It's never been prescription in Canada.

I don't think my reply was very nice, very blunt. Sorry. But I've got 3 kids, 2 of whom have good allergies and Claritin, Allegra, Reactin, even the generic brands of these have never been prescription. They're all OTC. And there's no discounts for being poor (we are), only if you're a senior (Seniors day, if they're not on sale, you get 20% off in our store).

That's awful. Maybe you can find generic Allegra (fexofenadine) in your drug store for less money.

I never buy brand name allergy pills, as there is usually a store brand which is the exactly same thing for substantially less money.

Oh, you've already said you get it generic, I think... sorry.

I have the exact same situation, Azzalea. I have taken Allegra for years and now I have to pay retail price. I have found a couple of $4 off coupons, but I doubt those will always be available. Is there a generic for fexofenadine? If there is, I haven't found it yet. I also feel that we 'middle class' people are expected to bear the heaviest load...

my dd is going thru the same thing...she and 2 of her 3 girls are asthmatics, so it's a must...
the ironic thing? am on the anti-hormone drug femara..was co-paying $100 a month for script...well last week was surprised to find it's gone generic, and down to $30...

i don't know how you file your income tax, but if you itemize, and dr says you need otc drugs it can be used...i know this doesn't help right now but in the future?

check on the claritin site for possible coupons...

Femara costs me $600. for a 3 month supply. At least it is keeping me alive.

That really hurts Azzalea, can your doctor help you out with some free samples?

One of my sons was telling me about this last Friday.
I dont know what he has decided to do.

When something works...they always change it...someway.

My Femara went up to $914.00, three months supply, last year so the doctor put me on a generic for Arimidex. I have felt so lousy all year so this week during my appointment she prescribed the new generic of Femara. The insurance company called today the price is $743.00 for a three month supply. I was so upset I told them NO but I am going to back off and pay it. I can't be on the other generic any more, I'm not me on it with achey muscles all the time. My husband wants me to get back on Femara. This news has kind of ruined my day.

If you think that's bad, I went to pick up my Singulair at Rite Aid today, $120. I am going back to Wal-Mart. The pharmacist made a statement that it was normally $400 and something and my insurance only paid so much. I guess that makes it ok. Wal-mart was charging me about $30.

That is just terrible, Azzalea.

Debby, hope you buy on sale or have a senior willing to buy for you.

WOW, Heather, I assumed that prescriptions would be covered in your government medical.
thank goodness my insurance paid for 14 pills of anti nausea medication for me. It JUST went generic. 14 pills for 410.00 for the cash price. I had a 10.00 copay. thank goodness.
she said it just went generic, otherwise the cash price is around 1200.00/14 pills. think I would stay sick! lol
the doctor told me to call and ask my pharmacy and call all around for the cheapest price. He said Costco usually proved to be the cheapest. you don't have to be a costco member to get prescriptions there.

sorry, Azzalea!

Azzalea. costco price is...
Allegra� 180mg 24 Hour Allergy Relief
2 Bottles, 45 Count Each
Item # 741290

$34.99

Here is a link that might be useful: costco allegra

Not meaning to be insensitive but the "load" in this kind of situation is the same regardless of what "class" you are. The problem is that like anything else it's harder to pay for something if the price goes up and your finances are already at their limit. We haven't had much in the way of inflation in a long time and I'm afraid it's coming in all kinds of things beyond medication. It could make things even more difficult for many people.

Re: Singulair - it's supposed to go generic next year. Hopefully that will be the case since DH takes that one and it's the only non-generic we take right now.

Same kind of thing happened to us when Zyrtec went over the counter. The oddest thing I found was that the doctors don't seem to get that you have to pay more when most medicines go over the counter. I think I even had one tell me it would be cheaper over the counter... really? even with insurance?

The only thing I can see is that if enough of the allergy family medicines go over the counter and/or get generic equivilants, the medicines may go down overall because of the competition factor. It may be a while though...

Socks, my kids are all growed up and working. They can buy their own. :-) I rarely if ever need allergy meds. And right now, if I did need them I would buy them at work and use my discount. Or, my husband can use his seniors discount.... (like that will ever happen! He has yet to let a cashier give him the discount)

For Allegra, the generic version (fexofenadine) is starting to come out OTC. Walgreens makes a generic of the 24-hour fexofenadine and they call it "Wal-Fex" - I think it's about $13 for 30 pills.

I'm still waiting for the generic 12-hour version, but I think it'll probably be released before too long. For some reason they seem to be releasing the different versions in stages.

I don't take allegra anymore, my allergies aren't bad this year. But I do take large doses of Vitamin D (4000 units a day) prescribed by my kidney doctor for my bone disease (Osteoporosis). Of course vitamins are all non-prescription, so I spend $40 a month on a "silly" vitamin. One thing that crossed my mind-OTC meds have their place. You surely don't bother going to a doctor when you have a headcold,yet you take decongestants and tylenol and wait for it to pass. So you save the cost of a doctors visit just to get a prescription. And if you take a prescription and it runs out, you can often find an OTC med that's similar. Nuff said.

jannie, I was on a "prescription" for Vit D.

I'd check with your doctor to see if you could get a D prescription for your needs for a lot less. Again, doctors really don't know what cost what... You may even be able to go on a weekly schedule and get a year's worth for one co-pay. It's worth asking.

I wish our government would pay attention to what the people, who 'hired' them to work for us, need, to get along and have a decent ( NOT DECADENT, JUST NECESSITIES) standard of living, instead of worrying and spending time and energy on some guy who seems proud of his....um equipment. I can't understand why they don't get on the case of these pharmaceutical companies, who are fleecing and screwing the public. The price of life necessary meds is obscene, and in my opinion, so unamerican.

I am stunned at the prices being charged for your prescriptions there - I had no idea they we so very high. I am taking Femara - haven't heard that there is a generic available here yet - and I pay around AUD$34.00 for one month's supply. If a pill is on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the most you will pay for one month is $34.00 - with most being less than that. I will never complain about the price again!!!

carla i was too, for while but it actualy was script because of the strenth....(kidney related)was delighted when dr finally said test were consistent enough to do otc...and lower doseage...

just found a $4 off coupon today's sunday paper for clartin-d..non drowsy...

just went to the allegra site...printable coupons...

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.allegra.com/save_on_allegra.aspx

Costco magazine had a blurb last month that they would have Kirkland brand allegra, Aller Fex, 'coming soon'. Not sure when, but their generics are high quality, low price.

Here is a link that might be useful: Costco Connection magazine

target ad today, 30 pills for $13.24 generic fexofenadine

Are you, or do you know someone who is a memeber of Sam's Club? While there today, I checked their price for you. For 90 pills, it was $32.64. It was not generic, didn't see generic for Allegra, just for Claratin, which I take, and for Zyrtec. Hope this helps.

Tami

Thanks, all for the replies and suggestions. Yes, just this morning I saw WallMart has a generic on the shelves--30 for $13something. That's still going to be 3 times what we're paying now.

Unfortunately, I have bad, year-round allergies. I take an allegra AND a singulair every day. But once allergy season calms down in a week or so, I'm going to try going off the allegra, just to see how I do. Maybe, if I can get by--sort of--on the singulair for the other seasons, I'll just have to spring for the pricey OTC stuff a couple of months a year.

I don't have time to read all of the responses but be sure and check the internet and papers as you can nearly always find coupons for that type medication...Even a couple of bucks help...

Here is a link that might be useful: Allegra