The essential guide to hay fever treatments
There is a range of products you can use to relieve the symptoms of hay fever. For moderate sufferers these can be enough to make the summer bearable. Most are available over the counter but it’s worth consulting your GP before you start taking any medicine. It’s also very important to read the information with the product as some hay fever treatments can make you so drowsy you shouldn’t drive.
The other caveat with many hay fever treatments is that they are slow-acting. You may have to take them for a couple of weeks before you notice any effect.
Antihistamines
These work against a chemical called (predictably) histamine. It’s an important protein involved in many allergic reactions and causes two types of allergic response:
- Inflammation
- contraction of smooth muscle, for example constricting airways and causing shortness of breath.
Antihistamines block these responses and can therefore relieve sneezing, wheezing and itching. They also reduce fluid production in the eyes and nose.
These drugs are available as nasal sprays, nasal drops, eye drops and tablets. Some antihistamines cause drowsiness (eg Piriton) so you should be careful to read the label before taking these products. There are now non-drowsy antihistamines (eg Zirtek) available over-the-counter.
Antihistamines generally start working within an hour and some are effective for 24 hours. In studies hay fever symptoms have been cut 20% by tablets and up to 30% by nasal sprays.
Steroids
Corticosteroids help calm your reaction to pollen. They reduce swelling, sneezing and itching. They’re normally used in a nasal spray but unlike antihistamines it can take a few days for the effect to build up. Popular brands are Beconase and Flixonase which are both available without prescription. Generic alternatives exist and are considerably cheaper.
These products are generally less powerful and effective than antihistamines. Although they are steroids, they are not the same as anabolic steroiods some bodybuilders use to promote muscle growth. However, the Committee on Safety of Medicines says that prolonged high doses of corticosteroids can cause side effects.
If you have severe symptoms and need fast relief, your doctor may prescribe a short course of steroid tablets. You can adjust your dose according to the pollen count and discontinue if there are side effects.
Decongestants
Over the counter decongestants can ease symptoms however they are not a good long term solution as their effectiveness can wear off after a week or two.
Sodium Cromoglicate
An alternative to steroids which has to be taken before the allergy builds up. It is short-acting so needs to be taken several times per day. Comes as a nasal spray and eye drops. Works to reduce swelling, itching and redness.
Nedocromil Sodium
If your symptoms are more severe, your doctor may prescribe a nedocromil sodium drug eg Tilade. This is an anti inflammatory that is inhaled.
Immunotherapy
Severe sufferers may be prescribed immunotherapy. It’s the closest thing to a cure for hay fever and works in a similar way to a vaccine. You are given small amounts of the pollen you are allergic to over a long period. This used to be by injection, but recently a Danish company has developed a tablet (Grazax).
It was licensed last year and it contains small amounts of Timothy grass (one of the commonest allergens) and is designed to reset the immune system's response to pollen.
It is intended for people who don’t respond to existing treatments. You dissolve a tablet under your tongue daily for at least 8 weeks before the hay fever season starts
