Allergy Pill Allegra to Be Sold Over the Counter
FDA OK's OTC Sale of Popular Antihistamine
By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD
allegra

Jan. 25, 2011 -- The FDA today approved over-the-counter sale of Allegra, the best-selling antihistamine also sold generically as fexofenadine.

Allegra maker Sanofi-aventis says Allegra will be on retail shelves on March 4, in plenty of time for spring allergy season.

Other Allegra products will also be sold over the counter. In addition to Allegra 24-Hour and 12-Hour Tablets for adults and children ages 12 and older, these products include:

    * Children's Allegra 12-hour tablets for children ages 6 years and older.
    * Allegra Liquid for children ages 2 years and older.
    * Children's Allegra 12-Hour Orally Disintegrating Tablets for children ages 6 years and older.
    * Allegra-D 24-Hour and 12-Hour Allergy and Congestion Extended Release Tablets for adults and children ages 12 years and older.

Allegra-D products combine the antihistamine fexofenadine with the decongestant pseudoephedrine.

How much will it cost?  "Pricing for the Allegra family of OTC products will be at the discretion of each retailer," a spokesperson for Sanofi-aventis U.S. tells WebMD via email.

Several companies sell generic fexofenadine but have not yet announced their plans for OTC sale.