Effective June 1 , 2007

ZaditorOTC – In March, 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the sale of ZaditorOTC.  ZaditorOTC is the exact equivalent to the prescription product Zaditor and does not require a prescription. Zaditor is one of several ophthalmic medications used for allergic conjunctivitis. 

The University of Michigan Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) reviewed the allergic conjunctivitis drug class and made the following recommendations: 

• Zaditor will not be covered for new or refill prescriptions for members of the University of Michigan Prescription Drug Plan; 
  
  
• Other ophthalmic allergic conjunctivitis medications (Patanol, Acular, Acular PF, Opitvar), which are on the University of Michigan Preferred Drug List (PDL), will be moved to Tier 3 non-preferred status effective June 1, 2007.
  
  
• Physicians should encourage their patients to try the ketotifen 0.25% OTC (ZaditorOTC or Alaway) before prescribing other brand allergic conjunctivitis medications.  Both ZaditorOTC (5ml) and Alaway (10ml) are available at most retail pharmacy outlets for less than $13 per bottle.