TABLE
1 (Histamine Antagonists)
Prescription Drugs Now Available as
Over-the-Counter Products |
 |
Product
class
|
Active
ingredients/availability
|
Brand
name(s)
|
OTC
indications
|
Usual
dosage
|
Cost*
|
| Histamine
antagonists |
Clemastine
fumarate, 1.34-mg tablet |
Tavist-1 |
Relief
of symptoms associated with perennial and seasonal
allergic rhinitis, the common cold and allergic
and nonallergic pruritus in persons age 12 years
and over |
1.34
mg every 12 hours |
$4.00 per 8
$6.00 per 16
$11.00 per 32 |
|
Cimetidine,
200-mg tablet |
Tagamet
HB |
Prevention
of heartburn and acid indigestion in persons age
12 years and over |
200
mg one hour before a meal, up to twice daily |
$3.00 per 8
$6.00 per 32
$10.00 per 64 |
|
Ranitidine,
75-mg tablet |
Zantac
75 |
Prevention
of heartburn and acid indigestion in persons age
12 years and over |
75
mg one hour before a meal, up to twice daily |
$4.00 per 10
$7.00 per 20 |
|
Nizatidine,
75-mg tablet |
Axid
AR |
Prevention
of heartburn and acid indigestion in persons age
12 years and over |
75
mg one hour before a meal, up to twice daily |
$3.00
per
$7.00 per 12
$9.00 per 18 |
|
Famotidine,
10-mg tablet |
Pepcid
AC |
Prevention
and treatment of heartburn and acid indigestion in
persons age 12 years and older |
10
mg one hour before a meal, up to twice daily |
$3.00 per 6
$5.00 per 10
$7.00 per 18
$9.00 per 30 |
OTC = over-the-counter.
*--Estimated cost to the
pharmacist based on average wholesale prices,
rounded to the nearest dollar, per dosage
unit, in Red book. Montvale, N.J.: Medical
Economics Data, 1998. Cost to the patient
will be greater, depending on prescription
filling fee.
†--Nicotine therapy
should not be used in a patient who continues
to smoke.
‡--Previously available
in 0.5 percent cream and ointment. One
percent cream and ointment now available as
generic products. |
