While the recent good weather in the UK has encouraged many of us to get outside in the sunshine, it's also the time of year where those who suffer from hay fever start to really struggle.
I speak from experience when I say much of the last week has been spent sneezing, coughing and itching my eyes like Tracy Beaker in her prime.
So, it's easy to understand why some people have been searching for more treatment than just the once-a-day stuff you find on the shelves of supermarkets, or that nasal spray which everyone has seemingly been using wrong all this time.
Advert
It seems as if a lot of people have been asking pharmacists for Kenalog, a jab that was once commonly used as a treatment for hay fever.
Well, this was before the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) told all organisations offering Kenalog as a hay fever treatment to stop advertising it on any of their social media or website advertising.
While Kenalog remains very much legal when it comes to treating inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, its license for the treatment of hay fever in the UK was withdrawn several years ago due to the many side effects that it presents, including vision problems, increased blood pressure, severe abdominal pain, depression and mood swings.
Now, with pollen counts on the rise once again, the chairman of the National Pharmacy Association has issued a warning to patients not to buy the drug as a way of bringing an end to that runny nose.
Advert
NPA chairman Olivier Picard said, as per Metro: "We know that hay fever season is well and truly upon us and as these findings show, pharmacies are reporting increased numbers of patients visiting them to help treat their symptoms.
"Kenalog is not licensed in the UK for the treatment of hay fever and we are clear that patients should not seek it online or request it from their community pharmacy.
"We’re urging people to avoid using unlicensed treatments, which could pose a serious risk to their health, and instead speak with their pharmacist about other options for managing hay fever symptoms.
"Pharmacists are well placed to provide safe licensed alternatives, such as antihistamines or steroid nasal sprays."
Advert
Since the medicine is no longer legally sold as a treatment for hay fever, Picard also warned sufferers about not buying anything they see online, as it could be fake and is unlikely to meet UK safety standards.
He added: "Medication from unregulated sellers could be fake, swapped for an alternative medication and not meet rigorous safety standards we have in the UK.
"Instead, patients experiencing hay fever should visit their local pharmacy on their doorstep, who can quickly and safely provide treatments to relieve their symptoms.
"If people are unsure about medication bought online, they should check with their pharmacist."
Advert
LADbible has contacted Bristol Myers Squibb, the company that manufactures Kenalog, for comment.
James Moorhouse