Published on: 18 April 2023
Hay fever can be a miserable experience in the summer: Itchy eyes, runny and blocked noses, tickly throats and sneezes.
However, hay fever rarely causes serious problems for most people and in most cases, people should treat their hay fever symptoms using over the counter medicines available from local supermarkets, online retailers or your local pharmacy.
Your local pharmacist can advise you further on how to control your hay fever symptoms. You can even ask for a private discussion about your symptoms with a pharmacist, often with no need to pre-book an appointment.
You should only need to contact your GP practice if:
- If you are experiencing wheezing, breathlessness or tightness in the chest.
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- If your symptoms are not relieved by over-the-counter treatments in combination with measures to reduce your exposure to pollen
Your pharmacist can advise you if you need to speak to your GP practice about your hay fever symptoms.
Alison Rogers, Pharmacy Integration Lead for NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire, said: “There are many treatments available for hay fever, and pharmacists will help to tailor treatment to your individual needs and offer advice on avoiding troublesome pollens.
NHS community pharmacists are a trusted source of advice on health matters and can advise you on how to manage your symptoms yourself including using over-the-counter-medicines. So, whether suffering from a hay fever or any other minor illness, popping into your local pharmacy is a great way to nip an issue in the bud before it potentially worsens.”
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