Do you need prescription medication? Ask Your Dr for confidential and convenient access to certain medications. Enter your postcode to find your nearest pharmacy that can help.The different antihistamine medications available at your local pharmacy
When you get a runny nose and bleary eyes during summer itís due to the body incorrectly reacting to airborne pollen as a threat and releasing histamine to destroy it.
However, there are many other reasons why people get allergies. In fact, it's estimated that º of people in the UK are affected by an allergy of some kind or another. You can find out what you're allergic to using the pharmacy's allergy testing service, which checks for the 10 most common allergens, such as tree pollen, mould and dog fur.
Once you've got your results, the pharmacy staff will also be able to recommend the most appropriate medication. This is a rundown of the antihistamine over-the-counter (OTC) medication that's available at your pharmacy:
Tablets - The older types of antihistamine tablets (e.g. Piriton or Phenergan) are known to cause drowsiness, whilst newer types, such as Benadryl, Zirtek or Clarityn, cause less or none at all. These means you can get on with the rest of your day's work without worrying about nodding off at your desk.
Nasal spray - OTC and prescription only (e.g. Rhinolast) nasal sprays are available for rapid relief from sneezing, itching and a runny nose. The OTC sprays, such as Beconase or Flixonase, contain corticosteroids which reduce inflammation. If you suffer from hay fever, it's best to start taking doses of nasal spray a couple of weeks before the pollen season arrives. Nose drops, such as Sudafed decongestant, are also available for treating blocked noses.
Eye drops - For relieving bleary eyes you can try antihistamine eye drops, such as Optrex or Rapitil. It's advised to take these regularly to prevent allergic reactions.
Remember that the pharmacy's staff are there to help you in choosing the best medication. Due to the shortage of allergy experts in the UK you might have to wait months to see a specialist on the NHS. But pharmacies can offer you immediate assistance because their staff are trained to be able to advise you on common allergies and what type of antihistamine is best for you. So if you need any allergy treatment advice, pop down to your pharmacy because they'll be happy to help.
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