The health insurers say patients in other countries have used these medications safely for years. And in Third World countries, I can purchase asthma, heart, epilepsy, high blood pressure and many other medications OTC in pharmacies with earthen floors. But patients' access to care is nearly nonexistent for all but the wealthy. If these allergy medications become as readily available as candy as WellPoint's Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Robert Seidman desires, WellPoint won't have to pay for as many allergy visits. If the FDA says yes to OTC labeling for nonsedating antihistamines on the basis of arguments made by health insurers, it's simply one step closer to third world medicine standards.
Allergies are serious, especially when asthma comes into play.
Drug interactions will become more prevalent. We're not doctors. It will get too confusing. Nearly 100 percent of respondents believe the move for OTC labeling of nonsedating antihistamines is purely financially motivated on the part of the insurers and has nothing to do with patient safety. Some respondents were uncertain about the impact OTC labeling would have on their lives they simply did not have enough experience to make an informed judgment about the issue.