Patients who are having difficulty affording Schering- Plough medications can call the Schering-Plough Cares Patient Assistance Program at 1-800-656-9485 to see if they qualify for assistance. Or visit www.pparx.org for additional information.

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Questions to Ask

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Taking an active role in the management of your allergies can make a big difference in the quality of care you receive from your doctor — and in the quality of care you give yourself.

Here is a list of questions to ask your doctor during your visit to help you communicate with your doctor about your allergies and to understand your diagnosis and recommended treatment:

• What substance or substances are causing my allergies?
• How may I avoid or reduce allergen exposure?
• When should I use prescription medication for my allergies?
• What prescription allergy medication may I take?
• Are there potential side effects with this medication?
• Will this medication impair my ability to drive or operate machinery?
• Should I take my medicine all of the time, or just when I have symptoms?
• What should I look out for when I take this medicine?
• When can I stop my medications?
• May I increase my medications? If so, when?
• What are the signs that my symptoms are worsening?
• May I take this medication if I become pregnant?
• Who should I call in an emergency?
• How safe is this treatment?
• What should I do if the medication is ineffective?
• May I increase the dose?
• How long must I wait before I can expect relief?
• How often do I need to see you?
• How do I get refills?
• What are the clues that I may have a complication of allergy?
• Will allergy injection therapy be helpful?
• Should I consult an allergist?

Your doctor may refer you to an allergist — a doctor who specializes in allergies and can help you manage your symptoms.

CLARINEX®, a prescription medication, treats year-round allergy symptoms and ongoing hives of unknown cause, in adults and children 6 months and older, and seasonal allergy symptoms in patients 2 years and older. CLARINEX® 5 mg Tablets and 5 mg RediTabs® Tablets are approved for patients 12 years and older; CLARINEX® 2.5 mg RediTabs® Tablets are approved for patients 6 to 11 years; CLARINEX® Syrup is approved for patients 6 months and older.

Twice-daily CLARINEX-D® 12 HOUR Extended Release Tablets and once-daily CLARINEX-D® 24 HOUR Extended Release Tablets treat the symptoms of seasonal allergies, including nasal congestion, in patients 12 years and older.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
CLARINEX® Tablets side effects in patients 12 years and older were similar to placebo and included sore throat, dry mouth, and fatigue for seasonal and year-round allergy patients, and headache, nausea, and fatigue for patients with ongoing hives of unknown cause.

CLARINEX® Syrup side effects in children 6 to 11 years were similar to placebo. For children 6 months to 5 years, syrup side effects varied by age and included fever, diarrhea, upper respiratory infection, irritability, and coughing.

Due to their pseudoephedrine component, CLARINEX-D® 12 HOUR Extended Release Tablets and CLARINEX-D® 24 HOUR Extended Release Tablets should not be taken by patients with narrow-angle glaucoma (abnormally high eye pressure), difficulty urinating, severe high blood pressure, or severe heart disease, or by patients who have taken a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor within the past fourteen (14) days. Patients with high blood pressure; diabetes; heart disease; increased intraocular pressure (eye pressure); thyroid, liver or kidney problems; or enlarged prostate should check with their healthcare provider before taking CLARINEX-D® 12 HOUR Extended Release Tablets or CLARINEX-D® 24 HOUR Extended Release Tablets.

Care should be used if CLARINEX-D® 12 HOUR Extended Release Tablets or CLARINEX-D® 24 HOUR Extended Release Tablets are taken with other antihistamines or decongestants because combined effects on the cardiovascular system may be harmful. The most commonly reported adverse events for CLARINEX-D® 12 HOUR Extended Release Tablets were insomnia, headache, dry mouth, fatigue, drowsiness, sore throat, and dizziness. The most commonly reported adverse events for CLARINEX-D® 24 HOUR Extended Release Tablets were dry mouth, headache, insomnia, fatigue, sore throat, and drowsiness.

Click here for important CLARINEX® Tablets/Syrup/RediTabs® Product Information.
Click here for important CLARINEX-D® 12 HOUR Product Information.
Click here for important CLARINEX-D® 24 HOUR Product Information.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Note: The information on this site is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have any questions about your treatment or medical condition, please consult your doctor or other qualified health care provider. This site is intended for use by U.S. residents.