Get Back Loratadine

I have been allergic to dust and dust mites since I was eighteen, and I have been taking some sort of medication for it on a daily basis since. Without the medication my nose is stuffy and runny, I get post-nasal drip, and my eyes get itchy and watery; all of this causing a lot of sniffling, sneezing, nose-blowing, and coughing.

My “drug of choice” for as long as I can remember has been Claritin D, or more specifically, loratadine. It wasn’t the first one I used, but I’ve been using it for so long that I can’t even remember what I used before it.

It works well for me, keeping me semi-normal most of the time, the symptoms are never completely gone, I still flare up during pollen season, and I still have occasional days when I wish my nose would just go away, but overall, it helps a great deal and I’ve been very happy with it.

At least I was until a couple of years ago when it went from a prescription only drug to an over the counter drug. Apparently this was a good thing for many people, but I wasn’t one of them. I can see how people who only need to use it occasionally would find it easier to just walk into a pharmacy, supermarket, or department store and pick up a package whenever they need to, instead of having to obtain a prescription first, but those of us who use it on a regular basis got screwed.

You see, it was just as easy for me to get my doctor to write a prescription, refillable up to 12 times, once a year, then refill it once a month and go pick it up, so this change did not make it anymore convenient. What it did make it is more expensive.

When it was a prescription only drug, I made a $10 co-payment for a 30 day supply. Now that it’s over the counter, even buying the CVS brand and using coupons, I pay about $10 for a box of 15; which is basically double the price. I went from paying $10 a month for a 30 day prescription, to paying about $20 a month for two 15 count boxes. And to make things even worse, apparently there is something in this drug that is being used to make illegal drugs, so it is now being restricted to one box per person. So, not only do I have to pay twice as much to get it, but I have to go in to get it twice as often. This is not more convenient.

So, what was a great relationship for a long time had recently become rocky and I decided that maybe it was time for a change. I discussed the options with my doctor and he recommended that I try Allegra. So I did it, I broke off a long-term relationship and got involved in a new one.

Things got off to a great start, I was now back to 30 day prescriptions at $10 co-payments and I was happy. Unfortunately, what started off so promising went downhill in a hurry. Even though this new relationship was less of a hassle and costing me less money, I was not being satisfied.

My symptoms were getting worse. By the end of the first 30 day supply I had a stuffy, runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, and post nasal drip. I was sniffling, blowing, sneezing, and coughing. It seemed as though the Allegra was almost completely ineffective, but I was saving money and it was easier to obtain, so I tried to stick it out. I thought that maybe I just needed some time for it to take effect. After about halfway through the second prescription I knew that this was just not going to work out. My fling was over.

Yesterday I went crawling back to loratadine. The switch paid immediate dividends as my symptoms began to clear up almost right away. Now I’m right back to where I was 2 months ago, paying twice as much money and going in to get it twice as often, but this time I am happy to do it. Some relationships are worth the extra time and money.