Hay Fever Treatment in Holborn, London — from £19.99
Ways Pharmacy offers a private pharmacist-led hay fever service for people whose symptoms are not controlled by the allergy medicines they can buy over the counter. We are a GPhC-registered pharmacy (premises number 9012227) at 77 Southampton Row, Holborn WC1, around two minutes' walk from the British Museum. You can complete the assessment online and have your treatment posted, or come into the pharmacy. A pharmacist checks your symptoms, health and current medicines first, and only supplies a prescription-only treatment if it is suitable for you. Consultations are available in English or Chinese (中文).
Hay fever treatment at a glance
| Treatment options | Prescription-only nasal sprays (Dymista, Nasonex, Rhinolast) and Opatanol eye drops, chosen by the pharmacist. Many antihistamine tablets, nasal sprays and eye drops can also be bought without a consultation |
|---|---|
| Price | From £19.99. The full price list is below |
| Who it is for | People aged 12 and over with hay fever (seasonal) or year-round allergic rhinitis, for example from dust mites or pets |
| How it works | Online assessment with a phone or video call from the pharmacist, or in person at the pharmacy |
| Pharmacist assessment | Required for prescription-only treatments. If treatment is not suitable, the pharmacist will not supply it and will tell you where to go instead |
| Where and when | 77 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4ET · Monday to Friday, 9:00am–6:00pm |
| Language | English and Chinese (中英文服务) |
Start your free online assessment or call 020 8106 7084.
When is hay fever season in the UK?
Hay fever is usually worst between late March and September, when pollen counts are highest. Which months affect you depends on what you are allergic to:
- Tree pollen: late March to mid-May
- Grass pollen (the most common trigger): mid-May to July
- Weed pollen: end of June to September
Symptoms all year round are more likely to be caused by house dust mites, pet hair or mould. This service covers both seasonal and year-round allergic rhinitis. Steroid nasal sprays are more effective if you start them a week or two before your usual season and use them every day.
Medicines available without a consultation
Many people control mild hay fever with medicines available from the pharmacy without a prescription. Some are general sale medicines; others are pharmacy medicines (P), which means a member of the pharmacy team will ask you a few questions before selling them. Examples include:
- Antihistamine tablets: Cetirizine（西替利嗪）, Loratadine（氯雷他定） and Fexofenadine（非索非那定）120mg (Allevia)
- Steroid nasal sprays: Beclometasone (Beconase) and Budesonide (Benacort)
- Combination nasal spray: Dymista Control
- Allergy eye drops: Sodium Cromoglicate（色甘酸钠） (Opticrom)
If you have tried these and still have troublesome symptoms, a consultation lets the pharmacist consider the prescription-only options below.
Treatment options and prices
These are the prescription-only medicines a pharmacist may suggest after your assessment. Which one, if any, depends on your main symptoms, how severe they are, what you have tried before and your health. More than one treatment can be supplied if suitable — for example a nasal spray and eye drops.
| Option | What it is | Price | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dymista nasal spray | Fluticasone Propionate（丙酸氟替卡松） and Azelastine（氮卓斯汀） combination spray, 1 spray in each nostril twice a day. Often considered for moderate to severe or persistent symptoms | £19.99 | Dymista nasal spray |
| Nasonex nasal spray | Mometasone Furoate（糠酸莫米松） steroid spray, 2 sprays in each nostril once a day, reduced to 1 spray once symptoms are controlled | £24.99 | Nasonex nasal spray |
| Rhinolast nasal spray | Azelastine（氮卓斯汀） antihistamine spray, 1 spray in each nostril twice a day. Often considered for mild to moderate nasal symptoms | £24.99 | Rhinolast nasal spray |
| Opatanol eye drops | Olopatadine（奥洛他定） 1mg/ml antihistamine eye drops, 1 drop in each affected eye twice a day, for itchy, watery or red eyes | £14.99 | Opatanol eye drops |
If the medicine you choose is not suitable, the pharmacist may suggest another option; you only pay once a suitable treatment is confirmed. Further supplies need a review with the pharmacist to check your symptoms are controlled and the treatment suits you.
Who can use this service
- People aged 12 and over. Young people under 18 can use the online service, but a parent or guardian must be present on the video call
- Symptoms that fit allergic rhinitis: sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, an itchy nose or throat, and itchy, watery or red eyes
- Seasonal hay fever, or year-round symptoms from dust mites, pets or other allergens
Tell the pharmacist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have asthma, glaucoma or another eye condition, wear contact lenses, have kidney or liver problems, have had nose surgery or frequent nosebleeds, or already use other allergy medicines or steroid medicines. Azelastine and Dymista can cause drowsiness, which alcohol and other sedating medicines can make worse.
When you should see a GP or get urgent help instead
Call 999 if you have sudden swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, severe difficulty breathing, or feel faint — these can be signs of a severe allergic reaction. If you have asthma and your wheeze or breathlessness is getting worse quickly or your reliever is not helping, follow your asthma action plan and call 999 if needed.
