Cheap Antihistamines hunt (Zirrtek, Benadryl, etc...)

catsonic

anyone else having sneezing fits at 6.30am? Its really starting to wind me up now!! It dont matter what i say hubby always opens the window before he goes to bed!

to stop this i suppose im going to have to take a tablet before i go to bed! which seems stupid and a waste of money!

ow well love is!

Poppy9

Tesco and Wilkinson sell the generic versions of Zirtec and Clarityn at 99p for 7 tablets. If Tesco have an instore pharmacy ask how much a pack of 30 are. Wilkinson have Galpharm generic versions of these on BOGOF but they are £1.49 for 7.

The generic version of Clarityn syrup (usually prescribed for children) is still expensive and as kids get free prescription savings there.

GP's tend to prescribe Neo Clarityn now. Many annoyed that as Clarityn was out of licence they introduced a new version of Clarityn (I think GP friend said it was almost double the strength) to keep their market share. I know when I asked GP if I could double the dose of Clarityn my daughter takes he said he would give me Neo Clarityn as its stronger and more effective.

Ps not much savings buying generic versions in Wales as prescriptions only £4 per item and free from 2007. However there is a saving in GP/Surgery time which is NHS funded so therefore I buy mine in Supermarkets. It also saves me ringing for a repeat prescription, collecting it and dispensing it. I hope I will continue to do so in 2007 as the NHS needs all the help it can get.

Poppy9

catsonic wrote:

anyone else having sneezing fits at 6.30am? Its really starting to wind me up now!! It dont matter what i say hubby always opens the window before he goes to bed!

to stop this i suppose im going to have to take a tablet before i go to bed! which seems stupid and a waste of money!

ow well love is!

I am often worse at night so I take a clarityn before bed. I think once your nose is irritated by pollen just the fact you are lying down sets you off. I have my nasal spray in the morning and I am fit for the day

boots_babe

Further to wasted user's post, Asda also have Beconase nasal sprays for about £5.

I was dubious at first, but despite sufferingly very badly from hayfever in certain months, I've found both the Galpharm tablets and Beconase from Asda to be just as good as prescription medicines

savingsgirl

I cant take antihistamine but I suffer badly with hayfever so I looked on the internet and found that apples, vitamin c and cammomile tea are natural antihistamines. I've been eating lots of fruit and supping the tea and it really works!! Plus its cheaper!!

duncansby

Hi - the cheapest way to buy anti-histamines is as the generic drugs, and from a pharmacy ( including Tesco, Asda if they have an instore pharmacy). Ask for the own brand equivalents and avoid the named anti-histamines. The 30 sizes are classed as pharmacy only medicines and can only be purchased from the counter. (Boot's own brands are cheaper than the named brands, but tend to cost slightly more than the plain generics)

One a day non-drowsy:
Cetirizine = Zirtek - you should get 30 for £4 to £5
Loratadine = Clarityn - again 30 cost £4-5

3 a day drowsy (but still one of the best)
Chlorpenamine = Piriton - 30 cost about 2.99

Nasal spray
Beclometasone = beconase - about 4.99 for 180 dose
Flixonase= no generic equivalent

Lara

Strange I know but the only ones that work for me are Benadryl (Acrivastine) 3 a day ones, not 1 a day. Weird or what. £6.50 prescription from Doctors for one months supply.

I was always buying them over the counter last year until Sainsbury's told me to go to Doctors and ask for a prescription under the drug name. Worked!

freda

How about a pre-payment certificate for the hayfever months? It is £33.90 for four months and you can use it for as many prescriptions as you want.

Maybe not worth it if all you need is one tablet per day, but if you need sparys / eye drops etc (plus other non hayfever prescriptions) it is well worth the money.

simonkirkland

Thanks folks, I'm going to try some of the chemists and supermarkets and see what I can get for, and for what price...

I saw that tesco.com have zirtek on 'buy one get one free' but only for 7 day packs, so not worth it but perhaps the same offer is on in store with the 30 packs???

thanks

Simon

WeirdoMagnet

Just resurrecting this one as my hayfever made its annual return this weekend!

I take Zirtec (Cetirizine Dihydrochloride 10mg), and I reckon it’s cheaper to stock up from Tesco for the summer, not only because it’s on BOGOF, but also because when you get to the till, they actually credit you for £2.99 (Zirtec is £2.79 per packet)! So by my reckoning, it’s £2.59 for 14 tablets, and if you bought 4 months supply (112 days), it would be £20.72 – cheaper than a pre-payment cert too.

I haven’t investigated whether the generics are cheaper still, as our Tesco doesn’t have a pharmacy.

As an alternative, apparently local honey is a good homeopathic remedy and may be cheaper than tablets, and also blueberries - not sure what the berries do for you but they are grossly expensive and are obviously not a moneysaving option!

PS. Hope my maths is correct!