Cheap Hayfever Tablets
Allergy cures for less

Hayfever is not to be sneezed at; dust and pollen allergies can be hard on the pocket as well as the nose. Yet you can legally get exactly the same allergy treatments as normal for substantially less than half the price.

• Prevention works
• Get a prescription
• Cut remedy costs
• Step one: find the right tablets for you
• Step two: find the cheapest generic tablets
• Best Buys: cheapest tablets
  
• Treatments for under-12s
• Eye drops & nasal sprays
• Light/alternative therapy
• Size of the Saving
• Ask a question/discuss

A sight for sore eyes?

Prevention Works

Anti-histamines can help reduce the symptoms of hayfever, but before taking the medicinal route there are a few practical measures to try when the pollen count is high (thanks to Asthma UK for some of these).

• Sign up for pollen warning texts. It's worth being aware of when the pollen count is likely to be high. The allergy drug Zirtek offers a free service which will text you when the pollen count is up, giving you time to prepare (it also offers a free downloadable pollen calendar).

• Vacuum and damp dust. Use a damp cloth to dust and remove any lingering pollen spores.

• Keep windows and doors closed. If possible keep windows and doors closed to keep the pollen out.

• Smear Vaseline inside your nose. This helps stop the pollen from settling on the lining of your nose.

• Bring the washing in. Before the evening, as air cools and pollen descends, bring in any washing from outside to save it getting covered. If possible, try to dry bed linen indoors to save it irritating you at night.

Get a prescription?

How cost effective a prescription is depends on which country in the UK you live in, as costs and availability vary…

For those who live in Wales?

For those living in Wales, prescriptions are free, so simply visit your GP to get your hayfever or allergy relief. Try to get the longest appropriate supply that you can.

For the rest of the UK

Here there's a delicate balance; for those people who don't pay for prescriptions or have pre-pay certificates (see the Cheaper Prescriptions & Medications article) of course getting a prescription works out to be the cheapest. However if you do pay, with prescriptions at £7.10 per item in England, £5 in Scotland or £6.85 in Northern Ireland it's often much more more cost effective to simply buy the cheapest over-the-counter allergy products.

One exception is if your doctor is willing to prescribe three months' worth of drugs on one prescription. This will work out at only slightly more than the cheapest online deal. Otherwise, don't bother your doctor unless you need something stronger.

Cut remedy costs

When a company develops a drug it is given unique rights to sell it for a number of years. Once that term ends any company can make it providing they meet the regulations. Therefore, most over-the-counter drugs have identical medical properties regardless of brand, and avoiding big names means the cost is slashed.

The key thing is to find out what the 'active' ingredient of your usual remedy is. It's always listed on the back of the packet.

Once you've done that, simply buy the cheapest generic product, i.e. unbranded or own brand, that has the same active ingredient but costs much less. Protections and quality control apply equally to all branded and generic products.

For more on this read the Cheaper Prescriptions and Medications article.

First find the right tablets for you

Different hayfever drugs work in different ways and have different active ingredients. In theory, they all have similar results, but what works for some may not work for others, so when you've found success with one type it's best to stick with it. Most regular sufferers will know which type works best for them already.

Here are the four major brands and their active ingredients (the important bit), plus a little bit of info about each from the National Prescribing Centre (NPC). This is just a guide; always check the packet of the remedy you commonly use to find the active ingredient.

• Zirtek. Active ingredient: Cetirizine dihydrocholride (CD).

  NPC description: Cetirizine is a second-generation anti-histamine, which is usually taken in a one-a-day tablet. There is no known difference between hydrochloride and dihydrochloride types. Levocetirizine is a slightly rearranged third-generation version of the drug, which is known to be just as effective. However, studies have proved inconclusive regarding whether it is actually any better.

• Claritin. Active ingredient: Loratadine (LR).

  NPC description: Loratadine is usually offered as a non-drowsy alternative to cetirizine. Again it is usually taken in the form of one-a-day tablet. Desloratadine (Neo-Clarityn) is a newer version of the drug. Again, however, it hasn't proven any more efficient in studies, so most people won't notice a difference.

• Benadryl. Active ingredient: Acrivastine (A).

  NPC description: Acrivastine is a newer type anti-histamine, which has the benefit of being the fastest acting remedy available, usually taking effect within 15 minutes according to studies. This comes at a cost however, since it needs to be taken three times a day. Patent laws mean there is currently no generic equivalent of Benadryl, which makes it one of the most expensive treatments in the long-term. Be warned if buying Benadryl from the US; there the brand name is attached to products containing diphenhydramine (aka Nytol) which may work, but'll make you very drowsy.

• Piriton. Active ingredient: Chlorophenamine (CP).

  NPC description: Chlorophenamine is one of the older (first generation) remedies for hayfever. This isn't to say it's worse, but studies have shown that it takes the longest time to take effect, and is likely to cause more drowsiness than those above. If buying it, don't confuse Piriton and Piriteze; the latter's active ingredient is Cetirizine Hydrochloride (like Zirtek). Also, it's the most likely to react with other medicines, so if you're planning to combine it with other tablets consult a doctor first.

Now find the cheapest generic

Now note down the correct active ingredient of the rememdy that works well for you. The next section lists the current best buys for each of the different active ingredients (with the exception of Benadryl as there are no generic versions available).

Three important things to check before taking generic tablets

There are a couple of crucial things to check before taking any replacement tablets:

• Ensure it's the right active ingredient. Manufacturers can change the active ingredient, it's therefore important to ensure you always check the packet before taking a pill to ensure you've got the correct type.

