Article: Switch products could provide needed jolt. (Cough/Cold).(some prescription allergy medications may become over-the-counter)(Brief Article)

WASHINGTON -- The over-the-counter cough/cold/allergy category could soon experience a major transformation if several prescription allergy medications make the switch to O-T-C status.

And most participants in the product segment would appreciate such a jolt.

For example, according to Information Resources Inc., sales in the cold/allergy/sinus tablet and packet segment rose only 2.3% in drug stores last year to $605.2 million, led by such brands as Benadryl (from Pfizer Inc.), Theraflu (Novartis Consumer Health Inc.) and Tylenol Cold (McNeil Consumer Healthcare).

The liquid and powder segment, however, did appreciably better. It registered a ...

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