Hiawatha Pharmacy Offering Free Allergy Medicine

Atta Rehman, owner of Hiawatha Pharmacy, located inside the Foodtown at 435 N. Beverwyck Road, is giving out free allergy medicines throughout the rest of the season.

This season has been particularly bad for allergies, said Rehman, which is why he decided to give back to the community by offering free medicine.

“I wanted to think outside the box, or pill box,” he said. “As an independent pharmacist and local business, it is my duty to support the community.”

At the beginning of the allergy season, Rehman lowered the price on all his allergy medicines but decided that to stir up a buzz, he was going to up the ante.

“You can't get lower than free,” he said.

So, for the duration of allergy season, Rehman will give out 10-day supplies of Loratadine (generic Claritin), cetirizine (generic Zyrtec), and Diphenhydramine (generic Benadryl).

"It is ten-day supply of Claritin, 14 day supply of Zyrtec and 24 tablets of Benadryl," he said. “Allergy season goes to around August and then flu season starts,” he added.

This allergy season has been particularly bad because of a mild winter and a lack of rain, a perfect combination for allergies, he said.

“It is growing the business as well as a relationship and trust with the community,” said Rehman. “It is bringing in business but more importantly, it's fulfilling a need.”

Hiawatha Pharmacy also offers free delivery and free expired medicine disposal.