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By Laura Starkey
The sun is shining, the sky is blue Finally, summer has arrived! Unfortunately for hay fever sufferers, the scent of barbeque isn't the only thing drifting through the seasonal air. In fact, for 20% of the UK population, the invisible grass, tree and flower pollens currently flooding the atmosphere can be a source of real misery. What's more, the cost of treating hay fever symptoms can soon stack up. So what can you do about it? Do I Have Hay Fever? If you find yourself suffering from cold-like symptoms during the summer, then the answer could be yes. Hay fever sufferers experience an 'over-reaction' to pollens, which causes the nose, mouth and eyes to release a substance called histamine. It's this that triggers a runny nose, itchy eyes and sneezing. If you suspect you have hay fever, it's a good idea to visit your GP. He or she should be able to advise you on medication. This is particularly important if you have asthma, eczema or are pregnant or breast-feeding, as over the counter remedies may not be suitable for you. How To Treat Hay Fever The most common treatments for hay fever are antihistamines. There are four types commonly used in hay fever medicines: chlorphenamine, promethazine, loratadine and cetirizine. Most hay fever tablets use one antihistamine as their active ingredient -- and you might need to try a couple of different ones before you find the type that works best. Many hay fever sufferers also use nasal sprays. These combat sneezing and help to prevent your nose from feeling blocked. Finally, those who struggle with uncomfortable, itchy eyes might find their symptoms eased by eye drops. Simple saline is often effective at providing relief, while cromoglicate will fight your symptoms. Cutting The Cost Buying branded tablets from a chemist is rarely the most cost-effective way to treat hay fever. Luckily, there are other options. If you get free prescriptions, it of course makes sense to get your allergy medication through your doctor. Even if you have to pay, I'd recommend asking your GP to prescribe you three months' worth of your hay fever medication in one go. For the prescription charge of £7.10, you could get 90 days' worth of treatment -- which might cost as much as £30 over the counter. Some doctors may be reluctant to do this. If this is the case for you, paying for a new prescription each month is unlikely to save you money -- so a different approach might be needed. You can find hay fever tablets for less on the high street. They key is to ignore big brand names and remember which active ingredients are used in the products you find effective. Often, a cheaper unbranded medication will contain the same key chemical as a well-known one -- and should therefore do the same job. If you're happy to shop online, there are even heftier savings to be made on hay fever medication. Just remember that online pharmacies are likely to require that you fill in a form describing your symptoms, before your order can be completed. Hot Hay Fever Buys These were the best prices I could find today on hayfever treatments. Get clicking if you want to buy, though, as these deals may not be around for long... Anyone accustomed to using the hay fever remedy Zirtek might want to check out Chemist-4-U.com or ChemistDirect.co.uk for cetirizine tablets. A box of 30 is available for 58p at either site. While Zirtek usually costs around 36p per tablet, these unbranded 'equivalents' -- which use the same active ingredient -- cost less than 1p each. Likewise, users of Piriton might want to try the chlorphenamine tablets available from Chemist-4-U.com. These cost 98p per pack of 28 tablets (when at least six are bought together) -- again, tablets are less than 1p each. From your local chemist, Piriton tablets might cost 10p each. Loratadine, the same active ingredient used in Clarityn, is also available in unbranded form from Chemist-4-U.com, and costs 69p for a pack of 30. Each tablet retails at less than 1p, whereas Clarityn tablets typically cost a whopping 38p each! You'll also find sodium cromoglicate eye drops available at Chemist-4-U.com. A 10ml dropper is currently 99p -- £4.36 less than the RRP. More Tips To Try There are more things you can do to help reduce the severity of your hay fever symptoms. Some sufferers swear by light therapy, where LEDs are used to desensitize the nasal passage to the causes of hay fever. Medinose Plus, a branded light machine, is available for £44.95 from ChemistDirect.co.uk (£35 less than the RRP). Alternatively, Lloyds Pharmacy's own version, the allergy reliever, is currently £13.49. Air purifiers also work for some hay fever sufferers. The ionizing air purifier from Lloyds Pharmacy costs £9.99, but is also available in a bundle with the allergy reliever for £19.98. Alternatively, the Nscessity Compact air purifier uses HEPA filters and costs £25 from ChemistDirect.co.uk. Natural remedies such as local honey, butterbur, nettle tea and lemon balm are also said to be helpful. Simple measures like keeping windows and doors closed, drying washing indoors, washing your hands regularly and avoiding garden chores could also help. Finally, smearing a substance like Vaseline on the inside of your nose is supposed to help fight hay fever. A small tin will cost less than £1 from your local chemist. Hopefully, some of these tips will see you smiling -- and sniffle free -- for the rest of the summer. Good luck! Useful links:
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