Nation wide shortage of hay-fever treatment

As reported by the BBC News, a UK industry shortage of chlorphenamine maleate has caused pharmacists to run out of hay-fever medicine

Chlorphenamine maleate is the active ingredient in brands such as Piriton. Pharmacist chain Boots, is reporting low stocks of the treatment, though reassures customers that other hay-fever medicines are still available.

A Boots official commented: “There are a very small number of lines that are currently out of stock due to a current, industry-wide shortage of the active ingredient.

“However, we are expecting this to be resolved soon and new deliveries are expected in the coming weeks.”

Pollen counts are currently high in the UK. Hay fever (or allergic rhinitis) affects almost 10m people, approximately one in four adults.

Combating hay-fever

Staying indoors may be the best option to prevent outbreaks.

Another popular hay-fever medication is chlorphenamine, which is known to cause drowsiness. There are also a wide variety of nasal sprays and eye drops which can relieve symptoms.

The NHS also recommends:

• Vaseline around the nostrils, to trap pollen
• Sunglasses, to prevent pollen from reaching the eyes
• Showering and changing clothes after going outside

At the end of April, the government appointed a hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) tsar to tackle drug shortages, which had become an issue in the UK. Approximately a million women had struggled to source the medicine to treat menopause symptoms.