[Hay Fever] OTC Medicines With the Same Ingredients and Concentrations as Prescription Drugs: OTC-Equivalent Drugs Explained

In recent years, prescription drugs that can be replaced by an over-the-counter (OTC) drug with the same ingredient and concentration are
called “OTC-equivalent drugs,”and, with the aim of keeping medical costs appropriate,
how they are handled under the system is being reviewed.

Among the drugs used for hay fever (allergic conjunctivitis) too,
there are OTC drugs with the same ingredient and concentration as prescription drugs.
For mild symptoms, using OTC drugs wisely is a reasonable choice.

On the other hand, eye symptoms can include
inflammation that OTC drugs cannot adequately handle, and conditions that need a doctor’s management.

In this article, using hay fever as an example, I sort out, from an ophthalmologist’s standpoint,
“cases that can be handled with OTC drugs” and “cases that need diagnosis and treatment at an eye clinic.”

As pollen counts rise, more people are developing allergic conjunctivitis.

In the outpatient clinic, there are more and more times when we keep you waiting.

We also talk about why allergic inflammation occurs and how to deal with it.

We sometimes get asked, “Are there any OTC eye drops you recommend?”

TOC

[Hay Fever] OTC Medicines With the Same Ingredients and Concentrations as Prescription Drugs

OTC drugs can sometimes be effective.

Please use the following as a reference:

(Oral)
Allegra® (fexofenadine)
Alesion® (epinastine)
Ebastel® (ebastine)
Zaditen® (ketotifen)
* Non-drowsy (less likely to cause drowsiness)

(Nasal sprays)
Zaditen® (ketotifen)
Nazal α AR® (steroid)
Pabron Rhinitis Attack JL® (steroid)
Nazal Spray® (vasoconstrictor)

(Eye drops)
Zaditen AL Eye Drops® (ketotifen)

Differences Between Prescription and OTC Drugs

How do drugs prescribed by a doctor differ from drugs sold over the counter?

Drugs used on the prescription or instruction of a doctor or dentist are called prescription drugs.

OTC drugs include general-use drugs and drugs requiring guidance.

✔︎ Prescription drugs:
These are prescription drugs whose type is decided according to the condition at the time of the examination.
Please do not keep them to use on your own judgment or give them to other people.

✔︎ General-use drugs and drugs requiring guidance:
These are drugs that you buy at a pharmacy or drugstore with a pharmacist’s advice and use on your own judgment.
They are also called OTC (over-the-counter) drugs.
Within the stated dose range they are considered relatively safe, and some are designed to be easy to use.
Please read the instructions (package insert) carefully before use.

Self-medicationapplies to these drugs.

From the website of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency

OTC drugs for hay fever (links)

Allegra: Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical / Sanofi
https://www.allegra.jp

Alesion: SS Pharmaceutical
https://www.ssp.co.jp/alesion/

Ebastel AL: Kowa
https://hc.kowa.co.jp/otc/484

Zaditen AL: GlaxoSmithKline(discontinued)

Nazal α: Sato Pharmaceutical
https://www.stona.jp/nazal-ar/

Pabron Rhinitis Attack JL
https://www.catalog-taisho.com/category/02/003/04572/

Steroid eye drops: points of caution

The drugs above mainly suppress “histamine,” which is produced after inflammation occurs.
They have almost no effect on suppressing the inflammation itself.

To suppress inflammation, a doctor prescribes steroid eye drops.
These are not sold over the counter.

The commonly used Flumetholon® (fluorometholone) is low in concentration and has almost no side effects.

However, with long-term use, attention must be paid to side effects such as elevated eye pressure and steroid-induced glaucoma.