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	Refer to the following links for pertinent health and benefit information from recent publications:   "...Approval to sell Claritin without a prescription..."   "...How New Generics Can Cut Your Drug Bills..."   "...Laser Eye Surgery, Take A Second Look..."   "...The Take Charge Patient..."   *You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader 5 to download and view the above articles with the PDF logo.  If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader 5, you can download it free of charge by clicking on the following icon:

Approval to sell Claritin without a prescription:

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The FDA provided Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals with approval to sell Claritin without

a prescription.

Claritin is the first non-sedating antihistamine to receive FDA approval for sale

over-the-counter.  The non-prescription Claritin is the same strength and dosage as

the prescription product.  This move to non-prescription includes all currently manu-

factured strengths and dosage forms of Claritin, Claritin-D and Children's Claritin Syrup.

Your plan will no longer cover Claritin under the prescription drug benefit.

Therefore, any Claritin prescription claims submitted will reject as non-covered. 

Note that the expense for OTC Claritin may be more than a co-pay amount.

If you are an employee who utilizes Claritin, contact your individual physician or

pharmacist for recommendations or advice related to your care.