best hay fever remedy?

Author
Discussion

Dupont666

Original Poster:

21,662 posts

197 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
Friend has hay fever and the normal drugs arent very effective... as in she is off home today from work after lunch cause she cant stop the effects of hay fever.

So what is the best over the counter drugs/machines you can buy to stop it?

(can this be left in the lounge as I need an answer asap)

elster

17,517 posts

215 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
Move somewhere with no pollen.

Antarctic perhaps?

King Herald

23,501 posts

221 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
Dupont666 said:
Friend has hay fever and the normal drugs arent very effective... as in she is off home today from work after lunch cause she cant stop the effects of hay fever.

So what is the best over the counter drugs/machines you can buy to stop it?

(can this be left in the lounge as I need an answer asap)
Lloyds Pharmacy own brand 'non drowsy' Loritadine. I take one every morning for the whole summer, plus a brace of shots of Beconase nose spray twice a day.
Best advice I was ever given: start taking them before the summer hay fever starts, and take it EVERY DAY, regardless of the weather, until summer is over.

mat13

1,977 posts

186 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
eating local honey reguarly can help build up an immunity

davemac250

4,499 posts

210 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
If it is very bad the over the counter stuff may not work.

Most use one of a few active ingredients and people react better to the one best for them. I found that after time they become less effective.

Claritin (sp) worked best for me though for the longest time.

Beconaze (again sp?) was second choice

May sound strange but a really strong shower and a change of clothes to try and get rid of the pollen helps as well.


Mr Will

13,719 posts

211 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
Over the counter? Benadryl 8 hour are unbeatable for me, especially as you top up in the evening when the one a day ones are wearing off.

If she is suffering that badly though then surely the GP would be the place to go? They can prescribe much stronger things than your local boots can supply and it will work out much cheaper.

Mattygooner

5,301 posts

209 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
Gimp mask or an injection before the season starts.

Melman Giraffe

6,776 posts

223 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
mat13 said:
eating local honey reguarly can help build up an immunity
Yep +1

gradeAfailure

651 posts

206 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
I use a combination of Flixonase nasal spray (fluticasone) which is available over the counter, and Fexofenadine tablets which are prescription only I believe - only thing that works for me. Have run out of the tablets and having to use up my Loratadine supply and the symptoms are worse but not intolerable.

Ganglandboss

8,344 posts

208 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
Melman Giraffe said:
mat13 said:
eating local honey reguarly can help build up an immunity
Yep +1
+2 but it has to be untreated.

anonymous-user

59 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
davemac250 said:
May sound strange but a really strong shower and a change of clothes to try and get rid of the pollen helps as well.
rather then a weak one?

Davey111

719 posts

191 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
I used to get it really badly - as in couldn't open my eyes and could barely breathe. The few years that it was that bad the over the counter stuff couldn't touch it. Go to the doctors and they will give something a lot better.

I think I was given neo-clarytin (which I assume is a more powerfull version of the over the counter stuff) which worked a treat.

noodleman

827 posts

218 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
Beconase works best for me, topped up with tablets on really bad days. You have to use it for a couple of weeks before it's fully effective though.

If it's really bad, visit the doctor for a Kenalog (sp?) steroid injection. It CURED my hayfever for 2 years.

ian_uk1975

1,189 posts

207 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
The two non-drowsy OTC remedies are Loratadine (Clarityn) and Cetirizine (Zirtek). The like of original Benadryl and Piriton contain diphenhydramine and chlophenamine, which are both drowsy.

Personally, I recommend cetirizine hydrochloride. Loratadine gave me (bizarrely) random nosebleeds.

tim2100

6,285 posts

262 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
gradeAfailure said:
I use a combination of Flixonase nasal spray (fluticasone) which is available over the counter, and Fexofenadine tablets which are prescription only I believe - only thing that works for me.
And me except there are are two doses of fexofenadine, I take the stronger 180mg dose.

Been doing this for a few years.

giw12

1,300 posts

268 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
My wife has suffered badly from hay fever all her life.

Our sprog (who is now 5 months old) was diagnosed about 2 months ago as having a dairy/lactose intolerance. My wife, keen to keep breastfeeding, completely stopped consumption of dairy. I did too....solidarity you understand, nothing to do with being henpecked.....smile

Net results within a couple of weeks....

1. my chronic acid indigestion all but disappeared
2. that annoying bit of dry skin on my forehead is no more

But the most relevant one...

3. my wife's hayfever has completely disappeared.

We are both amazed tbh, and despite us both being highly sceptical, there's no way it can be down to anything other than ditching dairy.

davemac250

4,499 posts

210 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
yammyfan said:
davemac250 said:
May sound strange but a really strong shower and a change of clothes to try and get rid of the pollen helps as well.
rather then a weak one?
Yep, as is strong flow of water to dislodge pollen from hair/face etc. If you wear glasses wash them out as well.

Not sure what bit of that was confusing......................

Still, your help is appreciated.

Colin_147

409 posts

233 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
Just sent this via e-mail

Beer Helps to Treat Symptoms of Hay Fever
Tuesday April 3, 2007
Next time you want another beer, you may have a valid medical excuse: Allergies. A recent study of 20 people with allergic rhinitis to pollens given Sapporo brand beer showed a reduction in allergy symptoms.
Of the participants, 60% reported less sneezing and 55% reported less runny nose, as well as a significant improvement in symptom-medication scores.
Sapporo Breweries Ltd, the company that makes Sapporo beer, has found that their beer is useful in treating allergic rhinitis symptoms because of the presence of hop flavonol glycosides, a natural anti-histamine. The company plans to also study the effects of beer on allergy symptoms related to dust exposure.

Zelda Pinwheel

500 posts

203 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
Colin_147 said:
Just sent this via e-mail

Beer Helps to Treat Symptoms of Hay Fever
Tuesday April 3, 2007
Next time you want another beer, you may have a valid medical excuse: Allergies. A recent study of 20 people with allergic rhinitis to pollens given Sapporo brand beer showed a reduction in allergy symptoms.
Of the participants, 60% reported less sneezing and 55% reported less runny nose, as well as a significant improvement in symptom-medication scores.
Sapporo Breweries Ltd, the company that makes Sapporo beer, has found that their beer is useful in treating allergic rhinitis symptoms because of the presence of hop flavonol glycosides, a natural anti-histamine. The company plans to also study the effects of beer on allergy symptoms related to dust exposure.
I can relate to that. Becks is quite good too, as is Old Speckled Hen.

I used to find my hayfever wasn't as bad when I still smoked - since I quit it's been bloody awful. Cigarette smoke, exhaled thru the nose, did something to the nasal passage and killed off any evil pollen monsters. Mind you, I've not had the hayfever-induced asthma since I quit either, so it's not all bad I guess...

Is it just me, or does anybody think this June has been worse than ever? This is the first year i've had to take time off work.

Mobile Chicane

21,050 posts

217 months

Wednesday 17th June 2009
quotequote all
Anyone using Zirtek who thinks their symptoms are worse this year should note that Zitrek has been reformulated - I'm imagining due to licensing issues.

Previously Zirtek was cetirizine di-hydrochloride, now it's just cetirizine hydrochloride - not the same molecule at all, and substantially less effective.

Personally I can get by just on Sudafed (pseudoephedrine hydrochloride) tablets. You can use these for allergies, although most people don't think to.