It’s early February and with the cold weather one forgets that Spring is around the corner. Now is the time to proactively prepare for the hay fever season. First of all the tree pollens will arrive with Silver Birch tree pollen being the main culprit and those sensitive to this aeroallergen will get typical hay fever very early in March. Most hay fever sufferers will have problems when the Grass pollens become prevalent a little later in April/May. Now is the time to prepare as prevention is better than cure. Start your once-daily non-sedating antihistamines 2 to 3 weeks before the season gets under way, for tree pollen allergies, that means starting this month and for grass pollen allergy start in mid March. Take your antihistamine every day during the season for best results, low dose nasal steroid sprays are very effective if taken together with antihistamines for breakthrough symptoms. For those lucky enough to have been prescribed immunotherapy such as Grazax, get your prescription immediately and start taking this oral grass pollen desensitization treatment this month. Other measures such as a daily teaspoonful of local honey, herbal Butterbur and cromoglycate drops (Optrex) may also help and should be started soon. Don’t leave treatment until your eyes are streaming and your nose is like a “Fireworks display”. Be proactive, and plan your hay fever prevention so that the spring and summer months are enjoyable and full of fun rather than being a time of sneeze, itch, coryza and misery.
Posts Tagged ‘grazax’
Early preparation for Spring and hay fever
Tuesday, February 1st, 2011Treating hay fever with grass allergy tablet
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010The grass pollen hay fever season is fast approaching and those of you prescribed oral immunotherapy should have now commenced treatment at least 2 months before the summer season kicks off in May. For the rest of us, make sure you start taking antihistamine medication at least for a week before those innocent looking lawns and fields start their unrelenting attack on our upper airways.
Specific grass desensitization to Timothy grass pollen as a treatment for allergy and hay fever has been available for the last 3 years. This sublingual (SLIT) tablet contains a Timothy grass pollen extract which dissolves away under the tongue where it is absorbed promoting immune tolerance to grass pollen when taken over a 3 year period. Although expensive at over £2 per day, Grazax is an additional option for those severe hay fever sufferers (with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis) not responding to conventional antihistamine medication and nasal steroid sprays. It can be prescribed on the NHS but many health authorities deem it too expensive for the 30% improvement in hay fever symptoms and reduced medication requirements documented in clinical studies. Many desperate hay fever sufferers have therefore turned to private prescriptions of this disease modifying hay fever tablet.
Reference: Durham SR et al. Long-term clinical efficacy in grass pollen-induced rhinoconjunctivitis after treatment with SQ-standardized grass allergy immunotherapy tablet. Journal Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2010;125:131-38
