Ask the Pharmacist

In June's edition of Ask The Pharmacist, Mounthawk Allcare Pharmacy's Pat Harmon explains the different products available to treat hayfever and how to get the best use out of them.

"It may be hard to believe considering that at the time of going to print the temperature is still in single digits…. but its officially summer! For many people that holds all kinds of positive connotations-kids off school, days at the beach, holidays etc. However for some people the good weather can trigger a nasty attack of seasonal rhinitis (commonly known as hayfever). This condition arises as a result of an immune response to circulating pollen in the air and can have a range of unpleasant symptoms. Sufferers will have itchy red eyes that water, stuffy noses, sneezing fits and all manner of other annoying symptoms. While not a serious condition, hay-fever can be a real nuisance and impact on a person's enjoyment of fine weather. Fortunately there are a multitude of options available to sufferers and the following is a brief synopsis of the treatments that currently exist.

The most popular treatments available for sale in the pharmacy are antihistamines. These tablets work by blocking the effects of histamine in the body and are the mainstay of treatment for many people. There are two main classes, the older more sedating antihistamines such as Piriton and then the newer non sedating antihistamines such as Telfast, Clarityn and Zirtek. Piriton is very effective for itch but can often leave people feeling very drowsy. The main benefit of newer antihistamines is that they are all taken once daily and do not tend to cause drowsiness as they do not cross the blood brain barrier. Luckily in Mounthawk we are proud to say we stock an extensive range of antihistamine tablets to suit all budgets so pop into store where we will gladly assist you in selecting the right product for you.

For people who tend to suffer from irritated eyes as a result of hayfever there are a few eye drops available to alleviate the discomfort. Some of these contain antihistamines ( eg Otrivin eye drops) and some contain ingredients belonging to a group called mast cell stabilisers called sodium cromoglicate (Opticrom). These drops can make a real difference to people who find that tablets do not always control all of their symptoms.

For those who need something stronger luckily there are a few steroid nasal sprays available over the counter to save the day. These are only licensed for adults over the age of 18 and need to be used every day for best effect. Examples include Nasocort, Flixonase and Beconase. These are highly effective medications and can make a real difference. If OTC remedies do not do the trick, you can always pop to your GP where they will be able to prescribe stronger medications and we can also advise on those.

If somebody wishes to try a non drug method, we are delighted to stock Nuage Hayfever relief wipes. These wipes are suitable for the face and hands and are enriched with tea tree and peppermint oil and work to remove and trap pollen, dust and pet allergens before they have a chance of affecting you. The old trick of rubbing Vaseline under the nostrils to prevent pollen from entering the airways works along the same principle. The old saying that prevention is better than cure holds especially true for hayfever. Staying indoors during the parts of the day when pollen is highest can also help and MET Eireann issue a daily pollen forecast which is generally reliable!

Wearing sunglasses when out in sunny weather is another natural method of preventing pollen from irritating the eyes. They also help to protect your eyes from the harmful UV effects of sunlight so everybody should own a pair of sunglasses. We stock some very stylish and practical sunglasses to suit every budget in Mounthawk Allcare Pharmacy so call in to collect yours today.

Needless to say, everybody is aware of the need for sun protection these days. The higher the SPF factor the better and it is essential that children wear SPF50 when playing outdoors. We stock a huge range of suncreams to suit all needs including La Roche Posay, P20, Ambre Solaire and Nuxe. These are all top quality suncreams and will keep your skin protected on the 3 days of sunshine we expect to get in August. If you are unsure of any products to use on you or your little one’s skin, pop into us and we will delighted to advise you.

The above is just a quick summary of some of the products we stock for the summer season. For the fuill range, pop into store where we will be delighted to help you. Until next time!”