Cheapest Hayfever medications 2008 article discussion: report deals here.

sillyvixen

boots have buy one get one free on some hayfever tablets - i bought 4 weeks worth to keep me going for now!

wavey_d

Hi, my first post on these forums, so be nice!

I've had hayfever for almost 20 years, and 3/4 years ago, I discovered Benadryl, and it has changed my summers. It really is the only stuff that touches it.

Unfortunately, it's the most expensive by far. This year there are a few 2 for £6 offers, which is better than previous years, but still not great.

However, I've just discovered on Superdrug's website, they have buy one, get one free at 3.98 each! Making it 2 quid a packet of 12.

Therefore, I decided to stock up for the whole summer, as if you spend over £35 on the website, there is free delivery.

However (don't shout at me) I tried to buy 18 packets, but it would only let me buy 14. I assumed this was a restriction on the offer, but I've been back on the website, and it is now sold out.

I'm sure they'll stock up soon, and this offer may be available in store.

But to summarise, I paid £27.86 for 14 boxes. Plus Quidco do 9% cashback, which brings it down to roughly £25. (also, as the original cost was £55.72, I still got free delivery, even though I didn't actually spend as much as £35)

I hope (for my sake at least!) more of you can get this offer...

wavey_d

They're now back in stock at Superdrug online

flyingirl

andy1886 wrote: »

My mum swears by taking a spoonful of local honey to ease her hay fever which I may try this year but failing that it will be one of the deals on this page,

I researched quite a bit into this when I was struggling with really bad hayfever. It seems that the honey needs to be very local to you like 3-5 miles max. The idea is that you eat honey and develop a tolerance of your local strain of pollen by ingesting it.

But when I spoke to someone who used to keep bees, he said that this needs to be an unpasturised honey. The way to tell if it's unpasturised is that it will go cloudy in the autumn/ winter time and clear up again come spring/summer.

I am not sure if you are allowed to sell unpasturised honey so unless you keep your own bees/ know someone who will sell you unpasturised honey, this isn't going to work!!

I don't know if there are any medical professional types who are reading this who can debunk this myth for me... but this is what I have learnt thus far

deep_pockets

my wife suffers all year round from dust/pollen allergies and takes 1x benadryl plus a day to help get by.

our local asda used to sell packets of 12 and 24, it used to be cheaper to buy 2 small packs rather than 1 large ?

i used to buy 4 at a time = no problem.

government changed rules so now only buy 1 pack at a time, like shes going to overdose on them,cheaper alternatives available!!

anyway used to cost £1.84 for pk of 12 benadryl plus at our local asda, all of a sudden its jumped to £4.98, good old rip off britain

marky1982_2

I would just add a note of caution over this generic vs branded issue.

I have taken Zirtek for many years and found them really effective. I then switched to the much cheaper generic ceterizine and didn't find them nearly as good. Nearly every chemist I told this too looked at me like I was mad when I said Zirtek was more effective then generic and they would waspishly explain they were basically the same thing as the active ingredient is the same. However, I spoke to one chemist who said it was the other ingredients in the medication that can alter its effectiveness.

I'm not a pharmacist, and I don't know how true that it, but I do know I'll just have to continue to be ripped-off by the NHS for a pack of 30 Zirtek that I know works for me then pay pennies for something that I've found so ineffective it feels like taking nothing. I know the NHS would prefer me not to get branded drugs on prescription - I've had the same problem with asthma inhalers - and I have had to ask my GP several times to specify the Zirtek brand on the prescription as just typing "Ceterizine" means the chemist can you give you the generic stuff.

Sam_26

It's very strange you state your comments, as over the last couple of weeks, we have had customers requesting the differennt cetirizine salts eg Cetirizine Hydrochloride or Cetirizine Dihydrochloride, stating they work differently.

Clinically they shouldn't, but I would go along with what customers say and there seems to be differences even between the different generic brands for hayfever sufferers.

Thanks for your support

Sam

marky1982 wrote: »

I would just add a note of caution over this generic vs branded issue.

I have taken Zirtek for many years and found them really effective. I then switched to the much cheaper generic ceterizine and didn't find them nearly as good. Nearly every chemist I told this too looked at me like I was mad when I said Zirtek was more effective then generic and they would waspishly explain they were basically the same thing as the active ingredient is the same. However, I spoke to one chemist who said it was the other ingredients in the medication that can alter its effectiveness.

I'm not a pharmacist, and I don't know how true that it, but I do know I'll just have to continue to be ripped-off by the NHS for a pack of 30 Zirtek that I know works for me then pay pennies for something that I've found so ineffective it feels like taking nothing. I know the NHS would prefer me not to get branded drugs on prescription - I've had the same problem with asthma inhalers - and I have had to ask my GP several times to specify the Zirtek brand on the prescription as just typing "Ceterizine" means the chemist can you give you the generic stuff.

Fluffy_Bunny_2

Hi,
Given Telfast Fexofenadine Tablets 120mg by doctor few years ago. Not suffered much but am this year. Says active ingredient Fexofenadine 112mg (as fexofenadine hydrochloride 120mg) Does anyone know if you can buy a generic over the counter or will I have to go back to doctors and pay £7.10 for 30 tablets.
They seem to work quite well and have been taking spoonful of local honey and squirting nasal spray too.

GrahamW

I tried the local honey and it made no difference to me Went to the doctors this morning any they prescribed Cetirizine (Zirtek), nasal spray and some eye drops. Ordered all generic stuff online with Chemist Direct

moneysaving_pharmacist

Fluffy_Bunny wrote: »

Hi,
Given Telfast Fexofenadine Tablets 120mg by doctor few years ago. Not suffered much but am this year. Says active ingredient Fexofenadine 112mg (as fexofenadine hydrochloride 120mg) Does anyone know if you can buy a generic over the counter or will I have to go back to doctors and pay £7.10 for 30 tablets.
They seem to work quite well and have been taking spoonful of local honey and squirting nasal spray too.

Telfast is prescription only, so back to the GP.