13/03/2026
Hayfever season will soon be here so it is time to start planning. If you're a regular hay fever sufferer, treatments such as antihistamine tablets work best if you start taking them before symptoms start. Try to start taking antihistamine tablets 2-4 weeks before pollen season starts; you can continue taking them throughout the season.
Patients are advised to speak to the pharmacy team for support and clinical advice about the treatment options available, including:
* Antihistamine tablets and syrups: good at preventing symptoms of hay fever when taken at the start of the day
* Antihistamine nasal sprays: can be used instead of, or in addition to, tablets to prevent nasal symptoms
* Steroid nasal sprays: can be used in addition to preventer medication to treat symptoms. Note, they can take approximately three days to begin to work and work best when started before you have symptoms.
* Nasal inhalants: helpful to ease nasal congestion
eye drops: helpful to ease itching or dry eyes
* Pain relief medication: can be used to aid symptoms of sinus or head pain
* Cold/flu medications- decongestant / throat lozenges: can be taken to help ease congestion and sore, tickly throats
All high strength treatments for hay fever are now available to buy at your local pharmacy and some supermarkets. GPs will no longer be able to give routine prescriptions for hay fever treatments.
https://patient.info/allergies-blood-immune/hay-fever-leafle
