Allergy medication, Allegra, is now available without a prescription

An allergy medication, Allegra, can now be purchased by consumers without a prescription after the Food and Drug Administration approved the medication for over-the-counter purchase.

Sanofi-Aventis, makers of many types of medications, announced that Allegra and medications like it will be available for consumer purchase starting in March 2011.

The company believes the ability to market the allergy treatment without a prescription will help grow Sanofi-Aventis and allow for further diversification of the pharmaceutical company.

Due to generic drug availability, prescription sales of the drug dropped drastically in the United States. This change may help those dropping figures turn around for Sanofi-Aventis.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America explained that nearly 40 million Americans suffer from allergies, both indoor and outdoor.

The company has been selling Allegra for more than 15 years, surpassing many other prescription and generic allergy options.

Most common allergy symptoms are sore or scratchy throat, sneezing, itchy or runny eyes, coughing, and runny nose.

Current prescription drugs available for allergy treatment include Astelin, Xyzal, Clarinex, and Allegra.

Over-the-counter options include Zyrtec, Claritin, and Benadryl.