- Safe Driving Pledge Unveiled as Part of Nationwide Awareness Campaign -

KENILWORTH, N.J., March 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- This spring allergy season, Schering-Plough (NYSE: SGP), maker of the non-drowsy allergy medicine, CLARITIN, is continuing its partnership with allergy sufferer and NASCAR driver Carl Edwards to encourage safe driving practices.

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"Drowsy driving is dangerous so I'm participating in the CLARITIN Clear to Drive campaign because I want to make sure people know to check medicine labels for warnings about drowsiness before getting behind the wheel," said Edwards. "As someone who races cars for a living, I can't risk taking an allergy medicine that might make me drowsy. Now I use new CLARITIN(R) Liqui-Gels(R) because it relieves my worst allergy symptoms and it's the only non-drowsy option in an easy-to-swallow liquid-filled capsule."

For the second year in a row, Edwards is the voice of the CLARITIN Clear to Drive(SM) campaign, which aims to prevent drowsy driving and encourages people to stay alert while on the road. This year's campaign asks consumers to take an online pledge and commit to safe driving practices by visiting www.cleartodrive.com. For every pledge made, the makers of CLARITIN will donate $1 (up to $30,000) to the National Safety Council.

"As a leader in promoting safe driving practices, the National Safety Council supports the CLARITIN Clear to Drive(SM) campaign and its effort to prevent drowsy driving," said Janet Froetscher, president & chief executive of the National Safety Council. "Considering crashes are the number-one cause of accidental death in the U.S., it's important to pay close attention to our driving habits and take the necessary steps to stay alert on the road."

To learn more about drowsy driving and to take the Clear to Drive pledge, visit www.cleartodrive.com.

About CLARITIN(R)

All CLARITIN(R) brand products are available without a prescription, including: CLARITIN(R) Tablets, a once-daily, full prescription strength, non-drowsy formulation; CLARITIN(R) RediTabs(R) Tablets, a novel once-daily formulation in a quickly dissolving tablet for ages 6 and older; CLARITIN(R) Liqui-Gels(R), a once-daily formulation in an easy-to-swallow liquid-filled capsule; CLARITIN-D(R) 24-hour and 12-hour Extended Release Tablets, with the decongestant pseudoephedrine, now located behind the counter; CHILDREN'S CLARITIN(R) Syrup, a liquid formulation for children ages 2 and older in grape and fruit flavors; and CHILDREN'S CLARITIN(R) Grape Chewables, a chewable tablet for children ages 2 and older.

CLARITIN(R) is the No. 1 physician-recommended and pediatrician-recommended non-drowsy over-the-counter allergy brand. The CLARITIN(R) Rx-to-OTC switch in 2002 was the largest switch ever-and the first and only for a non-drowsy antihistamine. For more information on allergies and treatment, visit www.CLARITIN.com.

About Schering-Plough

Schering-Plough Consumer Health Care is the U.S. over-the-counter (OTC) and consumer products business unit of Schering-Plough an innovation-driven, science-centered global health care company. Through its own biopharmaceutical research and collaborations with partners, Schering-Plough creates therapies that help save and improve lives around the world. The company applies its research-and-development platform to human prescription, animal health and consumer health care products. Schering-Plough's vision is to "Earn Trust, Every Day" with the doctors, patients, customers and other stakeholders served by its colleagues around the world. The company is based in Kenilworth, N.J., and its Web site is www.schering-plough.com.

SOURCE Schering-Plough