As the end of April draws to a close, many of us are eagerly awaiting longer evenings, blossoming flowers and warmer weather. If you’re a Hayfever sufferer however, early summer is the dreaded ‘sneezing season’. Hay fever  – or seasonal allergic rhinitis – affects one in five people in Ireland each year and occurs when the body has an allergic reaction to pollen. Our immune systems go into overdrive resulting in the nose, eyes and throat becoming swollen, irritated and inflamed.

Streaming, itchy red eyes, a scratchy sore throat and a blocked nose are all common signs of hay fever. These symptoms can range from being a mild nuisance to really disruptive, and can ruin even the most beautiful summer day. Depending on the person, hay fever symptoms can last anywhere from a few short weeks during the summer if you mainly have a reaction to grasses, to several months if you are sensitive to various types of pollen. 

The best way to beat hay fever is to avoid exposure to pollen. However, this can prove to be quite difficult during the summer months when you want to spend time outdoors. Although there is currently no cure or way to get rid of hayfever, your symptoms don’t need to be miserable. The key to managing hay fever symptoms is finding the best treatment that works for you. Whether you need a single hayfever product or a combination of a few, we’ve put together a list of our Hayfever Heros to help you alleviate symptoms and find relief. 

Cetrine Allergy 10mg Film-coated Tablets 30Pk & Cetrine Allergy 1mg/ml Oral Solution 200ml

Antihistamine tablets provide quick relief for symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, itchy, watery eyes and itchy throat. Cetrine is a non-drowsy antihistamine that offers a convenient once-a-day dose alleviating all symptoms of hay fever for adults and children over 6 years. For children over 2 years and those who cannot swallow tablets, Cetrine Allergy comes in a practical liquid formulation. 

Opticrom allergy 2% w/v eye drops

If you suffer from puffy, itchy watery eyes, Opticrom allergy eye drops are fantastic at alleviating these symptoms fast. Opticrom works by stopping the release of the natural substances in your eyes that can lead to an allergic reaction. The eye drops come in a small 10ml bottle or in individual single dose units that can be easily kept in your handbag and used on the go. One to two drops can be applied to each eye four times daily to soothe irritated eyes. 

Nasacort Allergy 55 micrograms/dose nasal spray

Nasal sprays can be used to relieve stuffy, blocked or ithcy noses. Nasacort nasal spray contains triamcinolone acetonide which is a type of steroid and if used on a regular basis, can provide much needed relief from sneezing and reduce inflammation. The usual starting dose is 2 sprays in each nostril each day. Once the symptoms of allergy are under control, the dose can be lowered to 1 spray in each nostril each day. 

Hay Band Hay Fever Prevention

If you have hay fever, you can start using preventer treatments a couple of weeks before hay fever season starts. Hay bands are a natural drug-free, non-drowsy remedy for hay fever. Hay Bands are designed to apply a small amount of pressure on the LI-11 acupressure points on either side of the arm and can also be used once symptoms have begun to alleviate headaches, runny noses and dry eyes. These bands can be worn by adults and children from the age of 3 but are not safe during pregnancy. 

If you have any further questions about hayfever and the best course of treatment for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us or speak to a member of our pharmacy team in store.