Hay fever treatments compared: what really works?

Hay fever – also known as allergic rhinitis – is a reaction to pollen and can cause misery for sufferers, but there are a range of treatments to help control and alleviate the symptoms. 

We explain what the available options are, from the different kinds of tablets to nose sprays and eye drops, and how to choose.

We've got insight and tips on managing hay fever symptoms from Thorrun Govind, former chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's English Pharmacy Board, and Mr Alex Day, consultant Ophthalmologist. 

Plus, we reveal the cheapest ways to buy popular hay fever tablets and medicines.

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Choosing the best hay fever medicine

There are lots of options for treating hay fever, and what's best depends on what suits you and your needs, as well as what your main symptoms are. 

You can usually take oral tablets alongside symptom-specific solutions such as nose sprays and eye drops if your symptoms are particularly bothersome.

Other medication you’re on also needs to be taken into account. For example, some older types of antidepressant, stomach ulcer or indigestion medicines, or cough and cold remedies, shouldn’t be taken with antihistamines. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure.

Antihistamine tablets for allergies

These work by altering the way your body reacts to histamine – the chemical your body releases when it thinks it’s being attacked by a harmful substance and the substance that gives rise to hay fever symptoms.

While there are many brands available, these are the active ingredients to look out for. They're the two most common ones you'll see on the shelf and are generally well-tolerated with minimal side effects:

1. Cetirizine hydrochloride / dihydrochloride: This is a non-drowsy antihistamine, generally taken once a day. Brand names include Benadryl Allergy One A Day, Piriteze Allergy and Zirtec Allergy – found in tablet and liquid form.
   
   
2. Loratadine: Loratadine is a non-drowsy antihistamine that’s available to buy over the counter and on prescription. Brand names include Clarityn Allergy, but there are plenty of generic and own-brand options available, too, in tablet or liquid form.

Other oral antihistamines include:

Chlorphenamine maleate / Acrivastine: These older types of antihistamine can cause drowsiness and aren't suitable for people with epilepsy or another health problem that puts them at risk of fits, and those with the eye problem, primary angle closure glaucoma.

They also need to be taken several times a day, which some people may find inconvenient. However, Thorrun Govind suggests chlorphenamine could be a good option if your hay fever is preventing you from sleeping.

Fexofenadine hydrochloride: Fexofenadine hydrochloride was previously prescription-only but is now widely available over-the-counter.

Govind says, 'It gives hay fever and allergy sufferers another treatment option, which is especially helpful if they find existing medications aren't quite working for them.'

It can be helpful to switch up which one you use every so often, so it's worth trying a different one if your symptoms are bothersome.

Below are some of the most popular hay fever tablets on shelves today:

Generic vs branded hay fever tablets: save more than £10 per month by switching

If you need to take antihistamines daily in the summer months, the cost can really add up, so it's worth shopping around to get the best deal. 

You can save on branded options with bundles as per the selection above, but you can also opt for own-brand or generic antihistamine tablets, and shop around for offers to get the best value.

We checked the prices of common types of antihistamine tablets in pharmacies, supermarkets and discount stores and found that there are big savings to be made.

The cheapest option for a daily tablet costs just 3p per tablet, while one of the priciest is 38p per tablet.

Here's how much you can save for a month's supply (30 pack) by buying a generic rather than a branded product with the same active ingredient:

• Loratadine (one a day)
  Clarityn Allergy 10mg, £11.39 for 30 tablets at Boots (38p per tablet)
  VS
  Galpharm One-a-day Allergy and Hayfever Relief 10mg, £1 for 30 tablets at Savers (3p per tablet)
  = monthly saving of £10.39

• Cetirizine Hydrochloride (one a day)
  Benadryl Allergy One-a-day 10mg, £11.50 for 30 at Boots (38p per tablet)
  VS
  Bell's Allergy Relief 10mg £1.89 for 30 at Boots (13p per tablet)
  = monthly saving of £5.90

• Fexofenadine hydrochloride (one a day)
  Allevia 120mg tablets, £11.50 for 30 tablets at Tesco (38p per tablet) 
  VS 
  Galpharm Treathay Fexofenadine 120mg tablets £5.99 for 30 at Savers (20p per tablet)
  = monthly saving of £5.51

Prices correct as of June 2025 and based on non-offer prices. But it's also worth looking out for multibuy offers and discounts (especially during hay fever season, as our research shows deals are common at this time). For example, Bells Allergy Relief is currently buy one get one half price at Boots, bringing the cost down even more.

