Allergy meds may go over the counter.(Blue Cross of California lobbying for Allegra, Claritin, Zyrtec to be available over-the-counter)(Brief Article)

Push by Blue Cross of California has insurers knocking heads with drug companies

Blue Cross of California wants the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to make three expensive prescription drugs available to patients over the counter in an effort to bring down the price of some of the most heavily used allergy medicines in the nation.

The drugs Blue Cross wants available over the counter are Allegra, Claritin and Zyrtec.

Two FDA committees were scheduled to consider the petition today in a meeting near Washington, D.C.

The goal is to make these top sellers available with less hassle and at less than one-fifth the current price to 40 million people in the country who suffer from allergies.

For consumers, a switch would not necessarily be all good hews. It would shift the cost from…