In Brief: Claritin syrup

Claritin syrup: Schering-Plough's Rx loratadine syrup (10 mg per 10 ml) approved by FDA on Oct. 14 for "relief of nasal and non-nasal symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis and for the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria in patients six years of age and older." Schering touts the product as "the first and only" Rx or OTC "nondrowsy antihistamine syrup for children." The pediatric remedy joins Claritin, Claritin-D 12-hour and the recently-approved Claritin-D 24-hour ("The Tan Sheet" Sept. 2, In Brief). The indication for Claritin 10 mg tablets also is expanded to children age six and over, Schering announces. Pfizer's Rx antihistamine Zyrtec (cetirizine), which is not considered non-sedating, was approved in a children's syrup formulation on Sept. 27. Both Claritin and Zyrtec are strong Rx-to-OTC switch candidates...