Don't be tempted to stockpile too much, though, Thorrun Govind warns.

She tells us, 'There's absolutely no problem with buying medicines and storing them, but be aware that as well as making sure they're in date before you use them, your health situation may change over time and therefore they might not be appropriate for you to use any more.'

Look for the longest expiry date on any medication you buy, and check before you use old packs you find at home. Products such as nose sprays and eye drops have a relatively short shelf life once opened (often four to six weeks). 

Cheapest online pharmacy deals

If you're buying your hay fever medication online, make sure it's from a registered pharmacy. 

It can be cheaper if you are buying in bulk, and potentially worthwhile if, for example, you know you'll need to take daily antihistamines throughout the summer months. But bear in mind delivery costs will push the price up compared to store versions. Here are the best prices we found on registered online pharmacies:

Loratadine (10mg) -  £5.99 for 180 at PharmacyFirst (3p per tablet), free postage

Cetirizine Hydrochloride (10mg) - £6.99 for 180 at PharmacyFirst (4p per tablet), free postage

Fexofenadine Hydrochloride (120mg) - £15.29 for 90 at Chemist4U (17p per tablet) + £2.95 postage (20p per tablet with this included)

You can find out more about buying medicines safely online – and check that an online pharmacy is registered – on the General Pharmaceutical Council website.

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Hay fever symptoms

If you've got a stuffy or runny nose, itchy eyes and can't stop sneezing, you could be suffering from hay fever. Symptoms include:

• Coughing and sneezing
• Blocked or runny nose
• Itchy, watery or red eyes
• Loss of smell
• Pain around the temples and forehead
• Headache
• Earache
• Tiredness

Hay fever affects almost 10 million people in England, of all ages. This equates to almost one in four adults and 1 in 10 children, and research from Allergy UK shows that the number of sufferers is rising year on year.

If you live in an urban area, you might experience stronger hay fever symptoms, according to a 2023 study by the University of Manchester. If you suffer with asthma, you might also experience a tight chest, shortness of breath, and wheezing and coughing.

Hay fever medicine: what works best 

What to do if high street hay fever remedies aren’t working

If over-the-counter remedies aren't working for you and you're really struggling with your symptoms, pay a visit to your GP. 

They should be able to prescribe something more powerful, and if these don't work they can refer you to an allergy specialist for tests. The tests performed will depend on your type of allergy but can include a blood test or a skin prick test, which will help to shed light on which allergens are causing you problems.

If you are sent for specialist tests, you'll be given instructions on what to do, but you shouldn't take antihistamines beforehand as this may mask the results.

7 tips for minimising hay fever misery

As well as medicines and remedies, there are lifestyle and environment changes you can make to relieve hay fever symptoms, particularly when the pollen count is high:

1. Keep windows closed in the evening. Pollen can make its way inside through open windows and vents. Keeping windows closed, particular at times when the pollen count is high – first thing in the morning and during the evening – can help. Using an air purifier may also help.
2. Keep house dust mites at bay. House dust mite allergies can be associated with hay fever and asthma symptoms, but the trouble is they are microscopic and therefore hard to detect. As they gravitate to beds and humid environments, it’s advisable to wash your bedding weekly at 60°C or above to ensure you’ve killed them.
3. Don’t hang washing outside. As pollen wafts around, it can fall onto your washing then when you take it off the line and inside you'll be bringing the pollen in with you. 
4. Shower and change your clothes when you get home. When you close your front door you may think you’re shutting pollen out but you could still be bringing it in on your hair and clothing.
5. Use a DIY barrier balm. You could buy a specialist balm to apply to your nostrils to help prevent pollen entering your nose, but a simple petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) can be just as effective.
6. Keep pets out of the bedroom. Pet hair can be a carrier of airborne allergens, such as pollen, so don’t let your pets sleep on your bed or even in your bedroom. Pets can bring pollen in on their fur after they’ve been outside, too, so give them a wash down as well, especially if your hay fever is particularly severe. Buying a vacuum cleaner that makes light work of pet hair is also a good option
7. Keep a diary of symptoms. Keep track of when your symptoms are worse, if anything makes them better and how effective your medication is. This will give your pharmacist and GP valuable information about your allergy – and enable them to better tailor your treatment to suit your individual needs.

