Treating Hay Fever

Treating hay fever symptoms is important for anyone suffering with hay fever and there are many different products available to help. It is important to understand how they all work so that you can find the right one for you.

Treating Hay Fever

There are five main types of treatment available from your pharmacy for hay fever -

1. Antihistamines neutralise the chemical histamine, which is released when the body reacts to pollen, or has a similar allergic reaction. So, even though the body is reacting in an allergic way, you will not suffer the symptoms so badly. Tablet and liquid antihistamines can be used for occasional symptoms, as they start working within about half an hour. So, if you only have symptoms when the pollen count is high, you could watch the pollen forecast, and only take them when a high count is forecast. For symptoms that occur regularly they are best used on a regular basis as a preventative, starting at the first sign of any symptoms. They can be used together with any of the other three groups of hay fever products, where one product is not enough to relieve the symptoms, or for those special occasions such as exams, interviews or weddings, where you need to be as symptom-free as possible.

Older antihistamines are still popular, but with some people can cause drowsiness, which may be a problem with driving, concentrating, and drinking alcohol. However they are often cheaper than newer antihistamines.

• Piriton Allergy Tablets (Children over 6 years & adults)
• Piriton Syrup (Children over 1 year & adults)

Newer antihistamines do not normally cause drowsiness, though some people can be affected to some degree. Many of them also work over the whole 24 hours, and can be taken as a single daily dose. There are three antihistamines to choose from -

- Acrivastine is quick acting and lasts for about 8 hours. The brands containing it are -

• Benadryl Allergy Relief Capsules (Children & adults 12 - 65 years)

- Cetirizine works over the whole 24 hours. The brands containing it are -

• Benadryl One a Day Relief Tablets (Children over 12 years & adults)
• Piriteze Allergy Tablets (Children over 12 years & adults)
• Zirtek Allergy Tablets (Children over 12 years & adults)
• Zirtek Allergy Relief For Children (Children over 6 years)

- Loratadine works over the whole 24 hours. The brands containing it are -

• Clarityn Allergy Syrup (Children over 2 years & adults)
• Clarityn Allergy Tablets (Children over 12 years & adults)

Eye drops and nasal sprays are also available as antihistamines. These are quicker acting than the tablets or syrups, and are best used for quick-acting or occasional relief of hay fever symptoms.

• Otrivine Antistin Eye Drops (Children over 5 years & adults) Also contains a decongestant

2. Anti-allergy products take a few days to start working, so start using them as early as possible at the first warning that your symptoms are starting, or when pollen warnings show your symptoms should be due. They are best then used regularly as a preventative. They can be combined with the antihistamine tablets or liquids where one product is not enough to relieve the symptoms.

Steroid nasal sprays are particularly effective where there is nasal congestion, where the lining of the nose is swollen, giving you a blocked nose. Don't be worried by the word 'steroid'. It is a very low dose, and very little is absorbed into the body generally, and so does not cause side-effects that a steroid tablet can. They should not continuously for longer than 3 months without consulting a doctor.

• Beconase Hayfever Nasal Spray (Adult over 18 years)
• Flixonase Allergy Nasal Spray (Adults over 18 years)

Mast cell stabilisers work by reducing the chances of the body's natural stores of histamine (the mast cells), releasing histamine, and thus producing the symptoms of allergy. They are not steroids, and are suitable for children.

• Opticrom Allergy Eye Drops (Children & adults - no age range given)

3. Decongestants are the same products you use for a cold. Decongestants quickly help to relieve a runny or blocked nose, and can help as a quick acting and short term fix. They can be used with the other three types of medicines. The tablets and liquids can be used for a week or two, but the nasal sprays should not be used for longer than a week, or you can become dependant on them.

• Sudafed have a tablet, liquid and nasal spray

Decongestants plus antihistamines combine the benefits of both products, and are useful where the two products need to be used together. The brands containing them are -

• Benadryl Plus Tablets (Children & adults 12 - 65 years)

4. Homeopathic products can be used on their own or combined with antihistamines and anti-allergy products if they are not strong enough to control all the symptoms.

• New Era H Hay Fever Tablets (Children & adults - no age range given)

5. Allergy filters are also popular.

• Nasal Air Guard is an air filter which is used in the nose. It is actually much more comfortable to use than it sounds. It filters out pollens and other allergens, and stops you breathing them in to your nose in the first place.
• Nasaleze (Children & adults - no age range given) is a natural treatment for the nasal symptoms of hay fever. It is not a medicine, but an inert plant based extract, which comes as a very fine powder in a puffer bottle. A couple of puffs in each nostril coats the lining of the nose and protects its sensitive tissues from coming into contact with pollen. This helps stop the nasal symptoms of hay fever from occurring.