Hay fever
Guidance on when UHS can and can't prescribe hay fever medication, and what this means you should do.
This webpage is about requests for treatment for hay fever. This information is not applicable if you are taking any medications for allergies for other reasons.
Visit the NHS hay fever information page for basic information.
When UHS can't prescribe treatment
The majority of high strength treatments for hay fever are now available to purchase at your local pharmacy (including Fexofenadine 120mg tablets and Dymista nasal spray).
We are no longer able to give routine prescriptions for hay fever treatments. This is in line with NHS England and South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board recommendations as described in the patient information leaflet.
The Sheffield Integrated Care Board recommendation is that:
Patients with mild to moderate hay fever should try treatment with several over the counter hay fever products (including antihistamines and nasal steroids) before a prescription only hay fever treatment is prescribed.
When UHS will review treatment requests
We will review prescription requests for the following prescription only medications where they have been prescribed previously:
- Fexofenadine 180mg (Fexofenadine 120mg can be purchased over the counter without a prescription)
- Flixonase nasules
- Fluticasone furoate nasal spray
- Azelastine nasal spray or eye drops
- Ipratropium nasal spray
- Budesonide nasal spray
- Montelukast (a treatment option in patients with co-existing asthma)
Requests for these medications will be declined if they have not been prescribed previously and you will initially be directed to the pharmacy unless one of the following exemptions are met:
- Where a patient has severe hay fever symptoms that are unresponsive to over the counter medicines
- Where a patient has a complex medication history which may mean over the counter management is not appropriate
- If the allergy symptoms are year round
- If the patient is a child
Pharmacy support
Pharmacists are health care professionals that are trained to treat hay fever among other conditions. Speak to your local pharmacist for advice and treatment.
If a trial of first line options (including antihistamines and steroid nasal spray treatments where appropriate) have been unsuccessful, you should contact the practice via our online platform with details about what you've tried.
