Hay-fever, what do u take.?

[HereForAdvice2019]

I'm. Suffering big time. What's best if anything to take.?
Avoiding go as seems pointless and a waste of time if I can just buy something?

Hi - I went to the GP and she said any nasal spray would be fine. However I got a prescription as the chemist wouldn't give me a spray without the GP's say-so. Apparently all antihistamines are a no go.

Prevalin plus is drug free and much to my surprised it actually works!

My consultant said I can take piriton, it's not as good as my normal prescription anti-histamine but better than nothing!

Piriton knocks you out. Fine if that's what you want.

If not a one a day Clarytin or equivalent will help.

I take piriton although I have to get my DH to buy it as pharmacists won't give it to you without a GP prescription which seems like a giant waste of time.

Hi OP, big hay fever sufferer here. I suffered hugely during pregnancy and what helped most was paracetamol. Obviously you can’t take it the whole summer but for those days where you want to tear your eyes out it takes the edge off. Also I knew I shouldn’t buy on the reeaaally horrific days where I could barely open my eyes I just took a hay fever pill as I was so desperate (loratidine I think). I currently have a cold on top of it but luckily now can take all the meds

Beconase is fine to take when pregnant.

Also as my nose is sore from blowing it so much been putting nipple balm on it to soothe it. I’m sure Vaseline works too but this stuff is lovely.

Midwife should be able to advise - I remember my first pregnancy my midwife arguing with the gp who wouldn't prescribe me the antihistamine she recommended because I already had high BP and the severe hayfever wasnt helping!

I didn’t think when I suffered really bad the other day, I took 2 Hayleve tablets over 2 days then thought to check if they’re safe when pregnant. I realised not and have felt bad since 😩

Oh also if you are really really suffering, a friend uses an air purifier machine in her room at night. she says it works wonders but I haven’t tried it yet.

I know this is probably going to sound very odd, but elderflowers are really helpful. Elder trees are really common, even if you live on a city there willbe one in a park or a bit of wasteland.
Pick a few sprigs and make tea, or just do what I got dd to do the other day and chew a few flowers. It stopped her itchy eyes quickly.

I guess you could try elderflower cordial if you really can’t find a tree?

I took loratidine through pregnancy, I'm usually on prescription strength all year round, but dropped to over the counter strength while pregnant. My GP was Hally with that, and also let me carry on using my prescription nasal spray as although stronger, only acts locally.

The guidance not to take antihistamines is based on the fact there has been insufficient testing to establish that it's 100% safe, rather than there has been evidence that they are unsafe. None of the studies so far have found anything to suggest the antihistamines cause any complications

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/pregnancy/can-i-take-hay-fever-medicine-during-pregnancy/

Loratidine and cetirizine considered ok. Can buy them in the supermarket rather than being refused by the pharmacist

Ask the GP for fexofenadine. Apparently it's so much better than anything you can get over the counter. And use eye drops and nasal spray too (probably a lot cheaper to just get those from the supermarket than to ask for them to be prescribed).

I don't have hay fever but most of my family do.

I was prescribed loratadine on Monday by the GP, I'm 17 weeks.

Thank youml. May just ring gp and ask she pretty good like that
I had midwife yesterday for booking and didn't cross my mind to ask. Its mainly my eyes so hopefully just eye drops.

@ChikiTIKI fexofenadine is what I usually take every year as I suffer really badly. But amazingly this Prevalin Plus really has worked and I haven't needed anything prescription 👍

I've been swearing by Beconase.
If it's a really bad day I've been using cetirizine hydrochloride. The key part I got from the NHS website is anything that makes you drowsy is a no no.

I'm using Beconase. GP prescribed it when I was pregnant last year so I'm using it in this pregnancy too.

My midwife recommended natural remedies where possible and suggested a salt spray to clear out your nose- I bought Sterimar, and a balm called Haymax which you pop under your nostril to block pollen entering. Also mega strong ginger tea! I have resorted to taking loritidine on really bad days but looking forward to trying the natural stuff so that I’m not worrying. Worth a shot!

Fexofenadine isn't recommended for pregnancy (probably to do with the fact that there's no clinical studies and fewer people take it when pregnant to suggest it does no harm, as opposed to cetirizine and loratidine) - I am prescribed it for urticaria and the GP said no when we went through my already prescribed medicine list. I've bought some loratidine to use this last week as symptoms were starting - cheapest place for non-OTC antihistamines I've found is Wilko's 👍

Another vote for Prevalin from me - I use it when I'm going outside and really seems to help. Also, Neilmed nasal rinse (rather than Sterimar) as it's cheaper - you make it up yourself with boiled water (let it cool obviously, but if it's luke warm I find it's more pleasant). Sodium cromoglicate eye drops are okay in pregnancy too and are fantastic if it's your eyes that are affected.

@ChikiTIKI meant to tag you in my reply above 👆

I was prescribed piriton drowsy by my GP in last pregnancy and was told to stick yo just one a day and it helped a lot except I had an afternoon nap everyday 😂

My midwife recommended Claritin, because it is specifically Loratidine.
It has been working quite well so far!!