Does the NHS (UK) prescribe antihistamine nasal sprays?

[Chancery]

Hi, I recently had cause to try and get an antihistamine nasal spray from one of the docs at my practice. I was given short shrift and told that they never prescribe AH nasal sprays and it would only be antihistamine tablets. I was then told to buy my own tablets and that they were only 70p! While they are 79p in Home Bargains (they are a lot dearer in most supermarkets), I have to take a long trek across the city to get to one of their stores, plus I resent having to pay for these myself, especially as it only a 14 tablet box. I wanted to know if there is any reason why I am not entitled to my medications on prescription like everyone else, and also if anyone has experienced being refused AH nasal sprays. It's very hard to argue with a doc when she says flatly that the NHS doesn't prescribe them as I can't know if that is true or not.

I was sort of diagnosed with MCAS in August but my docs don't know it yet as I am STILL waiting for them to be sent the rheumatologist's report. I don't want to be asserting that I have the condition only to find that the rheumatologist has forgotten to include it (he was very vague and told me there was no treatment other than antihistamines with a tone that suggested there was no point in discussing it as he couldn't do anything for me anyway). If anyone can throw any light on my rights to be prescribed AH's and whether they've ever had it in nasal spray from I'd be very grateful. Thanks!

[Topnumpty]

Hi Chancery

This is the NICE guideline:

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/alle...

Though I guess it would depend on the diagnosis as to whether or not your GP would think a prescription would be appropriate.

I was referred to ENT, who prescribed a daily steroid nasal spray, to use daily, which has helped for several years now.

[Chancery in reply to Topnumpty]

Duh... I think I should be called Bottomnumpty - I don't why I didn't think to check the NICE guidelines! Put it down to antihistamine-inspired tiredness. I had just been given a steroid nasal spray but unfortunately had an adverse reaction to it and developed 'steroid rosacea' within 10 days of using it. That's why I was trying to get an AH spray instead, but she wasn't having that. Her attitude was that I was wasting her time when I could just buy a common treatment in a shop for my trivial problem. Apparently now having fairly severe drug reactions is trivial! Thanks for the link, I'll go do my reading and be better armed next time.