Have a hay fever-free summer for less!

Get the lowdown on how to save money on your hay fever medication...

I love the summer and I love warm weather. But if you're anything like me, as soon as the weather improves, you start to spend your days with itchy red eyes, a tickly throat, and the constant need to sneeze - all thanks to hay fever.

Hay fever and allergies are a burden for many of us; according to online pharmacy TheChemist.co.uk, British adults have taken nearly 64 million days off work in the last year because they were suffering from an allergy.

Not only is the constant sneezing and itchy eyes a nuisance, but fighting back against allergies can be very expensive.

So how can you buy your hay fever medication without breaking the bank?

Where to shop and what to buy

Most people use antihistamines to treat their hay fever. Some of the most commonly used antihistamine drugs include acrivastine, cetirizine, loratadine and chlorophemamine. But you may have to try out each one individually to find out which type is the most effective for you.

Many hay fever sufferers also use nasal sprays, while others use eye drops.

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So if you're looking to buy any of these remedies, where should you shop?

If you go into your local chemist, Boots or Superdrug, you'll find that the cost adds up pretty quickly - particularly if you buy the big brands.

But by swapping the big names for an unbranded version, you'll certainly save on the pennies. Unbranded medication usually uses the same key chemicals as the branded stuff, so it will do the same job - but save you money.

However, you can save yourself even more money if you shop online at websites such as Chemist Direct.co.uk, Chemist-4-U.com and AssetChemist.co.uk.

Cheapest options

Having had a browse around, I've hunted down some of the cheapest options for a range of hay fever treatments.

If you're after cetirizine tablets, which are better known as Zirtek, Chemist-4-U sells an unbranded options for just 85p for 28 tablets. In comparison, at your local chemist, Zirtek is likely to cost you a whopping £13.90 for a box of 30 tablets. That's £12.40 more! If you shop in Boots, you'll find it does sell its own 'value' generic version, but this will still cost you £1.01 for a pack of seven tablets - which works out at around £4.29 for 30 tablets.  

Alternatively, if you'd prefer to use Clarityn, it's worth trying loratadine tablets from Chemist Direct which cost just 59p for a pack of 30 tablets. This compares to the £9.19 you're likely to pay for Clarityn. Once again, Boots sells a 'value' generic version  for £1.01 for seven tablets - but again, this works out to be more expensive at around £4.29 for 30 tablets.

If you're more familiar with Piriton, you could try chlorphenamine tablets from Chemist-4-U at just 80p for 28 tablets (providing you buy three packs). If you picked up Piriton at your local chemist, you'd be paying a lot more at around £5.99 for 30 tablets (Boots does not sell an unbranded version).

Moving away from tablets, if you regularly use eye drops such as sodium cromoglicate, your best bet is to shop at Chemist-4-U which offers the cheapest option for just £1.49. This compares to the hefty £4.99 you'd be paying at Boots.

And if you need to use nasal sprays, the cheapest option for beconase nasal spray is at Chemist-4-U which sells the branded version (no generic) for £4.10. At Boots, the branded version would set you back a whopping £8.16.

However, if you prefer flixonase, Chemist-4-U offers the branded version (no generic) for £2.99, compared to £7.65 at Boots.

Although online shopping will work out cheaper than hitting your local high street store, it's worth noting that you will have to pay for postage and packaging.

Chemist Direct charges £3.49 unless you spend £40 or more, although prescription orders come with free delivery. Chemist-4-U.com charges £3 if you spend under £20. Delivery at AssetChemist costs £3.75.

Although this does add to the cost, if you're buying in bulk it should still save you money overall. And don't forget to keep an eye out for voucher codes on websites such as vouchercodes.co.uk and myvouchercodes.co.uk for even more savings.

You should also be aware that you may have to fill in a form describing your symptoms before you can complete your order online.

Prescriptions

Of course, where you buy your medicines won't make any difference if you get your prescriptions free - for example, if you're over 60 or you live in Wales or Scotland. In this case, it makes sense to get your hay fever treatments through your doctor.

If you do have to pay, however, another option worth considering is buying a Prescription Prepayment Certificate. Providing you pay for more than three prescription items in three months, or more than 14 items in 12 months, this could easily save you money.

You can buy either a three month Prescription Prepayment Certificate for £29.10 or a 12 month Prescription Prepayment Certificate for £104. All of your prescriptions will then be covered during this period. You can find out more about this on the NHS website.

Other remedies

Aside from the drugs mentioned above, there are other ways to tackle your hay fever. Some sufferers recommend the Qu-Chi acupressure band which you can currently pick up from Amazon for just £8.70.

Air purifiers can also be handy to have, while natural remedies such as butterbur, local honey, nettle tea, and vitamin C are also said to help.

Final tips

Finally, here are seven tips to help you fight against hay fever:

• Keep windows closed when you're indoors and overnight.
• Don't mow the lawn - get someone else to do it!
• Use wraparound sunglasses to keep pollen out of your eyes.
• Have a shower when you get home and change your clothing.
• Put Vaseline around each nostril to trap pollen.
• Wash your hands and face regularly.
• Avoid hanging clothes outside when pollen levels are high.

Hopefully by following these tips you'll be able to enjoy your summer a little more!

This is a classic article that has been updated for 2011.

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