Hayfever

[sunnyshoes]

Hi guys, Mr Sunny suffers from hayfever and spending 5 days in a field in the countryside isn't that great for it - anyone got any wonder tips?

Thanks!

[Freewheelin2]

I take some anti-histamine (Piriton or something similar) and some eye drops (Optrex or something similar) with me. Usually helps.

[CitizenErased]

Head to your GP if there's time, tell them you're off to Glastonbury and ask for Fexofenadine 120mg. I don't think you can get it off prescription in the UK. I had to start taking this because non-prescription anti-histamines have stopped working for me. I've found that it works really well.

[posthuman]

I've been taking loratadine 10mg recently and it's left me feeling pretty groggy, despite supposedly being non-drowsy. Any non-prescription alternatives that people can recommend?

[snipe]

I take some anti-histamine (Piriton or something similar) and some eye drops (Optrex or something similar) with me. Usually helps.

[dan05delaney]

I've a nasal spray on prescription... best thing i've found is http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Non-Drowsy-Hayfever-and-Allergy-Relief-10mg-Tablets-Loratadine-30-Tablets_12406/ just superb, well work for me and i've more allergies then I can shake a stick at

[Paf_82]

Yeah as above the nasal sprays work wonders for me. Becanase is very good.

[posthuman]

I've a nasal spray on prescription... best thing i've found is http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Non-Drowsy-Hayfever-and-Allergy-Relief-10mg-Tablets-Loratadine-30-Tablets_12406/ just superb, well work for me and i've more allergies then I can shake a stick at

[Big Vern]

Nasal spray from tesco does me ( their own version is the same stuff but cheaper than becanase) and eye drops called opticrom

Edited June 19, 2013 by Big Vern

[Dukeicon]

If you're going to go for loratadine, you might as well go for these - half the price for the same quantity. http://m.boots.com/mt/www.boots.com/en/Value-Health-Non-Drowsy-Hayfever-Allergy-Relief-10-mg-7-Tablets_29751/

[mandb]

Vaseline up your nostrils BEFORE you get any symptoms. It really works and you can drink as much as you like.

[brightyoungthing]

I know it'd be more expensive, but do they sell antihistamines at the 24hour yellow shops?

[Starchild771]

Yeah as above the nasal sprays work wonders for me. Becanase is very good.

[stuwilky]

For festivals I have to take 2 of the one a day Zirtek tablets in a morning and another at night. Zirtek is the only one that doesnt make my drowsy and the like!

I also wear my contact lenses as they seem to help (dont know if they prevent the pollen getting into my eys of something?!

Lots of hayfever tabs are currently 2 for 1 at Tesco too!

[budvar]

This year is certainly a bad one for hayfever in general. Interestingly I've never had it all that bad at Glasto.

As others have recommended I'd suggest sticking to whatever he already does and maybe use the nasal spray (I'm on Nasonex myself) a couple of times a day, rather than just once.

[sime]

I have found that sunglasses can really help too as they help to relax the eyes.

[pie_and_a_pint]

I know it'd be more expensive, but do they sell antihistamines at the 24hour yellow shops?

[Phil-itfc]

Vaseline up your nostrils BEFORE you get any symptoms. It really works and you can drink as much as you like.

[sunnyshoes]

Thanks all - pollen count I think is mega high at the mo. Does anyone know if you can take a loratidine based one and a certizine (not right spellings) one at the same time - would they still work or cancel each other out? and does one make you grumpy?!! never sure if its the tablets or the hayfever itself that make him into Mr-not-very-sunny!

[Paf_82]

I've had loretadine and whatever Benadryl (cetirizine?) is at the same time before. Never did me any harm, not entirely sure if officially you should. Also got bitten really badly on holiday once and the pharmacy there told me to take triple dose of loretdine for the first couple of days. She said as long as its not for more than a couple of days its no issue. No idea what the official advice is though, and that was in Bulgaria!

[whatmidlifecrisis?]

Good advice on the tablets/remedies here. Just to add if it is any consolation that I suffer from hay fever and have done for years. Some years worse than others. I have never suffered at Glastonbury for some reason. I live in London and I understand that it has something to do with pollen and pollution that makes mine so bad sometimes - the cleaner air of Somerset makes things a lot easier. Worth taking the precautions mentioned but you may be surprised that it affects you less.

[CitizenErased]

You can take Cetirizine and Loratadine at the same time, it wont hurt you, but you'll get very little therapeutic benefit from doing both at the same time. Also, it's worth noting that the general consensus is the effective dose of Loratadine is 20mg(2 pills) rather than 10mg. I believe they market it as 10mg per dose in order to be able to sell it as non-drowsy, but it's more effective at 20mg, beyond 20mg you don't really get an increase in therapeutic benefit though, you just get more side effects(drowsiness).

Before I moved onto Fexofenadine, I used to take 20mg Loratadine in the morning and 10mg Cetirizine before bed, I found that helped, I didn't wake up sneezing, coughing and with a head full of mucous in the morning and felt reasonably ok through the day.

As far as I'm aware, diphenhydramine(aka Benadryl) is the most effective anti-histamine you can get off prescription, but it is also the most drowsy. So maybe take that before bed and then Loratadine or Cetirizine; whichever suits you best, through the day.

Edited June 20, 2013 by CitizenErased

[Bigjonyr]

There is a pharmacy at Ivy Mead med centre if you struggle, the pharmacists are dead good and always give out good advice!