Beware of dodgy hay fever treatments

Millions of British people experience hay fever symptoms during the summer months. There are many different treatments, both over the counter and on prescription. The MHRA’s advice is to always talk to a healthcare professional about your symptoms, and they can help you find the best treatment.  

Beware of medicines being advertised as hay fever drugs when they are not approved for UK use. Kenalog is one such example. It is a prescription-only steroid injection that some private providers and clinics have advertised as a hay fever treatment on websites and social media.  

Kenalog is licensed as a medicine for other conditions, but not for the treatment of hay fever. The benefits of using it to treat people with hay fever have not been shown to outweigh the risks.    

In 2022, jointly with the Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP), the MHRA issued an enforcement notice banning the promotion of this drug as a hay fever treatment.   

Not only is advertising any prescription medication to the public banned in the UK but, even on prescription, Kenalog is not licensed for the treatment of hay fever. All references to Kenalog and ‘hay fever injection’ or ‘hay fever jab’ must be removed from any form of advertisement offering a service or consultation to the public for hay fever relief.  

As recently as April and May this year, three private clinics amended their advertising after the MHRA acted against them for promoting Kenalog to the public for the treatment of hay fever.