• Be careful if you've food or drug allergies. While the active ingredient will be the same, if you have other allergies always check the other non-active ingredients too. Don't automatically assume they're the same in a generic product as a branded one.

• Lastability. As with most things that you eat, be sure check the use-by date on the packet before you buy. Normally the tablets have a life span of a few years, so this is rarely a problem; yet if you’re buying in bulk its worth considering whether you’ll use them before they date.

BEST BUYS: The cheapest tablets. Summer '08

Having surveyed the major high st. chains and online chemists, the following are the cheapest suppliers. However, do also check your local pharmacist; often they'll compete on price.

• £1.07 for 30 (if you buy 6 packs), Chemist Direct, Cetirizine Dihydrochloride. Ends 14 May

  Online pharmacist Chemist Direct has extended its excellent bank holiday special offer, selling generic Cetirizine Dihydrochloride (the active ingredient of Zirtek), at 58p for 30. Loratadine is also available for 89p/30. You can buy as few as you need, but postage costs £2.95 regardless. Free postage on orders over £45.
  
  Pack Price: 58p/30 tablets Delivery Price: £2.95 Min order: N/A Price inc. delivery: One pack £3.94, six packs £1.07/pack (£6.40 in total)
  

• £1.50 for 30 (if you buy 6 packs), Chemist-4-u, Cetirizine Dihydrochloride.

  Last year's cheapest, online pharmacist Chemist-4-u is selling generic Cetirizine Dihydrocholride in packs of 30 at its standard price of 99p plus postage, but you need to buy six packs minimum, or the per-pack price goes up. It also sells Loratadine capsules at 98p, yet again you have to buy 6 packs to get this price. Postage is also ever-so-slightly more expensive at £3.10.
  
  Pack Price: 99p/30 tablets Delivery Price: £3.10. Min order: 6 packs Price inc. delivery: Six packs £1.50/pack (£9 in total)
  

Chemist Direct and Chemist-4-u are both registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Bear in mind that when ordering from either you'll need to fill in a questionnaire detailing your condition, and both reserve the right to refuse your order if you don't provide adequate information.

If you know of any other reliable online pharmacies with more competitive prices, then please report them here and we'll add them to this article.

Cheapest in-store. Summer '08

Any new top deals will be in the free weekly email

If you spot any cheaper deals, report them in the
Hayfever 2008 discussion

Hayfever remedies for under-12s

Children under 12 and pregnant women should take special care when choosing hayfever medications. For children, anti-histamine syrups are the best bet although even here the large pharmaceutical firms make extra money through clever marketing. Childrens' versions of products often cost more than the adult versions, although their contents are identical.

Similarly, the branded syrups below share the same active ingredient, Cetirizine Hydrochloride; only the flavourings differ. Thus, the hard and fast rule here again is to simply go by the ingredients listed, rather than the spiel and fancy packaging.

• Benadryl Syrup (70ml) £4.48 at Morrisons
• Zirtek Syrup (75ml) £4.45 at Superdrug. Boots own-brand version £2.99.
• Piriteze Syrup (70ml) £4.99 at Superdrug with free pack of Kleenex tissues, £4.24 + £1.95 postage at Chemist-4-u

Eye drops and nasal sprays

While anti-histamines should be enough to reduce hayfever symptoms for most, they're unlikely to totally relieve nasal congestion or streaming eyes. Thus, it may be worth investing in a separate nasal spray, and/or eye drops. Again there are various types to watch out for, and again look for generic equivalents. If you're unsure what to try first, consult your pharmacist.

• Beconase (100 Sprays) Generic equivalent £2.99 (with 200 sprays!) at Chemist 4 U. Original £3 at Tesco. £3.98 each at Superdrug, ASDA and Boots.

• Flixonase (180 Sprays) £5.49 online at Chemist Direct, £6.99 in-store at Boots.

• Sodium Cromoglicate Eye Drops Generic 'Cromulux' 99p at Chemist Direct, Own Brand £4.79 Boots.

Complementary/Alternative therapies

For lighter sufferers, a couple of pieces of technology have been claimed to alleviate the hayfever symptoms without using any drugs. Heavy sufferers could also find these useful, complementing regular medication to make life easier.

Light therapy.

Light therapy uses red light to desensitise nasal passages, helping to defend you from allergic reactions. It should also reduce inflammation. The branded version of this treatment, 'Medinose', comes at a cost of around £50 (Amazon), but the big Lloyd's Pharmacy chain offers its own version, simply called an 'Allergy Reliever' for £14.99 in stores nationwide. It's based on the same technology, and anecdotally seems to garner similar positive feedback to the original.

It's important to note though that the results of this treatment are still a bit mixed overall; heavier sufferers usually still need to supplement light therapy with medication. Nonetheless, for many the idea of an allergy and drug-free summer alone will be enough to make them take the plunge.

Air purifiers.

If you struggle to sleep at night because of the pollen swirling around your bedroom, an air purifier might also be helpful. While they can be a touch noisy, these work to clean the air in any given room, generally either by filtering (HEPA-type) or ionising air molecules. Lloyd's Pharmacy offers a cheap own-brand ionising purifier, this time for £9.99. If you want the full lowdown on air purifiers (and let's be honest here, you probably don't) check out this wikipedia air filtering article.

For extra feedback on these devices, read MoneySaver Harryharp's useful forum thread.

Buy three months' worth of expensive branded tablets and it'll set you back £35. Opt for the unbranded equivalent with exactly the same active ingredient and it will cost less than a third, saving you about £24 over three months or £40 over five months.