Treatment options

Nasal sprays 

One of the main hayfever symptoms is inflammation of the lining of the nose. There are various products to treat this symptom:

• Corticosteroid nasal sprays – examples include beclometasone dipropionate (e.g. Beconase Hayfever), fluticasone propionate (e.g. Pirinase Hayfever Relief), triamcinolone acetonide (e.g. Nasacort Allergy), budesonide (e.g. Benacort) and mometasone furoate (e.g. Clarinaze). These are often the first choice of treatment for people who experience regular allergy symptoms over a long period of time. For best results, the sufferer should start to use the medication a couple of weeks before the hayfever season starts. The spray should then be used on a regular basis
• Decongestant nasal sprays – Intranasal antihistamines (such as azelastine) are only available on prescription. OTC decongestants such as oxymetazoline and xylometazoline relieve nasal congestion by shrinking the swollen lining of the nose. They are not usually recommended for hayfever, and should only be used for short periods of time. Examples include Vicks Sinex Nasal Spray and Otrivine Nasal Spray
• Saline nasal sprays – these are a drug-free way of relieving nasal congestion. Products containing natural sea water (e.g. Sterimar Hayfever & Allergies) work by washing away allergens and rebalancing nasal functions. Some have additional ingredients such as manganese, calcium and purified water (e.g. Sterimar Stop & Protect Allergy Response) to neutralise allergens in the nose and form a protective film to prevent them from irritating the lining of the nose.

Antihistamines

Some customers will prefer to use one product to treat all their hayfever symptoms. Antihistamine tablets and syrups work by blocking the action of histamine, which is one of the chemicals released when a susceptible person encounters pollen.

These products tend to start working quickly and relieve most allergy symptoms. They can be taken as and when symptoms arise, or on a daily basis. Oral antihistamines are separated into two groups:

• Sedating antihistamines – the most common example is chlorphenamine (e.g. Piriton Allergy Tablets). One of its drawbacks is that it can cause drowsiness. Sedating antihistamines have a short duration of action so need to be taken frequently every four to six hours. However, these products are often more affordable, which can make them more appealing to some customers. As they are sedating, care needs to be taken when recommending these antihistamines as they are not suitable for those who drive or operate machinery
• Non-sedating antihistamines – examples include acrivastine (e.g. Benadryl Allergy Relief), cetirizine (e.g. Benadryl Allergy One A Day, Benadryl Allergy Children’s 1mg/ml Oral Solution), loratadine (e.g. Clarityn Allergy) and fexofenadine (e.g. Allevia). Drowsiness is not usually a problem with these products, and they tend to have a longer duration of action, so don’t need to be taken as frequently as sedating antihistamines.

Eye drops

Itchy, red and watery eyes are common symptoms of hayfever. A type of treatment called a mast cell stabiliser (e.g. sodium cromoglycate) can help to manage these symptoms.

The body’s mast cells contain histamine and play a central role in many different allergies. As the name suggests, mast cell stabilisers work by stabilising mast cells, preventing them from releasing histamine and thus preventing allergic symptoms such as itchy, red and watery eyes from occurring. Some eye drops may cause side-effects such as transient stinging or a burning sensation in the eyes. Examples include Opticrom Allergy Eye Drops and Optrex Allergy Eye Drops.