For many New Zealanders the months of October through January are dreaded as the hay fever season arrives with its associated sneezes and sniffles.

The good news is that hay fever is a treatable condition and can be managed and controlled with the use of some common over the counter medication like Zyrtec, Claratyne or Telfast.

These medications are safe, well tolerated and for most of us don’t have the drowsy side effects that older generation antihistamines are known for.

Hay fever symptoms or (seasonal allergic rhinitis) are generally caused by pollen and grasses (allergens). These allergens are at their peak in New Zealand in the spring and summer months.

Common symptoms of hay fever include, sneezing, itchy nose and watery eyes but they can also include sleep deprivation, fatigue, irritability and poor concentration. Because of this hay fever can be quite debilitating for those of us who suffer from hay fever to any significant level.

The common way to treat hay fever is with the use of oral antihistamine tablets. These medicines block the action of histamine in the body – this is the chemical that is over active in those that suffer from allergies. By blocking histamines you block the body’s response to allergens and stop hay fever in its tracks.

Antihistamines like Zyrtec, Claratyne and Telfast work quickly to block the symptoms associated with hay fever and for most people are a very effective way to manage the hay fever blues during hay fever season.

Another common way to treat the hay fever is through the use of nasal preparations like Flixonase, Beconase and Telfast. All of these sprays act in a similar way by lowering your bodies over-response to allergens. Sometimes this is all that is needed to help a hay fever sufferer dodge the hay fever bullet.

Hay fever, as mentioned above, describes a cluster of symptoms such as sneezing, itchy nose, itchy skin, watery eyes, headaches and sinus pain. Some people only suffer from one or two of these symptoms so, rather than taking an antihistamine tablet, they can elect to just treat the affected area ie eye drops, nasal spray or skin cream.

At Pharmacy Direct we have put together an Allergy Super Store that not only saves you up to 40% off a range of anti- allergy products but also helps you select the type of product that is best for you based on the symptoms you have.

By shopping with Pharmacy Direct you get the benefit of savings, the convenience of home delivery and you earn Pharmacy Direct Rewards each time you shop. When you earn only 200 Pharmacy Direct Rewards (by spending $200) you get a $10 gift voucher. Compare this to other rewards schemes like Flybuys that give you less than a dollar for each $100 you spend.

Choose Pharmacy Direct this allergy season for all your hay fever needs.