Ocshner HMO limiting Claritin scripts to 10 days of therapy under antihistamine guidelines.

OCSHNER HEALTH PLAN CLARITIN SCRIPTS LIMITED TO 10 DAYS OF THERAPY per month under guidelines the Metairie, La. HMO is implementing for antihistamine therapies used by its patients, VP-Pharmacy Services Daniel Lewis told the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists' mid-year clinical meeting Dec. 11 in New Orleans. Schering-Plough's Claritin is covered as third-line therapy by Ocshner. Patients on the once-daily version of Claritin (loratadine) are allowed 10 pills, while patients on twice-daily Claritin D (loratadine plus pseudoephedrine) can have 20, Lewis said.