Hayfever sufferers have hailed a new antihistamine which has been made available over-the-counter for the first time.
Previously, fexofenadine hydrochloride was only available to sufferers through prescription from a healthcare professional.
The medication is used for relief of symptoms from hayfever in adults and children over the age of 12.
However, the ‘wonder drug’, which is sold under brand names Allevia and Treathay, has now been made available over-the-counter.
In a Public Assessment Report published in 2020, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) concluded the medication was “sufficiently safe to be sold on general sale”.
It added that fexofenadine “has been available as a [prescription-only medicine] for over 20 years and therefore its activity and safety profile are well established, and no further investigation of the side effects is required”.
Now sold for as little as £4.50 for 15 120mg tablets, hayfever sufferers are scrambling to stock up on the medication which is being snapped up by shoppers.
High street pharmacies Boots and Superdrug are urging shoppers to check instore while they wait for the product to be restocked online due to high demand.
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