Pharmaceutical Industry discussion, review, analysis, news and information.

Sudafed 24 Hour is 240 mg of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride (Sudafed 24 Hour) is an over-the counter drug while prescription-only Singulair is 10 mg montelukast sodium, about four times more expensive.

Scientists at the University of Chicago recently reported that both medicines produced equal results in relieving hay fever or allergic rhinitis symptoms. The cheaper drug was also as effective at improving quality of life for hay fever patients, without causing any additional side effects.

"This came as a genuine surprise," study director Dr. Fuad Baroody, an associate professor of surgery, said in a prepared statement. "Our hypothesis was that montelukast would have additional benefits and pseudoephedrine would interfere with sleep, but when we compared them head-to-head we found that for treatment of allergic rhinitis, these drugs at these doses were virtually identical.

Detailed report of the study can be found at the February issue of the journal Archives of Otolaryngology -- Head & Neck Surgery.

News Source: [Forbes] and [Science Daily]