Govind explains: 'The main difference may be the 'excipients' - the added things that make the tablet taste how it does or how the ingredients bind together but the active ingredients are the same and they work in the same way.' Where to find the cheapest hay fever medicine The two most common ones you'll see on the shelf are generally well-tolerated with minimal side-effects. They are: Avoid nasal or tablet/capsule decongestants in pregnancy. These work by shrinking blood vessels in the nose. There is a theoretical risk that they might reduce the blood supply to the placenta in pregnancy. This risk is probably very small, but best avoided. Antihistamines are probably the best known type of allergy medication, and most are readily available from a pharmacy without prescription. However, there are a number of different types of antihistamines; some have been used for many years, some are improvements on old drugs, and new antihistamines are being developed all the time.

Herbal remedies and supplements. Extracts of the shrub butterbur may help prevent seasonal allergy symptoms. If you try butterbur, be sure to use a product that's labeled PA-free, which indicates that it's had potentially toxic substances removed.

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Wu WW, et al. Alternative therapies for sinusitis and rhinitis: A systematic review utilizing a modified Delphi method. International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology. 2020; doi:10.1002/alr.22488. Hay fever is very common. Estimates vary; some say it affects about 1 in 5 people in the UK, but others suggest it may affect up to half of all people. Depending on your symptoms, antihistamine tablets can be supplemented safely with a nasal spray and/or eye drops to keep your condition under control and allow you to enjoy the warmer weather.

Install a high-efficiency particulate arresting filter (HEPA) into your air-purifier for better protection. The filter device itself can become a breeding ground for mould spores that can undermine the very purpose. Keep it in prime condition with regular servicing. Brand names include Benadryl Allergy One A Day, Piriteze Allergy and Zirtec Allergy - found in tablet and liquid form - but generic options are also widely available.

Symptom checker

Hay fever - like other allergies - is becoming more common in the UK and other countries. We don't fully know why this is happening. Hay fever treatment can be very individual and depends very much on the type and severity of symptoms you experience. For mild to moderate hay fever symptoms, over-the-counter hay fever tablets, eye drops and nasal sprays may be enough to keep symptoms controlled. Patients who experience more severe hay fever symptoms that have a significant impact on their daily life may wish to seek prescription hay fever treatment. Saline nasal sprays can moisten dry nasal passages and thin nasal mucus. You don't need a prescription and you can use them as often as needed. Nasal irrigation Some people develop asthma symptoms such as wheeze and breathlessness. People who already have asthma may get worsening symptoms. Some people have asthma symptoms only during the hay fever season. If you have hay fever, you are more likely to develop asthma. Chlorphenamine is not suitable for some people, including those with epilepsy or another health problem that puts you at risk of fits, and those with the eye problem primary angle closure glaucoma.