Hay fever - anyone else suffering already?

[pbirkett]

Well it seems to have started early for me, this week has been pretty rough for me... I can only assume it is hay fever. I've not had the bad eyes yet, but I have had blocked nose, itchy throat, chronic dry cough. Really not very good. Anyone else suffering yet?

I suffer year after year with this, and OTC options just seem to be a total waste of money, I've tried them all and none seem to make any meaningful difference to my symptoms. Am I right in thinking prescription antihistamines are likely to be more effective?

[whitechief]

If yours has only just started consider yourself lucky, mine starts at the end of Feb usually.

[itsnotarace]

pbirkett said:

Am I right in thinking prescription antihistamines are likely to be more effective?

In that they save you money, yes. They are the same tablets as you would buy over the counter, but without the branding. There are different types of antihistamine though, I have found a few types that don't help me at all

Go and see your doctor, and try and get a nasal spray and eye drops as well as tablets. The nasal sprays are really effective compared to the tablets.

You'll get an entire month's supply for £5.70whatever the prescription price is now.

[sawman]

itsnotarace said:

pbirkett said:

Am I right in thinking prescription antihistamines are likely to be more effective?

In that they save you money, yes. They are the same tablets as you would buy over the counter, but without the branding. There are different types of antihistamine though, I have found a few types that don't help me at all

they are not entirely the same - i spoke to the cp this week, and he wrote me up for some antihistamines , which are reckoned to be 20 times more potent than over the counter clarityn. two days in and they are much more effective

[spikeyhead]

I've been suffering for a couple of months, but not badly enough to have any significant effect apart from the occaisional sore throat and a few sneezes

[john_p]

Anyone find that OTC tablets cause trouble sleeping? Any alternatives? OH is having real problems. Loratadine, I think she's taking.

[itsnotarace]

sawman said:

they are not entirely the same - i spoke to the cp this week, and he wrote me up for some antihistamines , which are reckoned to be 20 times more potent than over the counter clarityn. two days in and they are much more effective

Clarityn are really weak anyway, but they are often prescribed because they don't make people as drowsy as other types. A decent nasal spray is hugely more effective than tablets anyway.

I can't remember what I was given last year, I will check when I go back to get a repeat prescription next week

[Superficial]

Yep am suffering now too, hadn't been too bad up until a couple of weeks ago. Apparently meant to be one of the worst seasons for years now, oh joy

[anonymous-user]

yes, they say eating local honey and drinking lots of water is another way to combat it..

[Kneetrembler]

The Spruce Goose said:

yes, they say eating local honey and drinking lots of water is another way to combat it..

+1 & put some vaseline up each nostril to coat the inside which stops the pollen entering very far.

[anonymous-user]

Talking to a mate he said he knows someone who uses this light thing that you stick up your nose..Does it work??

[North West Tom]

Aaah! My eyes! They burn!!

I feel the only way to stop rubbing them is to tie me hands behind my back!

[mft]

pbirkett said:

Well it seems to have started early for me, this week has been pretty rough for me... I can only assume it is hay fever. I've not had the bad eyes yet, but I have had blocked nose, itchy throat, chronic dry cough. Really not very good. Anyone else suffering yet?

I started to, driving through the countryside yesterday, but today's been colder and damper, so it's gone again thankfully!

pbirkett said:

Am I right in thinking prescription antihistamines are likely to be more effective?

Some just seem to work better than others. I can get mild relief from combinations of OTC tablets, and the only type that really sort me out are those that contain mizolastine. Prescription only, but they're brilliant - it's often as if I don't actually have hayfever, when without them I'd be really troubled

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100001711.htm...

[hooperpride]

I'm getting occasional fits of sneezing, not great when you are trying to do finals, luckily my hay fever only usually lasts for late May and June so fingers crossed it's the same this year and I get a decent summer.

[whitechief]

North West Tom said:

Aaah! My eyes! They burn!!

I feel the only way to stop rubbing them is to tie me hands behind my back!

Try Opticrom eye drops from a Pharmacy.

[Summertime]

I use beconase spray seems to be very good.

[Morningside]

Have you got a cold?

[Mr.Jimbo]

I've been sneezing like an absolute mother these past two days, we've just moved to a new area though, so I think I could be getting used to different pollens etc?

Its actually quite funny for people to watch, I'm out of action for a good 3 minutes or so, either sneezing for england or bumbling about, eyes half shut in that "ahhh -I'm just about to sneeze, can't breathe/open eyes/function properly-CHOOO"

My eyes (the thing that really irritate me) are yet to start yet, thank god.

I'm quite snuffly though.

[5potTurbo]

Mine kicked off as usual last week with our annual jaunt to a particular area in the Vendée.
Pine pollen's blowing out of the trees in thick yellow clouds.

I can confirm that Zyrtec + Stella Artois is a very good, albeit temporary, "cure" for the effects of hayfever. Well, you go to bed and sleep VERY soundly.

[Summertime]

Morningside said:

Have you got a cold?

No it is hayfever relief for adults.