Relief in a Box
By Elena Sullivan

Suphedrine PE from Target, Nuprin cold relief from CVS, and Loratadine from Longs, all help to relieve allergy and cold symptoms.

This allergy season, store brand products offer the relief and value that consumers are looking for.

In early April, the Atlanta Allergy & Asthma Clinic recorded the second highest pollen count since they started counting in 1995. Surely anyone who suffers from allergies will agree that their suffering is worse this year opposed to past years.

A strategy for retailers is to produce up-to-date allergy medicines and keep their shelves stocked with them. A trend that PL discussed in the January/February issue, and is being continued, is the phasing out of pseudoephedrine. Besides replacing this ingredient with phenylephrine HCI, retailers are going the extra mile to state on their packages ‘does not contain pseudoephedrine,’ or ‘pseudoephedrine free.’

Wal-Mart, Bentonville, AR, does a nice job showing off its answers to allergy relief. A box of Equate allergy and sinus medication boasts a new formula that relieves a runny nose, sneezing, itchy watery eyes, nasal congestion, sinus pain and pressure. Along with being a pain reliever and antihistamine, it is also a nasal decongestant and contains phenylephrine HCI. Wal-Mart advertises on the package, retailing for $3.76, that the box contains 48 cool blast caplets.

Wal-Mart also sells a nasal decongestant PE, which has a new formula with phenylephrine HCI. The decongestant compares to Sudafed PE but costs $1.73 for an 18ct box. In addition, the retailer features a variety of nasal aids including an extra moisture nasal spray that compares to Afrin extra moisturizing spray. The spray is a value size and costs $1.96.

Walgreens, Deerfield, IL, has an interesting and original method of differentiating its products. The retailer begins the name of many of its OTC products with the letters ‘Wal’ and then a similar ending to a national brand’s name. For example, Walgreens sells a nasal decongestant under the name Wal-phed PE, which compares to Sudafed PE.

Target, Minneapolis, MN, also stocks Suphedrine PE, which contains phenylephrine HCI opposed to pseudoephedrine and compares to Sudafed PE, which also contains phenylephrine PE. A box of 18 tablet costs $1.99.

CVS, Woonsocket, RI, similar to Walgreens and Wal-Mart, sells a nasal decongestant PE that boldly states that the product is made with a new formula, using phenylephrine HCI, 10mg and not pseudoephedrine. A pack of 72ct is $9.99. CVS also features a variety of nasal relief products including a nasal decongestant inhaler, which provides temporary relief of nasal congestion duet to the common cold, hay fever, sinusitis, and respiratory allergies. The main ingredient is levmetamfetamine 50mg and one inhaler costs $3.79.

Rite Aid, Harrisburg, PA, features a value sized package of allergy medication in coated minitab form. The tabs contain the antihistamine Diphenyhramine HCI, 25mg,and compare to Benadryl, but are 50% smaller in size. A 200ct box costs $7.79 on sale and $12.09 regularly. Rite Aid also carries another antihistamine that contains the ingredients clorpheniramine maleate 4mg. The medicine is intended for temporary relief of hay fever and upper respiratory allergy symptoms. A 100ct box sells for $7.99.

Claritin‘s Disolving Act

Once Claritin was transferred to OTC status, retailers started using the main ingredient, loratidine 10mg, to manufacturer their own brand products. CVS stocks a loratidine 10mg product, which compares to Claritin, but also goes a step further and introduces a dissolving tablet. The dissolving tablet appeals to consumers across the board–especially those who have difficulty swallowing pills, and children. A box of 20ct, 24 hour allergy relief tablets retails for $14.99.

Even though the allergy medicines discussed here, are pretty much standard, it is clear that almost every retailer which has replaced pseudoephedrine with phenylephrine HCI, is revamping their packaging design to make sure customers are informed that the product contains a new formula, is pseudoephedrine free and works just as well, if even better than the old formula.

In addition, as illustrated by CVS, an obvious method to stand out from the crowd is to introduce a product that most stores are not carrying in their private label lines. CVS’ loratidine dissolving tablets are a perfect example of this method because most retailers only carry the regular small loratidine pills that compare to Claritn, under their own brands.

As the weather gets warmer, shoppers are scrambling to eat healthier, exercise, and diet. Therefore, it is important for retailers to stock their shelves with vitamins and supplements.

Dieting Solutions

Appearing on shelves in many drugstores and mass merchandisers are supplements that are aimed towards dieting and health conscious consumers.

The national brand One-A-Day Weight Smart helps consumers maintain a healthy weight, and now retailers are carrying products that are similar to One-A-Day’s product. For instance, at Wal-Mart, customers can find an ephedra free diet smart pill with 32mg of EGCG. Target sells a similar item called a weight sense dietary supplement. A yellow call out states “with EGCG.” The multivitamin/multimineral weight sense supplement helps maintain healthy weight and compares to One-A-Day Weight Smart.

Under its Vitasmart line, Kmart features a daily diet support multivitamin. The multivitamin also compares to One-A-Day Weight Smart.

Although the craze surrounding the Atkins diet has died down, carb control supplements are still prominent on store shelves. CVS sells a spectravite Carb Multi. The brightly colored packaging tells consumers that the item is a “complete multivitamin formula for your low-carb lifestyle.” A red call out on the to left of the cardboard surrounding the bottle, states that there are high levels of B vitamins and antioxidants C and E. Also, the product compares to Centrum Carb Assist.

Kmart also stocks a carb control supplement under its Vitasmart line called Carb-Vantage. The multivitamin now includes more Biotin and compares to One-A-Day Carb Smart.

Target displays a carb vantage product in a section with a large sign overhead stating “New at Target.” The product has more Biotin and compares to One-A-Day Carb Smart.

A couple of years ago a popular trend for people dieting was to take products with ephedra, which can speed up heart rates, curb appetites and/or speed up metabolisms. Consequently if people abused supplements containing this component, it led to quite a few cardiovascular problems in young people who were taking the pills in order to lose weight or improve performance in sports.

Now, some retailers carry products that have similar affects but don’t carry the risk that ephedra did. For example, Rite Aid, sells a few products under its exclusive GNC line. An example is Total Lean, a dietary supplement that, according to the package, is a safe, effective way to stimulate metabolism.

Included with the product is a fourteen-day meal plan, which is intended to maximize the results when using Total Lean.