Anyone with hay fever may well have noticed their allergies flaring up recently with the arrival of the first grass pollen peak at the start of June.
There's no doubt that having a pollen allergy can be particularly unpleasant at this time of year, making sufferers itchy and uncomfortable as the symptoms threaten to put a dampener on the warm summer months. Fortunately, there are remedies available from pharmacies or GPs that can help to ease the impact of hay fever - but with so many options on the market, it's difficult to know which one will work best for you.
What's more, some retailers may even ramp up the price of their allergy tablets to take advantage of demand in the summer months - which could lead shoppers into believing they're getting a better product by paying more, when in reality it's just as effective as cheaper options. With this in mind, Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert website has issued handy advice for anyone who finds themselves needing to buy allergy tablets in the coming weeks.
READ MORE: Expert lists little-known hay fever symptoms as grass 'pollen bomb' approaches
According to the MSE experts, despite the fact that branded hay fever tablets are almost always more expensive than the generic non-branded versions, you are essentially paying more for "the same product" if the active ingredient is the same. "Dust and pollen allergies can be hard on the pocket as well as the nose, but you can get exactly the same allergy relief for less than half the price big brands will charge," they advised.
And shoppers don't need to worry about whether cheaper medicines won't be as good quality as the pricier options. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) said: "Regardless of cost, and whether they are branded or generic, all medicines are made to the same standards, so you can be reassured your medicine is safe.
"Branded and generic products are the same if the dose of the drug and the formulation (eg, tablet or a liquid) are the same," the society added. Hay fever tablets are a type of antihistamine, medicines which work to relieve symptoms of allergies by blocking the effects of a substance called histamine in your body.
Histamine is normally released when your body detects something harmful, causing he blood vessels to expand and the skin to swell - but in people with allergies, the body mistakes something harmless, such as pollen, for a threat. The histamine causes an allergic reaction with unpleasant symptoms including itchy, watering eyes, a running or blocked nose, sneezing and skin rashes.
According to the NHS, there are many types of antihistamine which are typically divided into two groups: ones which make you sleepy, and non-drowsy alternatives. Common antihistamines available to buy that are less likely to make you feel sleepy include cetirizine, loratadine, acrivastine and fexofenadine.
Antihistamines can also come in several different forms, including tablets, capsules, liquids, creams, lotions, eyedrops and nasal sprays. However, when it comes to choosing between the different types available, the NHS says that there is "not much evidence" to suggest that any particular antihistamine is better than any other at relieving allergy symptoms.
"Some people find certain types work well for them and others do not," the health service advised. "You may need to try several types to find one that works for you."
MoneySavingExpert advised that there are a few key checks you should carry out if you're shopping around for allergy tablets. The most important is to ensure that you check the ingredients list if you have other allergies to make sure it's safe for you - don't assume that the ingredients will be the same in a generic product as in a branded one just because the active antihistamine ingredient is the same.
If buying remedies online, you should also ensure you only shop at legitimate pharmacies - these are ones registered with independent regulator the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). You can check which pharmacies are registered with the GPhC here.
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