See your GP, or call NHS 111 if you need advice sooner, if:
- your asthma is poorly controlled, or hay fever is making your chest symptoms worse
- you have a painful red eye, sensitivity to light or changes to your vision — get same-day help from an optician, eye casualty or NHS 111
- only one side of your nose is affected, or you have frequent nosebleeds
- you have a high temperature, thick green or yellow discharge with facial pain, or a chesty cough, which may point to an infection rather than an allergy — see our sinusitis service
- your symptoms are severe or persistent and not controlled by treatment
How it works
- Start your free online assessment. Answer a short health questionnaire online and confirm your identity (upload photo ID, or show it on a video call).
- Pharmacist reviews and speaks with you. The pharmacist speaks with you by phone or video to go through your answers and confirm whether treatment is suitable.
- If suitable, choose and pay. The pharmacist confirms which treatment is suitable; you then order and pay online from the price list above, or call 020 8106 7084. If it is not suitable, including if the pharmacist gives you advice only, you pay nothing — the pharmacist explains your other options. If you have already paid and treatment is not suitable, you get a full refund.
- We post your medicine or you collect it. Orders approved by the pharmacist before 3:00pm on a working day are posted the same day — see our shipping information for delivery costs. You can also collect from our Holborn pharmacy once your order is approved.
You can also come into the pharmacy and speak to the pharmacist in our private consulting room.
Tips to reduce pollen exposure
- Check the pollen forecast and keep windows closed when counts are high
- Shower and change your clothes after spending time outdoors
- Wear wraparound sunglasses outside
- Avoid drying washing outside on high-pollen days
- Use nasal sprays every day as directed — improvement can take a few days — and do not share sprays or eye drops
- Wash your hands before using eye drops, do not let the dropper touch your eye, and follow the leaflet's advice if you wear contact lenses
Why choose Ways Pharmacy
- Over-the-counter and prescription-only options with prices shown before you start
- Assessment by a GPhC-registered pharmacist (premises 9012227), online or in a private consulting room
- Consultation and explanation in Chinese (中文) or English
- In Holborn, about two minutes' walk from the British Museum and close to Holborn and Russell Square stations
- Advice on which option fits your symptoms, including when an over-the-counter product is enough
Related services: sinusitis treatment, asthma reliever inhaler, conjunctivitis treatment and the full Pharmacy Clinic list.
Frequently asked questions
How much does hay fever treatment cost?
Prescription-only treatments start at £19.99 for Dymista nasal spray. Nasonex and Rhinolast cost £24.99 each, and Opatanol eye drops £14.99. There is no separate consultation fee. The online assessment is free and you pay only once the pharmacist confirms treatment is suitable; if you have already paid and treatment is not suitable, including if you only need advice, you get a full refund. Over-the-counter antihistamines and sprays are priced separately on their product pages.
Do I need a consultation to buy hay fever medicine?
Not always. Antihistamine tablets such as cetirizine, loratadine and fexofenadine 120mg, and some steroid nasal sprays and eye drops, can be bought without a consultation. A consultation is needed for prescription-only treatments such as Dymista, Nasonex, Rhinolast and Opatanol.
Which is better for me, a tablet or a nasal spray?
Antihistamine tablets help sneezing, itching and a runny nose. Steroid sprays are usually better for a blocked nose and persistent symptoms. Combination sprays such as Dymista contain both an antihistamine and a steroid. The pharmacist will suggest an option based on your main symptoms.
When should I start treatment?
If you know when your hay fever usually starts, begin a steroid nasal spray a week or two beforehand and use it every day through the season. Antihistamines work within hours and can be taken when symptoms start.
Can I use hay fever treatment if I have asthma?
Often yes, and treating hay fever can help asthma symptoms. Tell the pharmacist about your asthma. If it is poorly controlled, you should see your GP or asthma nurse.
Can I use these treatments while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Tell the pharmacist. Some treatments may still be suitable and others should be avoided. The pharmacist will advise or suggest you speak to your midwife or GP.
What are the common side effects?
Nasal sprays can cause nasal irritation, nosebleeds, headache or a bitter taste (azelastine and Dymista). Opatanol can cause eye irritation and briefly blurred vision. Fexofenadine can occasionally cause headache, dizziness or drowsiness.
Is this an NHS service?
No. Ways Pharmacy Holborn is a private pharmacy and does not provide NHS services.
Suspected side effects can be reported through the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme.
This page gives factual information about pharmacy services and medicines. Any medicine is supplied only after a pharmacist has assessed that it is suitable for you.
Ways Pharmacy
77 Southampton Row, Holborn, London WC1B 4ET
Telephone: 020 8106 7084
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9:00am–6:00pm, closed Saturday and Sunday
Around 2 minutes' walk from the British Museum, near Holborn station
GPhC-registered pharmacy premises: 9012227 · About Ways Pharmacy
