An pressing warning has been issued to hay fever victims, as specialists urge them to keep away from buying unlicensed medicine reminiscent of Kenalog on-line.
A current survey carried out by the Nationwide Pharmacy Affiliation (NPA) revealed that 45 per cent of pharmacies have seen a rise in queries in regards to the drug, which isn’t licensed to deal with hay fever within the UK.
The warning comes as pharmacies report a major rise in sufferers looking for assist for hay fever signs since early April.
Hay fever is extremely widespread. Certainly, an estimated 16 million folks undergo from the allergy within the UK, based on the Natasha Allergy Analysis Basis.
A typical symptom of hay fever is itchy, pink or watery eyes
GETTY IMAGES
Signs, which embrace sneezing and coughing; a runny or blocked nostril; itchy, pink or watery eyes; itchy throat, mouth, nostril and ears; lack of odor; ache across the sides of your head and your brow; headache; and feeling drained, might be debilitating.
Consequently, many are eager to alleviate discomfort by any means essential, particularly as they sometimes worsen between late March and September, when pollen depend is at its highest.
Nevertheless, the NPA warned that medicines from unregulated sellers reminiscent of magnificence salons and social media websites may “pose a risk” to sufferers’ security.
These medicines could possibly be “fake, swapped for other medication” or fail to “meet UK safety and quality standards”.
Frequent unwanted side effects of Kenalog – administered by injection – can embrace “joint pain, headaches, injection site reactions and increased risk of infection”.
Extra unusual unwanted side effects embrace “serious mental health problems”, based on the NPA.
The NPA burdened that hay fever signs “can be treated quickly and easily” in native pharmacies, “with no need to see a GP or buy medication from unregulated sources”.
NPA chair Olivier Picard mentioned: “We are urging people to avoid using unlicensed treatments, which could pose a serious risk to their health, and instead speak with their pharmacist about other options for managing hay fever symptoms.”
“Kenalog is not licensed in the UK for the treatment of hay fever, and we are clear that patients should not seek it online or request it from their community pharmacy,” he added.
Olivier burdened the significance of utilizing “licensed medications”, citing antihistamine tablets, nasal sprays, and eye drops as credible choices, in dialog with the BBC.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
A runny or blocked nostril is one other symptom of hay fever
GETTY IMAGES
He added that victims ought to communicate to their pharmacist about methods to fight signs.
The NHS has detailed steering on hay fever, together with causes, signs, and the dos and don’ts for treating the widespread situation.
The way to deal with hay fever
Put petroleum jelly (reminiscent of Vaseline) round your nostrils to entice pollen
Put on wraparound sun shades, a masks or a wide-brimmed hat to cease pollen moving into your nostril and eyes
Bathe and alter your garments after you’ve got been exterior to scrub pollen off
Hold home windows and doorways shut as a lot as potential
Vacuum often and dirt with a humid material
Attempt to use a pollen filter within the air vents of your automotive, you probably have one, and a HEPA filter in your vacuum cleaner
