What is the best treatment for hay fever?
There is no single best treatment for hay fever as it depends on your symptoms, but most people find relief with over-the-counter options like antihistamine tablets for sneezing and itchy eyes or steroid nasal sprays for a blocked or runny nose. Start these treatments 1-2 weeks before your symptoms usually begin for the best results, and speak to your pharmacist for advice on what suits you. If these do not help, see your GP for stronger options like prescription steroid sprays or immunotherapy.
Key points:
- Antihistamines in tablet, spray or eye drop form ease sneezing, itching and runny nose.
- Steroid nasal sprays reduce nose swelling and work best after regular use for 2-3 weeks.
- Salt water nasal rinses wash pollen from the nose to help clear symptoms.
- GP-prescribed immunotherapy builds tolerance to pollen if other treatments fail.
This text has been fact-checked for accuracy by medino's clinical team.