OBJECTIVE: To examine patient perceptions regarding medication efficacy, safety and cost of using over-the-counter (OTC) Claritin and its impact on work related productivity. METHODS: A web-based survey was administered to employees of a large University via a voluntary-based e-mail list. Survey items included the choice of medication used by individuals prior to and following the availability of OTC Claritin, perceptions of efficacy, symptom control, cost and safety of OTC Claritin as well perceptions of work related productivity. Bivariate comparisons using chi square analysis were used to describe the study results. RESULTS: Sample consisted of 221 respondents of which 19% were either taking a prescription medication or nasal spray, other OTC medications, both a prescription and OTC medication, allergy shots, herbal medications or who were not treating their allergies prior to the availability of OTC Claritin switched to OTC Claritin. Older individuals were less likely to switch to OTC Claritin. Half the individuals who switched from prescription medication to OTC Claritin reported having better control of their allergic rhinitis symptoms (p<0.05). In total, 88% of these individuals reported no difference in side effects between their prescription medication and OTC Claritin, while 82% reported that OTC Claritin was more expensive than their prior prescription medication (p<0.05). However, only 28% of these individuals reported their allergy symptoms did not interfere at all with their work while taking OTC Claritin, while 38% reported that they were only between 60-80% as productive at work when taking OTC Claritin. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results suggest that the adoption of OTC Claritin may not be as widespread as anticipated. While patients' report equal or better symptom control with OTC Claritin, self reports of work related productivity do not appear to corroborate these findings. Further research is needed to examine the indirect impact of OTC Claritin on presenteism and absenteeism.