DS' hayfever is 'ruining his life'

[getearnow]

Overdramatic title for attention, although he did say that!

DS (8) has been dreading spring because his hayfever is pretty extreme. It has started already, he said everyone at school kept accusing him of crying but it was the hayfever.

We have tried over the counter age-appropriate tablets (both cetirizine hydrochloride and loratadine) in previous years but they don't touch the sides. I really want to help him, is there anything I can do?
Is it too much to take him to the doctors? I don't want a judgmental Drs receptionist accusing me of time wasting..
I was thinking of asking a pharmacist for advice but I think they'll just point us to things we've already tried.
Does anything work?

Have you tried Allevia?

The doctor can prescribe stronger drugs that might well work.

To be honest, I have it in the late spring and I might well say that!

I also echo allevia as an option that works better for my son that the two you have tried

Is it too much to take him to the doctors? I don't want a judgmental Drs receptionist accusing me of time wasting..

surely this should be the last thing on your mind if your son is struggling so much.

Tahe him to the GP. DD suffers with grass pollen and got prescription fexofenadine which was much more effective than anything over the counter.

It's miserable though, you have my sympathy.

My DC found a daily Telfast (Fexofenadine, Allevia otc) much more effective and there are prescription sprays that can be helpful. The allergist I took my DC to was also a proponent of rinsing, so you're actually washing the pollen out of your nasal passages.

No, haven't heard of it, thank you

My son was just the same. We tried everything available both on prescription and over the counter.

We were then recommended Quercetin - a herbal/natural remedy using something that is naturally in apples and onions.

It's not cheap (about £20 for a bottle of tablets on Amazon - much more pricey in Health Food shops).

The difference it made though was truly remarkable. Took about 3 days at a full dose of 4 tablets then we reduced to 2 a day and that was a maintenance level all summer.

Worth a try maybe?

Pharmacy for eye drops. They were a game-changer for my son. Optrex Hayfever or Opticrom should both be suitable over age 6.

I would go to the pharmacist but explain what you have already tried, they should have other options although not sure what is ok for an 8 year old. If they can't offer you any good alternatives than book a Drs appt. I don't think anyone would criticize you for this if you are clear you have already tried over the counter meds and they are not effective. You could also ask the school about minor adjustments e.g. would they let him wear wrap around sunglasses or stay off the field area on high pollen days.

Second Allevia, the antihistamine in it is what our gp prescribed my son at around your sons age. Available at a reasonable price in home bargains or extortionate price in tesco etc.
It would be worth talking to your gp because he may also be reacting to other atmospheric allergens (my son was allergic to the cleaning spray they used on the tables when he was at primary school!)

Allevia or non branded version was a game changer for my DS last year. He suffers badly april to sep. That medicine is so much better than other ones he has had.

Definitely speak to the pharmacist. Don't snooze on nose spray or eye drops they do make a difference

Thank you all so much, so much great advice. Really appreciate it

Fexofenedine 180mg

Life changing xx

DS had immunotherapy for tree and grass pollen and is now waiting for more for dust but it’s harder as he’s not an adult and thus not treated by Evalina any more.

It’s not cured it but he used to literally have to hide inside from March to October, was literally a living Hell for him and he’s now got multiple related food allergies as he’s so reactive. He also needs several doses of oral steroids too.

Absolutely go to the GP and once you’ve given when they prescribe a go go back and ask for a referral to allergy clinic if it’s not helped.

GP should offer better anti histamines (say what you’ve tried and what worked), nose spray, eye drops (we could never get these in) and recommend no drying washing outside, shower when come in from school, sunglasses outside etc.

At that age DS was on 180mg fexofenadine, 25mg phenergan, 20mg montelukast, steroid nasal spray (there’s now a really good combined one called dymista but ds wouldn’t use it as rubs down the back of the throat and tastes vile. Not all NHS Trusts will cover the costs either).

Sadly he’s now at Nottingham which I think is the greenest campus in the UK but terrible for him

I find a nasal spray and eye drops are the main things that help. Tablets don’t seem to help me loads but I take them anyway. Allevia is worth a try

Thank you I will try home bargains. And this is a really good point about other allergens because he sneezes a lot more when he goes to bed at night so it could be something else too

Nasal sprays are useful and can help eye symptoms too. Not over the counter ones but Avamys prescribed by GP. You need to use correct technique to get it in the right place. Have a look at allergy UK website as they have a good factsheet on hayfever and allergic rhinitis with ideas to reduce exposure to pollen e.g wraparound sunglasses, not drying clothes outside, wiping down trampolines before use. Showering and washing hair to get rid of pollen when you get home on high pollen count days. Eye drops can be added in too. If max treatment doesn't work you can ask about referral for pollen immunotherapy.

I get really bad hayfever in March and the pharmacist to start taking an antihistamine every day from January. I did that last year and it was amazing the difference.

Your son is only 8 @getearnow

Allevia is for over 12 years old, just fyi.

Also, don't hang his sheets or towels outside. Pollen-a-rama.

Zirtek liquid does it for us and drops too, nothing else works! Best of luck op!

Poor kid.

Allevia has worked well for me, however the instructions on the box I have say 12 and over.

Do you have hay fever? It's fucking horrible and I don't think he's being dramatic. You really need to stop worrying about being judged and speak to the pharmacist in the first instance, and then the GP (it might be that you can get Allevia for children in prescription... Your pharmacist shouls be able to advise, even if they can't prescribe it themselves).

Try Allevia (Fexofenadine is the generic name). As a fellow hayfever sufferer, I also use steroid nasal sprays (beclomethasone is the steroid) and eye drops for the eyes (that’s usually sodium cromglycate) - you can ask the pharmacist for age appropriate versions but the eye drops can definitely be used in children (I have clear memories of my parents administering them to me aged about 7). If this doesn’t work then definitely see the GP, as PP have said they can prescribe stronger medications. Whilst in most cases hayfever is not serious, it can be miserable and that affects mental health and so is a perfectly valid reason to see a doctor in my view.