Best nasal spray for hayfever

[BigDahliaFan]

I've got really bad hayfever this year...I've never used a nasal spray before but think I might try one. What's the best one? Or will any OTC one do...?

I just use a saline one, Sterimar. I wouldn’t be without it as antihistamines don’t work for me.

Beconase is the best one you can buy OTC

Beconase

DH used to have bad hay fever - he used beconase plus opticrom eyedrops, found that combination very effective though the nasal spray took a few days to really kick in

He seems now not to have hay fever, I don't know if these treatments actually helped long term as well as short term or if he just grew out of it (at about 60!)

Flixonase it's stronger than beconase

I've bought Pirinase but if it doesn't work I'll try Beconase or Flixonase. I do feel a bit less bunged up though. I'll see if I snore tonight!...

Beconase works for me. Like someone else said, if the hayfever is bad I also use opticrom eye drops. And you can get generic versions of both cheaper in chemists too.

Flixonase is prescription only though so not available to buy

Hi @BigDahliaFan it does depend what active ingredient works for you, And what you are Allergic to. I’m allergic to grass pollen and find this Boots spray is the best - active ingredient is the same as Flixonase - Fluticasone Propionate.

i’ve found I don’t need tablets if I use this morning and evening, non drowsy also.

https://www.boots.com/boots-allergy-relief-50-microgram-nasal-spray-10235461

Dymista is the absolute best but prescription only in the UK for some reason

It's the same active ingredient as Flixonase and the Boots one.

Dymista has azelastine in it too, not just the steroid that's in Flixonase, that's what makes it work so well

I think that Azelastine hydrochloride can make the user drowsy though? I've never used Dymista so can't comment for the OP.

Beconase imo

Sorry, but this is not true for England! I've bought 2 bottles since the beginning of the hayfever season, at 2 different chemists. Its OTC- but kept in the pharmacy section and you might need to speak to the pharmacist. It can be on a script too.

OP, my hayfever was horrendous this year despite antihistamines, allergy eye drops and trying multiple 'allergy' nasal sprays. The brand I got was nasofan, which contains fluticasone and about £5.50. It takes a few days to work and build up, but has been brilliant. I have needed the eye drops about once a week, but was using it multiple times a day previously. I'm also not needed any antihistamines.

I guess it can, though it doesn't make me drowsy. Only side effects that bothers me is the nasty taste at the back of the throat that it leaves but I seem to get used to that after a few weeks.

Another vote for Dymista. DH’s ENT consult calls it ‘nasal napalm’.

For the first time in 30 years of being with DH we can sit in the garden, and have planted actual flowers this year, not just veg, and he has no reaction!

He had a septoplasty last month, and had his turbinates removed, and he’s back on the Dymista. He can smell in one of his nostrils for the first time in 54 years! And he can smell flowers!

Seriously, this has revolutionised his life (tree pollen, rapeseed & grass as the main allergies, so a period from February to November where it was like living with a snail, poor sod). We couldn’t even have a real Christmas tree in the house.

The difference is remarkable, but it’s only on prescription (and he was only offered it after an ENT referral).

Your poor DH. Mine has been so bad some years I’ve had no choice but to get a Kenalong injection privately. However, covid put paid to those for a couple of years so I was forced to try other remedies and this boots spray was a god send.

Wow glad it worked so well for your DH!
Wonder why its prescription only there though, OTC where I am, as is a plain azelastine nasal spray that my DD used last year (weirdly this year she only suffered in the spring, last year it was all through summer)

I always do sterimar first, it's saline so clears the nose out.
Then a steroid one, whichever I've got.
It seems to work better after the sterimar, as though it goes in better somehow.

For me beconase and anti allergy eye drops keep things comfortable unless the pollen count is extremely high.

Beconase - but you can get the boots equivalent. It's more effective with these steroid sprays to start taking them before your hay fever kicks off, or at least at the first sign of it.

If it doesn't work, doctors can prescribe Dymista which is stronger.

Nasonex prescription stuff. Brilliant