Hay fever

[Reidy10_0]

Hay fever, any one got any top tips?

[Jonny671]

Stay in bed?

I get it really bad, today is high.. Definately!

The doctors stuff is dead good, at the moment i'm using Zirtek and a nose spray from last seasons hayfever but will get down the doctors to get a new one and some new tablets.

[Incredible Sulk]

Try one of these...........

[Incredible Sulk]

But seriously.............. Zirtek is just Cetirizine something or other. Zirtek is or used to be about £7 for 7 or something like that. Dunno, because now I buy the generic copy, which is about £4 for 30. Beconase nasal spray also available OTC without a prescription works for me, along with the Cetirizine.

[Jonny671]

Incredible Sulk said:

But seriously.............. Zirtek is just Cetirizine something or other. Zirtek is or used to be about £7 for 7 or something like that. Dunno, because now I buy the generic copy, which is about £4 for 30. Beconase nasal spray also available OTC without a prescription works for me, along with the Cetirizine.

Whats the name of that?

I buy Zirtek at £3 for 7, which is affordable.. But still expensive if there is the other option!

[Incredible Sulk]

Jonny671 said:

Incredible Sulk said:

But seriously.............. Zirtek is just Cetirizine something or other. Zirtek is or used to be about £7 for 7 or something like that. Dunno, because now I buy the generic copy, which is about £4 for 30. Beconase nasal spray also available OTC without a prescription works for me, along with the Cetirizine.

Whats the name of that?

I buy Zirtek at £3 for 7, which is affordable.. But still expensive if there is the other option!

It doesn't have a brand name. Just go into any Pharmacy and ask for generic cetirizine (hydrochloride). The stuff i have at the moment is made by Sandoz, but it's pretty much a different manufacturer each time I buy, which isn't that often. I tend to buy 3 packs of 30 once a year, which pretty much gets me through the whole season. Most Pharmacies will still try to get you to buy the zirtek brand - not because it is different or better, but because I guess there is more profit in it for them. If the margin on both products is the same, if you buy Zirtek he's making four times as much!

[rlw]

Both Boots and Waitrose are selling cetirizine hydrochloride tablets for about 90p for seven. Waitrose even have a BOGOF on packs of 14.

[Reidy10_0]

Yesterday was one of the worst days i have had with the fever.
I went to the local pool and sat in the steam room for a good while followed by a swim and i was brand new once again.
I then Started sneezing when i came out the swimming pool complex but it did make a great difference.
Today is not too bad.

[Jonny671]

Reidy10_0 said:

Yesterday was one of the worst days i have had with the fever.
I went to the local pool and sat in the steam room for a good while followed by a swim and i was brand new once again.
I then Started sneezing when i came out the swimming pool complex but it did make a great difference.
Today is not too bad.

I agree, yesterday was one of the worst days i've had in actually a few years!

[Paul Dishman]

Incredible Sulk said:

Jonny671 said:

Incredible Sulk said:

But seriously.............. Zirtek is just Cetirizine something or other. Zirtek is or used to be about £7 for 7 or something like that. Dunno, because now I buy the generic copy, which is about £4 for 30. Beconase nasal spray also available OTC without a prescription works for me, along with the Cetirizine.

Whats the name of that?

I buy Zirtek at £3 for 7, which is affordable.. But still expensive if there is the other option!

It doesn't have a brand name. Just go into any Pharmacy and ask for generic cetirizine (hydrochloride). The stuff i have at the moment is made by Sandoz, but it's pretty much a different manufacturer each time I buy, which isn't that often. I tend to buy 3 packs of 30 once a year, which pretty much gets me through the whole season. Most Pharmacies will still try to get you to buy the zirtek brand - not because it is different or better, but because I guess there is more profit in it for them. If the margin on both products is the same, if you buy Zirtek he's making four times as much!

We sell generic Cetirizine for £2.95 for 30. This goes so well we don't both with Zirtek.

[Jonny671]

Paul, abit of a random one.. But is there an Over The Counter nose spray?

I currently use; "Mometasone"?

[Paul Dishman]

Jonny671 said:

Paul, abit of a random one.. But is there an Over The Counter nose spray?

I currently use; "Mometasone"?

Thats a steroid nasal spray. Just had a quick look and can't see an OTC version of that. Generally you're better off from a value for money perspective-getting steroid nasal sprays on NHS prescription. The OTC version of Beconase has only half the number of doses that the prescription version has.

[Incredible Sulk]

Paul Dishman said:

Jonny671 said:

Paul, abit of a random one.. But is there an Over The Counter nose spray?

I currently use; "Mometasone"?

Thats a steroid nasal spray. Just had a quick look and can't see an OTC version of that. Generally you're better off from a value for money perspective-getting steroid nasal sprays on NHS prescription. The OTC version of Beconase has only half the number of doses that the prescription version has.

But aren't the prescription versions still time limited - ie you are supposed to throw them away after a month?

I must admit i buy the 180 dose Beconase spray OTC, and I end up putting that in the bin at the end of the season with some left in it. Getting it on prescription might well be cheaper - it certainly would be for me as I don't pay for prescriptions anyway - but it is a hassle getting the prescription, and it means waiting for a couple of days for the GP to write a repeat. Far easier just to pitch up at a chemist's and ask for some when I need it.

[Paul Dishman]

Incredible Sulk said:

Paul Dishman said:

Jonny671 said:

Paul, abit of a random one.. But is there an Over The Counter nose spray?

I currently use; "Mometasone"?

Thats a steroid nasal spray. Just had a quick look and can't see an OTC version of that. Generally you're better off from a value for money perspective-getting steroid nasal sprays on NHS prescription. The OTC version of Beconase has only half the number of doses that the prescription version has.

But aren't the prescription versions still time limited - ie you are supposed to throw them away after a month?

I must admit i buy the 180 dose Beconase spray OTC, and I end up putting that in the bin at the end of the season with some left in it. Getting it on prescription might well be cheaper - it certainly would be for me as I don't pay for prescriptions anyway - but it is a hassle getting the prescription, and it means waiting for a couple of days for the GP to write a repeat. Far easier just to pitch up at a chemist's and ask for some when I need it.

They're time limited for hygiene reasons, so the manufacturers tell us. We're attached to a health centre who do same day repeats, so our patients tend to go for that. You pays your money...