Sinusitis Treatment in Holborn, London — from £19.99
Ways Pharmacy offers a private pharmacist-led service for sinusitis (sinus infection) that has lasted more than 10 days or got worse after starting to improve. 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 any treatment posted, or come into the pharmacy. Most sinusitis is caused by a virus and gets better without antibiotics, so the pharmacist first works out what is most likely to help you. A steroid nasal spray or an antibiotic is supplied only if it is suitable. Consultations are available in English or Chinese (中文).
Sinusitis treatment at a glance
| Treatment options | Self-care advice; a steroid nasal spray (Mometasone); or, only if a bacterial infection is likely, a 5-day course of an antibiotic |
|---|---|
| Price | From £19.99. The full price list is below |
| Who it is for | People aged 12 and over whose sinus symptoms have lasted more than 10 days without improving, or got worse again after getting better |
| How it works | Online assessment with a phone or video call from the pharmacist, or in person at the pharmacy |
| Pharmacist assessment | Required every time. Antibiotics are supplied only when the pharmacist judges they are needed. If treatment is not suitable, the pharmacist 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.
Do I need antibiotics for sinusitis?
Usually not. Sinusitis most often follows a cold, and most cases clear up on their own within 2 to 3 weeks. Antibiotics do not help viral infections, can cause side effects such as diarrhoea and thrush, and using them when they are not needed makes bacteria more resistant. This is why the pharmacist follows these principles:
- Less than 10 days of symptoms: self-care is usually all that is needed. The pharmacist will not supply a nasal spray or antibiotic through this service
- More than 10 days without improvement: a steroid nasal spray is usually the first medicine to try, to reduce swelling inside the nose and sinuses
- Bacterial infection likely — for example severe symptoms, or symptoms that got better then clearly worse again: the pharmacist may supply a 5-day course of an antibiotic
Treatment options and prices
These are the medicines a pharmacist may suggest after your assessment. Which one, if any, depends on how long you have been unwell, how severe your symptoms are, any allergies, pregnancy, your health and your other medicines.
| Option | What it is | Price | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steroid nasal spray | Mometasone Furoate（糠酸莫米松）50 micrograms nasal spray, 2 sprays in each nostril once a day for 14 days | £24.99 | Nasonex nasal spray |
| Penicillin V (first-choice antibiotic) | Phenoxymethylpenicillin（青霉素 V）500mg four times a day for 5 days | £19.99 | Penicillin V tablets |
| Doxycycline (if allergic to penicillin) | Doxycycline（多西环素）200mg on day 1, then 100mg once a day for 4 more days. Not used in pregnancy | £19.99 | Doxycycline capsules |
| Clarithromycin (if penicillin and doxycycline are unsuitable) | Clarithromycin（克拉霉素）500mg twice a day for 5 days | £19.99 | Clarithromycin tablets |
| Erythromycin (in pregnancy with a penicillin allergy) | Erythromycin（红霉素）500mg four times a day for 5 days | £19.99 | Erythromycin tablets |
If the medicine you choose is not suitable, the pharmacist may suggest another option; you only pay once a suitable treatment is confirmed. One course is supplied for the current episode. If you are not getting better after treatment, you need a new assessment rather than a repeat supply.
For self-care, the pharmacy also stocks saline nasal rinses such as the NeilMed Sinus Rinse kit, along with paracetamol and ibuprofen.
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
- A blocked nose or nasal discharge (from the front or down the back of the throat), and at least one of: facial pain or pressure, headache, or a reduced sense of smell
- Symptoms that have lasted more than 10 days without improving, or got worse after an initial milder phase
Tell the pharmacist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have diabetes, kidney or liver problems, heart disease or a heart rhythm problem (QT prolongation), have had C. difficile infection, or have taken antibiotics recently. Some antibiotics interact with other medicines — for example clarithromycin must not be taken with simvastatin, colchicine, ticagrelor and several other medicines, and doxycycline should be taken apart from antacids, iron and zinc. The pharmacist will check all your medicines.
When you should see a GP or get urgent help instead
Call 999 or go to A&E if you have:
- swelling or redness around the eye, or eyelids that are swollen shut
- changes to your vision, double vision or reduced vision
- a severe headache, a stiff neck, sensitivity to light, confusion or drowsiness
- weakness, numbness or other new problems with movement or speech
- difficulty breathing or swallowing, or you feel very unwell, for example with signs of sepsis
Get same-day medical advice from your GP or NHS 111 if you have severe facial swelling or your symptoms are getting worse quickly despite treatment.
See your GP if:
- you have sinusitis 4 or more times a year, or symptoms have lasted more than 12 weeks
- only one side of your nose is blocked, or you have bloody discharge or nosebleeds
- you have nasal polyps, a nose injury, or recent nose surgery
- you have a weakened immune system
- an antibiotic has already been tried for this episode and has not worked
- your symptoms seem to be caused by an allergy — our hay fever service may be more suitable
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.
Self-care that helps sinusitis
- Rest and drink plenty of fluids
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain or a high temperature, if they are suitable for you
- Use a saline nasal spray or rinse to clear mucus
- Hold a warm compress over your nose, cheeks and forehead to ease facial pain
- Avoid smoking and smoky places
If you are supplied a nasal spray, use it every day as directed — it may take a few days to work. If you are supplied an antibiotic, finish the course, do not share it, and read the patient information leaflet. Doxycycline can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so use sun protection.
Why choose Ways Pharmacy
- Treatment options and prices shown before you start
- Assessment by a GPhC-registered pharmacist (premises 9012227), following responsible antibiotic use guidance
- 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
- Honest advice when self-care is all you need
Related services: sore throat treatment, hay fever treatment, ear infection treatment and the full Pharmacy Clinic list.
Frequently asked questions
How much does sinusitis treatment cost?
A 5-day antibiotic course costs £19.99, and a Mometasone steroid nasal spray costs £24.99. 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.
Will I definitely get antibiotics?
No. Most sinusitis is viral and does not need antibiotics. The pharmacist supplies an antibiotic only when a bacterial infection is likely. Many people are better served by a steroid nasal spray and self-care.
How do I know if my sinusitis is bacterial?
No single symptom tells for certain. A bacterial infection is more likely if symptoms are severe, last more than 10 days without improving, or get better and then clearly worse again. The pharmacist asks about these details during the assessment.
How long does sinusitis last?
Most cases clear up within 2 to 3 weeks. Even with treatment it can take several days, sometimes longer, to feel fully better.
I am allergic to penicillin. What are my options?
Tell the pharmacist. Doxycycline is usually the alternative if you are not pregnant. Clarithromycin or erythromycin may be used in some situations. The pharmacist checks your other medicines before choosing.
Can I use a decongestant spray as well?
Decongestant sprays can relieve a blocked nose for a short time but should not be used for more than about a week, as longer use can make congestion worse. Ask the pharmacist whether one is suitable with your other treatment.
What are the common side effects?
The nasal spray can cause nosebleeds, nasal irritation, headache or a sore throat. Antibiotics commonly cause feeling sick, diarrhoea or tummy pain. Stop the medicine and get urgent help if you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face or throat or difficulty breathing, or severe diarrhoea.
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
