From: Shirley Medivitz [medivit@earthlink.net]
Sent: Friday, April 20, 2001 11:45 AM
To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov
Subject: Drugs: Costs to patients of turning prescription into OTC 

Please consider the costs to the patients. when deciding whether to turn prescription drugs such as Claritin and Allegra into OTC.

Most health plans cover prescription drugs to a certain degree but will not cover OTC preparations. Most of these drugs that go OTC come with a price increase and a lower dosage. Additional cost to the patients are phenomenally high.
In addition to costs, in the case of Claritin-D, anyone with HTN, even controlled, needs to be monitored when taking this drug.



Shirley A. Medivitz
Accredited Cruise Counsellor
Cruises, Inc.
(A Division of Travel Services International)
1-800-788-7447 (Ship)
570-288-7447
smedivitz@cruisesinc.com
Website: www.cruisesinc.com/smedivitz