthfacts, June, 2001 by Maryann Napoli

The relentless promotion of Claritin has paid off for its manufacturer, the Schering-Plough Corporation; it is now the most frequently prescribed allergy medication in the U.S. But Claritin is no more effective than other antihistamines on the market. (For Food and Drug Administration approval, a new drug need only be proven better than a placebo, or dummy pill.) Even Claritin's highly touted non-sedating properties have been overestimated. The drug is sold in 10-milligram capsules, a dosage that isn't effective for most people. Once the dose is raised to an effective level, the non-sedating effect is canceled.

Zyrtec, another popular allergy drug, is sedating to some people even at the recommended doses of 5- or 10-milligrams once a day. Allegra may be the best choice in terms of safety and efficacy, according to The Medical Letter (4/30/01), a physician publication that takes no drug company advertising. This is because Allegra will not make you sleepy even at higher than recommended doses. At $60 for a month's supply, the cost of Allegra is midway between that of Claritin and Zyrtec.

Schering-Plough's overselling of Claritin has backfired on the corporation. Some managed care and insurance companies want to pass its high cost on to the consumer by lobbying the FDA to allow Claritin to become available over the counter. The FDA cannot require Schering- Plough to do so, but last month the agency's advisory panel determined that the move would not pose any health hazard. Claritin has long been sold without prescription in Canada.

Maryann Napoli is the associate director of the Center for Medical Consumers in New York City.