Inside: Prepare your independent pharmacy’s retail area for allergy season by stocking the right allergy products.
Get your independent pharmacy’s front end ready for allergy season by stocking and promoting the seasonal products your patients need.
As more allergy prescription products go over-the-counter (OTC), more patients will self-medicate.
“Many people can’t tell the difference between cold and allergy symptoms,” said Ted Bittner, Director of Sales and Marketing at National Pharma Industries, a company that provides quality pharmaceutical and nutritional products, including a full line of 1-DOSE TM single-dose vial products. “They simply medicate out of the front end of the pharmacy.”
Peak seasons for allergy products
Bittner recommends pharmacies run specials and promotions during peak allergy seasons.
“The major outdoor allergy season generally starts in February and lasts through mid-May,” he said. “The minor allergy season is in the fall, beginning in August and lasting through mid-October.”
He suggests hanging signage around your pharmacy with pollen count information. “Post it daily, so patients can see whether the local pollen count is mild, moderate or severe,” he said.
You can find this information by entering your pharmacy’s zip code on pollen.com, which provides a daily pollen count and allergy forecast. Making patients aware of the looming allergy season will put allergy products top-of-mind.
Keeping it simple
As you stock allergy products, consider different options. A unique new allergy-fighting antihistamine product, 1-DOSE diphenhdyramine, features a pre-filled single-dose vial design that’s a convenient option for parents of young children or anyone on-the-go.
“The medicine’s individually-labeled package makes the product convenient and safe,” Bittner said. “You can keep some in a purse or packed in the car, available for whenever you need it.”
The product’s computer-measured, pre-filled dosage also makes it a safer option for correct dosing. “There’s no confusion over teaspoon, tablespoon, milliliter, or ounce,” Bittner said. “The dose needed is pre-measured. You simply refer to the dosing instructions on the box for the number of single-dose vials you take.”
“There are no messy bottles or cups involved,” he said.
By the Numbers
Allergy season at a glance. Here are the top numbers to know about allergy season.
50 million – Number of people in the U.S. who are estimated to be affected by nasal allergies
30 – Percent of adults affected by allergies in the U.S.
5 – The ranking of allergic diseases, such as asthma, among the most prevalent chronic diseases for all age groups
13.4 million – Number of visits each year to health care facilities due to seasonal allergies
8.3 million – Number of American children who suffer from respiratory allergies
Source: American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
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