Treating and preventing hayfever
How can the symptoms of hayfever be treated?
The symptoms of hayfever can be treated by taking certain prescription or non-prescription medicines. Not all medicines treat every symptom of hayfever equally well.
Intranasal corticosteroid (INCS) Sprays
The symptoms of hayfever are caused by inflammation of the lining of the nose. INCS sprays can prevent or reduce this inflammation. They do this by blocking the release of
all three of the main substances that cause inflammation to develop in the lining of the nose.
INCS provide relief from all hayfever symptoms, including runny or blocked nose, sneezing, itching, and eye symptoms. They relieve hayfever symptoms more effectively than antihistamines, particularly when nasal symptoms are the major problem.
INCS can provide some relief within a few hours. However, they take 2 to 3 days of regular use for maximum effect.
INCS, such as Rhinocort Hayfever, are taken as a nasal spray.
Antihistamines
The symptoms of hayfever are caused by inflammation of the lining of the nose. Antihistamines block the release of histamine, which is
one of the three main substances that cause this inflammation to develop.
Antihistamines help to relieve runny nose, sneezing, itching, and eye symptoms, but are not as effective as INCS sprays in relieving nasal symptoms, particularly blocked nose.
Some antihistamines may cause drowsiness. (Ask your pharmacist for advice on which formulations do not have this side effect.)
Antihistamines can be taken orally, or as a nasal spray or eye drops.
Decongestants
These medicines only treat a blocked nose. Long-term use may cause even worse congestion, so decongestants should not be taken for longer than 4 or 5 days at a time.
They may be taken orally or as a nasal spray.
See the table below for a description of how these medications work.
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Other treatments that may be useful
Other treatments for hayfever symptoms include:
- Lubricant eye drops (eye symptoms)
- Saline nose spray (to clear sinuses)
- Pain relievers such as paracetamol (relieve sinus pain)
Note that dietary changes and supplements, and herbal or natural remedies, have not been scientifically proven to effectively treat hayfever symptoms. Some herbal or natural remedies can have side effects or can interact with medications you are taking. Let your GP or pharmacist know if you are taking any of these remedies before you use Rhinocort Hayfever or any other medicine.
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How can hayfever be prevented?
Hayfever can be prevented by:
- Avoiding exposure to the allergens that trigger hayfever symptoms;
- Undergoing a treatment called immunotherapy so that allergens no longer trigger hayfever;
- Taking INCS medication, before exposure to allergens, so that the lining of the nose does not swell up.
For some handy tips for avoiding hayfever triggers, visit the website of the Australasian Society for Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA):
http://www.allergy.org.au/aer/infobulletins/allergen_avoidance.htm
For details of how immunotherapy may be used to prevent hayfever, visit:
http://www.allergy.org.au/aer/infobulletins/immunotherapy.htm
For more information about INCS medications, see Rhinocort Hayfever Information.
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Selecting the best hayfever medication for your symptoms
Hayfever is classified as being 'intermittent' or 'persistent' depending on the timing of symptoms, and 'mild', or 'moderate to severe' depending on how the symptoms affect the individual's quality of life.
Ask pharmacy staff or your doctor to help you assess the severity and frequency of your hayfever.
Australian guidelines for treating hayfever recommend that individuals first try either an antihistamine or an INCS, depending on the severity and frequency of their symptoms (see the diagram below). These medications may also be used in combination if initial treatment is ineffective.
* Ask pharmacy staff or your doctor to help you assess the frequency and severity of your hayfever symptoms.
Adapted from Walls et al. 2005.
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