Services - hayfever injection

I see a lot of patients in GP practice during the spring and summer months with hay fever.

For these patients I always give the following information and advice:

Pollens can enter the body by three different ways.

Eyes - making them itch and water

Nose - inhaling pollen can make you sneeze

Mouth - another entry route making you cough and chest feel tight

I advocate a "triple therapy" approach.  

Use eye drops containing sodium cromoglycate (OTC); use a steroid based nasal spray such as Beconase (OTC) or ask your GP for a combination steroid/antihistamine such as Dymista (POM); take regular antihistamine tablets.  The last remaining POM antihistamine for hayfever was placed on the GSL in 2022, under the brand name Allevia (fexofenadine 120mg).

Other advice which is simple and effective, but not always acheivable is to stay indoors when the pollen is at it's worse.  Keep windows and doors closed (not always possible on those hot sunny days).  One of the most important things is to air clothes and bed-linen INDOORS.  This stops pollen from getting onto them and being transported inside.

For some people though this still doesn't help as their symptoms are very severe.

Certain injectable treatments used to be offered on the NHS, this is no longer the case.

THERE IS NO INJECTABLE DRUG LICENCED IN THE UK TO TREAT HAYFEVER.  CLINICIANS WHO OFFER THIS TREATMENT ARE DOING SO "OFF-LABEL".

Any treatment offered is done so at the discretion of the clinician, and therefore should only be administered by a trained medical professional after a comprehensive consultation.

As a clinician with over 25 years experince in the NHS I am confident in using a range of medications off-label.  If you do suffer with hay fever, or would like to know more then contact me.

A thorough consultation will be carried out prior to offering any treatment, to determine the severity of your symptoms.  Symptoms need to be so severe that they are affecting your daily activity or aggravating underlying conditions such as asthma.  I may even need to write to or clarify your past medical history with your GP before going ahead with this treatment.

POM - Prescription Only Medicine (requiring a prescription from a registered healthcare professional)

OTC - Over the Counter (purchasable from a pharmacy)

GSL - General Sales List (medicines purchasable from supermarkets)