Flonase

Spring allergy season: You may hate it but companies selling allergy relief products stand to profit off your misery. So suffice it to say, competition is fierce.

New to the over-the-counter game is Flonase, a nasal spray that claims in the TV commercial embedded above that it “outperforms the no. 1 allergy pill,” which it does not name. Old to the OTC game is Zyrtec, an allergy pill whose makers recently sued Flonase over the “no. 1” claim, arguing in a lawsuit filed on March 12 that Flonase does not outperform Zyrtec.

The lawsuit came to a conclusion — if you will — faster than a sneeze, with the two parties reaching a settlement earlier this week. And while the terms of the settlement are confidential, online advertising suggests that Zyrtec may be breathing a little more freely these days. Flonase now says on its website that it “outperforms a leading allergy pill,” with an asterisk affixed to fine print identifying that pill as Claritin, not Zyrtec.

All this good sportsmanship and it’s tough not to have watery eyes.

For more of TINA.org’s coverage on allergies, click here.