Back in February I went for a doctor's appointment to renew my blood pressure medication and ask for something to help with my allergies which were due to act up with a vengeance in early March. Dr Duck was on vacation, again, and the locum asked what I usually took for my 365 day a year allergies. I told him I alternated between Reactine and Claritin and was currently taking Reactine Extra Strength (10mg). He sent me on my way with a prescription for a three month supply of Reactine. Early in March, in antisipation of the dreaded "Allergy Season", I had the prescription filled and after I got home with it noticed that it was for 20mg tablets. I got to wondering why I couldn't just take two of my off the shelf Reactines and the next time I was in the drug store I asked the pharmacist. I wasn't at all surprised to learn that I can do just that. I'm happy. I will stick with the off the shelf pills as it is cheaper than paying the parmacy fee. Now the burning question is this; Was the locum THAT ignorant about what he was prescribing for me or are doctors in cahoots with drug manufacturers, as I have long suspected?