Well, Yay! And Not a Moment Too Soon

[furrbear]

Zrytec has gone OTC (Over-the-Counter). Still costs about $30.00 for 45. So, I'll keep getting the Canadian version, Reactine, for $60 for a year's supply (360).

Next up, I guess, will be Allegra (which is already OTC in Canada).

[Edit: Approval was also granted for generic manufacture, so we can expect to see those appearing (and price-dropping) in the next few months.]

Comments

[bigfootcub.livejournal.com]

next thing you know viagra will be otc

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

Not likely - too high a chance for significant side effects such as the interaction with nitrates, the vision/hearing problems that some people can have.

[bigfootcub.livejournal.com]

oh i know....i was trying to be witty, i guess it wasnt working ;-)

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

Unless one is Johnathan Swift or Oscar Wilde, being witty in text is very very difficult to carry off.... :)

[bigfootcub.livejournal.com]

i can still threaten people to get out my pink tutu and juggle jelly beans.......ehhh not!

[furrbear.livejournal.com]

I was going to make the same comment George did, too great a risk of significant side-effects.

[bigfootcub.livejournal.com]

i know, just trying to be funny. HUGS

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

Yay! I need a break from loratadine - I find if I take any of the less-sedating antihistamines for too long, they lose effectiveness. Oh, and technically speaking - as I recall, Reactine isn't generic, that's the actual brand name for cetirizine HCL in Canada. Where are you getting it for that price, I have to wonder...!

I wonder how long it will take before Costco has an uber-cheap house brand version on the shelves, like they do with loratadine....

[furrbear.livejournal.com]

Costco: the patent will have expire in order to allow generic manufacture.

Get the large Canadian web pharmacies, eg CanadaPharmacy.com and CanPharm.com. Prices vary a fair amount, which they do between US chains also (With the exception of the Target/W-M $4.00 list, I've found the best prices at Costco, especially on drugs that have a generic form.)

[brunorepublic.livejournal.com]

Healthcare: the *only* thing cheaper in Canada than the USA.

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

Um - it did. On Dec. 25, 2007, the patent on cetirizine expired.

In any case - while Costco apparently doesn't have a house brand yet, they're apparently going to be selling 75 tabs of the brand name for about what other places are getting for 45 tabs. Or so says their website.

[furrbear.livejournal.com]

Speaking of Costco generics, WTF happened to their ranitidine? Last time we were in it had been replaced with famotidine (Pepcid).

[blt4success66.livejournal.com]

I'm waiting for Advair to go generic. According to the pharmacist, it's supposed to go on generic this year. Yay!

[pamira2.livejournal.com]

They have also OK'd generic versions of Zyrtec (Cetrizine) for OTC- so there should be cheaper versions shortly.

[furrbear.livejournal.com]

Yep, after FDA approval process.

[use2bshy.livejournal.com]

and how are you getting the Canadian drugs?

[sultmhoor.livejournal.com]

Now if they'd only greenlight Nasonex over the counter, it'd be all good. That's seriously the only thing that has ensured consistent, season-long relief for me.

[use2bshy.livejournal.com]

I liked my drugs better with perscription, it was cheaper for me

[e-ticket.livejournal.com]

I haven't tried it -- but I may, now that it's OTC.

I usually use Nasacort AQ (which is prescription and $$$), or Clarinex (OTC in Canada as Aerius).

[furrbear.livejournal.com]

Atrovent, Astelin, or Rhinocort.

Maybe I can get my doc to gimme samples of Singulair since it's approved for allergic rhinitis as well as asthma. If it works, I cut those three out.

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

You might still need to take an antihistamine, but Singulair makes a huge difference for me. Now, if only they could figure out a way to do once or twice daily dosing of something that does the job of cromolyn sodium (Nasocrom, Intal, etc.).

[grizzlyzone.livejournal.com]

Prilosec went generic (omeprazole - $90/30 ct), so Priloisec OTC same out at around $28/28 ct.

Don't mind me. I just woke up.

[furrbear.livejournal.com]

I've been getting Prilosec OTC @ $24-28 for 42 at Target and VoldeMart.

[grizzlyzone.livejournal.com]

Knew it was something like that.

[cubziz.livejournal.com]

Actually, Walgreens already today had their generic "Wal-zyr" on sale. The actual OTC Zyrtec isn't available until Wed.

30 for $19. Not bad.

This past Monday, I had two pills left and had to renew when we saw the commercial for the OTC version. Glad I didn't renew. ($75 versus $20.)

[hippierage.livejournal.com]

If I might ask do you use a website to get your canadian bootie?
I need to get Aciphex b/c BCBS is hounding me to go on a generic.