Searching for a vacuum cleaner to make light work of pet hair? Take a look at the best vacuum cleaners

How to save money on hay fever remedies

Choose own-brand or generic options

By far the biggest savings can be made by switching from branded to own-brand or generic products. These use the same active ingredients as the big brands and are typically a fraction of the cost – we've found they can be more than 10 times cheaper.

Generic medicines in the UK must comply with exactly the same standards of quality, safety and efficacy as all medicinal products, so if it has the same 'active ingredient' listed, then it will do the same thing.

It might not be your first thought when shopping for antihistamines, but discount stores such as B&M, and supermarkets, are often some of the cheaper options. If you're not sure what you need, though, it's best to buy from a pharmacy where you can ask for guidance.

Take advantage of multibuys, deals and bundles

Many retailers offer deals on multibuys, especially in the summer months – great if you need a regular supply to get through pollen season.

Make sure you check the pack size / dosage when comparing prices.

See our story on the best deals on hay fever medicine for more. 

When is hay fever season?

According to ENT UK – the professional organisation representing ear, nose and throat surgery – hay fever (or seasonal allergic rhinitis) can actually be problematic for most of the year, depending on what you're allergic to.

While the majority of hay fever sufferers are allergic to grass pollen, which tends to peak in summer months, some people are allergic to both tree and grass pollen, which can mean having symptoms for much of the spring and summer.

Tree pollen: March to May

Grass pollen: May to July

Weed pollen: June to September

Mould spores: September to October

Weather patterns will also make a difference, determining if pollen season comes early or late, or if there's a bumper season. The Met Office says that climate change may lengthen the UK pollen season and potentially make pollen concentrations higher. 

Hay fever medication in pregnancy

Medication is only advised if you have hay fever symptoms (rather than taking them preventatively) and instead, treatment should start with using sodium chloride nasal sprays or nasal irrigation, followed by eye drops such as sodium cromoglicate eye drops or intranasal corticosteroid sprays.

Only if symptoms persist should oral antihistamines be used, but you should always speak to your doctor or pharmacist first.

Our hay fever research and experts

Our hay fever research above includes insights from a series of previous Which? investigations by our in-house research team, covering natural hay fever remedies, hay fever medicine prices and more. 

For this online guide, our health researcher Martha Roberts combined this collective know-how with additional expert insights to bring you a comprehensive guide to hay fever need-to-knows.

Martha is an award-winning senior health writer with 25 years of experience writing about health and wellbeing topics for national newspapers, magazines and websites, and for the charity sector. 

In her five years at Which?, Martha has worked across health, food and parenting, investigating a range of popular topics from night-driving glasses and indigestion remedies, to what causes chronic inflammation and how to tackle it. Her goal is to help you cut through the hype, myth-bust health trends and make buying decisions with confidence.

Health experts consulted for this article include:

Mr Alex Day, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital – specialising in cataract and laser vision correction surgeries, including LASIK, SMILE, and refractive lens exchange. He holds a PhD from University College London and is an Associate Professor at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology.

Thorrun Govind, Pharmacist – former Chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Thorrun has extensive experience in public health and is a leading advocate for empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their health. With a passion for preventative health and well-being, Thorrun regularly appears on national television and in the media to share practical tips on topics ranging from nutrition to mental health and everyday wellness.