About the CampaignAbout the Campaign

About Behind the Counter Counts

With spring in the air and pollen counts on the rise, mom, actress and allergy sufferer Alison Sweeney has teamed with the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division of McNeil-PPC, Inc. to launch a campaign designed to help allergy sufferers find relief this spring.

Don’t Let Allergies And Nasal Congestion Get You Down

For many people, April represents the beginning of spring allergy season a time when congestion, a common allergy symptom, can be a problem. Allergies impact up to 36 million Americans each year. In fact, a new survey (n=4,282) found that 83 percent of people surveyed felt their nasal congestion slows them down.

Knowing Your Treatment Options

There are many products available that treat nasal congestion, so finding the one that is right for you can make a big difference. In addition to the allergy, sinus and cold medicines available on store shelves, there are non-prescription allergy, sinus and cold medicines available behind the pharmacy or service counter, or “BTC.” These products contain pseudoephedrine, a different active ingredient than what’s in products sold on store shelves, and were placed behind the pharmacy or service counter to better ensure these medicines are not used inappropriately.

Since there are a lot of options out there, knowing what’s available can help you find the treatment that is right for you. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions. Click here to learn more about what may be causing your congestion. You can also visit www.myhealthyseasons.com for more information.

How to Purchase Behind the Counter Medicines

The good news is that it’s simple to purchase non-prescription products to treat
allergies and nasal congestion at the pharmacy or service counter. All it takes are
two simple steps:

STEP 1: Show photo identification at the pharmacy or service counter. These days, people show identification for many reasons. You show ID at work or when you write a check - in fact, some schools ask parents to show identification to pick up their kids.

STEP 2: Sign a log-book

Behind the Counter Counts Spokesperson

Mom, actress and long time allergy and congestion sufferer, Alison Sweeney – well-known for her roles as the host of a popular reality TV show and daytime soap opera star understands what it’s like to juggle it all during allergy season. She knows that finding the right medicine to relieve allergy symptoms like congestion can make a big difference. She initially didn’t realize the medicines she relied on—ZYRTEC-D® and SUDAFED®— were located behind the pharmacy counter until she spoke with her pharmacist. By helping the American Pharmacists Association and McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division of McNeil-PPC,Inc. get the word out this allergy season, she hopes other allergy and congestion sufferers will talk to their pharmacists too. Knowing what treatment options are available and where to find it is the first step to finding the medicine that’s right for you.

Behind the Counter Counts Partner

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA), founded in 1852 as the American Pharmaceutical Association, represents more than 62,000 practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and others interested in advancing the profession. The APhA, dedicated to helping all pharmacists improve medication use and advance patient care, is the first-established and largest association of pharmacists in the U.S.

 
What happened to some of your favorite allergy, cold and
sinus medicines?