Cheapest Hayfever medications 2008 article discussion: report deals here.

Penny1981

All this talk of hayfever is making me itchy!

Sam_26

In reply to your question, Semprex was the 84s prescription only pack of Acrivastine, but they were discontinued.

The only ones made are now Benadryl (12s and 24s) and Benadryl Plus (Contains Pseudoephedrine) 12s only.

This is an expensive item and requires ONE three times a day, so 12 only last 4 days and costs approc £4, therefore £1 a day.

Cheapest way to obtain is on NHS prescription from your GP if this cures hayfever symptoms and none of the others work.

TheOne wrote: »

I read the artice, and the bit that said:
"Patent laws mean there is currently no generic equivalent of Benadryl, which makes it one of the most expensive treatments in the long-term."
A couple of years ago I was prescribed one called Semprex, which was acrivastine, which is what Benadryl is, however my last prescroption was Benadryl, so what happended to Semprex I don't know, bit of a bummer really because the Semprex came in a pack of about 60, which would probably last me a couple of summers. Benadryl, I think, only comes in 12 or maybe 24 ??

Picture here: Not especially clear, sorry. It's scanned

EllieB_2

I don't suffer from Hayfever but I have read that a good (free!) remedy is to make a nettle tea from preferably local stinging nettles - collect (wearing gloves obviously) and then heat gently then serve! Apparently the sting is disabled by heat.

Shazbat_2

Sam_26 wrote: »

In reply to your question, Semprex was the 84s prescription only pack of Acrivastine, but they were discontinued.

The only ones made are now Benadryl (12s and 24s) and Benadryl Plus (Contains Pseudoephedrine) 12s only.

This is an expensive item and requires ONE three times a day, so 12 only last 4 days and costs approc £4, therefore £1 a day.

Cheapest way to obtain is on NHS prescription from your GP if this cures hayfever symptoms and none of the others work.

I started on Phenagan 10 (sp?) when I was a child with hay fever, then these (I believe) were banned for children. I then went herbal, with a tablet called Euphrasia which was then discontinued because one of the ingredients could also be found in Ecstacy. I've had Clarityn from the doctors and also tried Piriton, neither of which works. Then I started taking Benadryl a few years ago now and it's the only one for me now.

I started on normal Benadryl and then when my hay fever peaked in about June/July would up it to Benadryl Plus. However in the last couple of years I've had to start with Plus as my symptoms have worsened. Now I've discovered this year that Benadryl Plus is now only available in 12s due to it containing decongestant :mad: (!!!!!!? I carry all manner of painkillers for a bad back, including Diazepam and Diclofenac so if I want to do myself harm I ain't going to be overdosing on decongestant), but they work for me and I object to paying prescription charges (I had 3 the other week before a painkiller was found that worked on my back pain; I should be able to get a refund for the ones that didn't work - yeah, right). I used to buy 24s and, as they work quickly I only take them as I need to and get by on 1-a-day, so mine do at least last 12 or more days.

I also take a teaspoon of honey every morning. Pledge also do a furniture polish that keeps allergens to a minimum and that works a treat for me.

laura1983hirst

Does anyone use this drug, or a cheaper alternative as I get this on prescription and it costs a bomb?!?

ANy help gratefully received, Ive tried piriton/benadryl/cetrisine hydrochloride etc to no effect hence I ended up on theses .

Ta,Laura

motika007

JUST FOUND THE CHEAPEST HAYFEVER TABS EVER!!! PACKS OF 30 LORATADINE OR CETIRIZINE FOR 99P WITH JUST 50P POSTAGE!!!! COMAPARED TO £2.95 POSTAGE OF CHEMIST DIRECT!!! CAN CALL FREE ON 0800 121 4589

zerodashzero

After reading Martin’s article I was a bit gutted to see that my brand (Benadryl) didn’t have a generic alternative. It seems the most effective one for me, I prefer the 8 hours as 24 knock me out and it’s great to use when I visit family & friends that own cats (allergies - grr!). Yesterday I decided to do a bit of shopping around, starting with Sainsburys – 2 x 12 pack for £6. Hmm.

Next stop Boots.
The 12 packs had a big BOGOF shelf sign – yay! Except that even though Benadryl was included in the offer, it was only for 7 & 14 packs. Which they didn’t stock. (And I’m a little suspicious to whether they even exist in these pack sizes at all). :mad:

After grumbling at the sales assistant, she double checked on the till & they came up as 2 for £6 (same as Sainsburys). Hey ho. I get a better card deal with Boots than Nectar so I decided to stock up & buy 4 packs as the expiry date was 2010.

But then I was pleasantly surprised by the additional freebies – 2 packs of Boots own brand hayfever relief eyedrops (priced at £4.79 each) and a £5.00 facial skin care voucher (exp May 20).

So, for £12.00 I received –
4 x 12 Benadryl (£3.98 x 4 = £15.92)
2 x eye drops (£4.79 x 2 = £9.58)
£5 skin care voucher (used on £4.50 product to avoid paying extra)
48 Boots Advantage points (= 48p)

Grand total? - £30.48 for £12. :T

Can anyone find a better deal?


PS – Don’t forget that you shouldn’t mix alcohol with antihistamines (another reason why 8 hour tabs are better than 24 – you can take a break for booze!). :beer:

joeparnell

Its good to see alot of people hunting down the cheapest deal but is does anyone here find these drugs have little or no effect??

I went for years on prescribed drugs and drugs form over the counter and my summers were still made a misery by hayfever, some nights were so bad that when invited out with friends and i desperately wanted to go I'd have to refuse and stay in. That was until I found out about medibee pollen capsules...my symptoms are literally 10% what they always have been, they have totally changed my summers. I would unreservedly recommend them to everyone, you can find them on www.medibee.co.uk. I think a whole summer's course (which is what I always buy) is around £35 I think, but the relief they give really is priceless. I think the site says you should start taking them in March time to build up immunity but I'd imagine they'd still provide welcome relief if started now.

If anyones wondering what they are, they are not anti-histamines or like anything else on the market, they are literally capsules full of thousands of different types of pollen grains, you take them on an empty stomach, the pollen is absorbed into the blood stream and you are immune!!

ptsupermix

hi there i get my loratadine hayfever tablets from somewhere called Arizona Pharmasuticles(google loratadine hayfever tablets)and because the pound is stong against the dollar i get 300 tablets for about £15.00. I take one a day because i have other allergies as well as hayfever so this is ideal for me

Nile

joeparnell wrote: »

Its good to see alot of people hunting down the cheapest deal but is does anyone here find these drugs have little or no effect??

I went for years on prescribed drugs and drugs form over the counter and my summers were still made a misery by hayfever, some nights were so bad that when invited out with friends and i desperately wanted to go I'd have to refuse and stay in. That was until I found out about medibee pollen capsules...my symptoms are literally 10% what they always have been, they have totally changed my summers. I would unreservedly recommend them to everyone, you can find them on www.medibee.co.uk. I think a whole summer's course (which is what I always buy) is around £35 I think, but the relief they give really is priceless. I think the site says you should start taking them in March time to build up immunity but I'd imagine they'd still provide welcome relief if started now.

If anyones wondering what they are, they are not anti-histamines or like anything else on the market, they are literally capsules full of thousands of different types of pollen grains, you take them on an empty stomach, the pollen is absorbed into the blood stream and you are immune!!

I am concerned about the description of these capsules.

If an allergen (pollen) is introduced to a person suffering from a respiratory allergen (like hayfever), they may risk anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis
Also known as anaphylactic shock. An acute allergic reaction. Symptoms occur immediately after exposure to an allergen (e.g. insect stings) and include diarrhoea, bleeding, vomiting, bronchospasm and breathing problems. If you experience these or similar symptoms, seek immediate medical assistance, because anaphylaxis can cause loss of consciousness and even death. Anaphylactic reactions can be reversed with adrenaline. If you have already experienced an anaphylactic shock, consider starting specific allergy vaccination and always carry a device containing adrenaline (e.g EpiPen).

Medicines are subject to clinical trials and are then licensed for use in the UK, I doubt that medibee pollen capsules have either safeguards.;)

It is far safer to see your GP for appropriate treatment and medicines.