[PeKaJoSa]

Hi Folks!

As a long time Hayfever sufferer, I thought I'd start a thread on the subject of Hayfever remedies. After searching through this site, it looks like these are *extremely* expensive to buy in NZ. I've seen it mentioned that even using a local NZ online pharmacy you still have to pay $40 NZD for 30 Claratyne tablets (and even $16 for the 'generic' Loratadine version). :wah

Over here in the UK I have previously bought Loratadine 'in bulk' from this website: www.chemistdirect.co.uk due to the ridiculously low prices. Please Note: I'm not affiliated with these guys in any way at all - I'm just a happy customer (with a dry nose..!!) :)

Although they are UK based, I had wondered if I would be able to continue buying from them if I finally get to move to NZ. After a bit of digging around, I found out that they will ship up to 2kg of purchases across to New Zealand for £14.99. I know that sounds like a lot to pay for shipping, but I'm sure you can get a *lot* of boxes of hayfever tablets, headache pills (or whatever else) in a box and keep it under a 2Kg limit...

When you consider that they are selling packs of 30 Cetirizine tablets - the generic version of Zirtec/Zyrtec - for only 49p (yes, that's not a typo!) and 48 generic Ibuprofen for 79p, etc., then the numbers really start to make some sense! For comparison:

Looking at one major online pharmacy from NZ (www.radiuspharmacy.co.nz):
6 packs of 30 Zyrtec tablets = $270 NZD (with free delivery) :uhoh

Compare that to chemistdirect.co.uk:
6 packs of 30 Cetirizine tablets: £3, plus £15 delivery.... :D

My main concern is that I don't know whether NZ has any strange import rules which would forbid the importing of medicines for personal use. Perhaps someone knowledgable could advise on this?

I'm only posting this in the hope that sharing the info with fellow hayfever sufferers may help them get some relief for a lot less than they are paying right now.

Cheers!
Pete

[Tanya]

Hubby gets his hayfever tablets on prescription. $33 for dr appt and $4.00 (yes $4.00!)for 180 tablets. Every 2nd prescription he can phone it in and not see Dr so only pays $15.00 for the script and again $4 for the tablets.

He tends to ask for more while hes been in to see dr for some other reason so if you are already going to dr then the doctors fees dont seem bad.!

Tanya

[NikT]

I used to suffer with hayfever in the UK.:exit

Since being in NZ I've been OK.:)

You might find some info here; http://www.customs.govt.nz/default.htm

Nick.:cheers

[Questor]

Sadly, the prices are so high here because of the size of market. It isn't economical for drug companies to import lots of stock, because they don't sell as much, so they import only small amounts so it costs relatively more.

Unless on a prescription issued by a doctor, importing any medicine into this country is strictly speaking illegal, as it won't be labelled to NZ regulations, and would be likely to be seized. Trying to "hide" it wouldn't be such a good idea either, as if they found it, then you'd be in even more trouble!

HTH
Jon

[StevieD]

I used to use a herbal remedy, luffa made by A. Vogel (they do have A. Vogel over here but not the full range :wah).

Last year (our first summer in NZ) I was really bad, never been that bad in the UK. I even suffered asthma type symptoms of a morning and couldn't sleep of an evening too. Someone once told me that it was tree pollen with me, don't know how true, but we go and move to the town of tree :o.

None of the medicines help here so went the doctors in the end (never seen the dr with hayfever in the UK in the twenty something years I have had it) he gave me the injection and within hours it worked and lasted the full summer.

So far (touching wood) the luffa I brought back from the UK is keeping it at bay at the moment.

Just my finding.

Jani D

[NZ Hopeful]

I bought one of these (http://www.lloydspharmacy.com/wps/portal/products/medicalelectrical/healthandwellbeing/allergy) this year for my 6yr old son and it has worked really well for him, he has not needed any anti histamines at all and I would highly recommend it.

He has always suffered quite badly with hay fever which in turn tends to trigger his asthma but this year he's be great :clap

Maybe not of use to those already in NZ but maybe there is an equivalent there?

[marybelle]

I too suffer from hayfever which is at its worst when the tree pollen is highest. I must know Jan what was the injection of, have you got a name for the drug because at times I have felt it could be easier to amputate my head rather than put up with the hayfever!!

I keep getting told by well meaning people that eating local honey is a good way to relieve hayfever symptoms. You have to have 1tsp everyday all year round to feel the benefits. I don't know if its true because I can't stand the stuff but it may be worth a try for those that like it.

Marybelle

[Nick88]

The honey idea might be plausible if the allergy is for Manuka pollen, but if you are allergic to pines like me then it is useless.

I use Loratadine, which I get on prescription when I renew a regular med. $3 for three months supply can't be bad.

[Familyofmonkeys]

which I get on prescription when I renew a regular med. $3 for three months supply can't be bad.

Can't remember the name of the stuff I get but it costs me $3 for a large supply and $15 + $3 for repeat.

[PeKaJoSa]

Good to know about the really low price of Loratadine on prescription in NZ...!

It's the complete opposite situation in the UK, where my doctor advised me to buy it online, as it would be much cheaper than he could prescribe it - and he was dead right!

Cheers,
Pete.

[Pooks]

Might be worth checking what you are getting as well. First time I visited NZ I suffered from hayfever (seems to have practically gone since my last visit though!). I bought some Zirtek in NZ and was surprised to see that while the UK package said to take 1 a day, the NZ one said to take 2 a day. Exact same amount of mg.

For some reason you can take double the dose in NZ. :)

[Flutterby]

in the UK its far cheaper to buy it off the shelf than it is to get it on prescription, i'm a little concerned about what my hayfever will be like, when i visited in the summer 5 years ago it was bad and i ended up buying (really expensive) from a pharmacy, this year our visit was nicely timed with the peak of the UK summer, so not only did i not need it in NZ but when i got home the worst was over and i barely noticed it.
I struggle with the anti histamines as they make me drowsy, so any alternatives, i'm all all ears.... er ....eyes :)

[James 1077]

Last year (our first summer in NZ)

None of the medicines help here so went the doctors in the end (never seen the dr with hayfever in the UK in the twenty something years I have had it) he gave me the injection and within hours it worked and lasted the full summer.


What injection is this? My OH gets hayfever quite badly and ends up knocking herself out with piriton a couple of nights a week. If there is an injection then I'm sure that she would overcome her fear of needles for it!

[Spooky]

Sorry for asking a daft question, but what exactly is hayfever? The times when I've gone to Oz/ US/ England have always been during the cold, wet season in spring or autumn. And I sneeze non-stop, wheeze, get a bad throat and all teary. Is that hayfever?

[Tia Maria]

So, is it actually illegal to ship over medicines for personal use from chemist direct?

I don't suffer as much in comparison to everyone else on here but manifests itself as continual low level earache and and the Dr suggested Clarityn in the UK but I hadn't bothered here as it was so expensive.

OH uses Flixonase, what are the price comparisons like for that?

I'm sure I could think of a few items to justify the shipping costs.

I know a lot of people who are allergic to the pollen from the Pohutukawa tree ....

Cheers

Tia

[Leo]

" ...what exactly is hayfever? "

Hi Spooky!

I got this excerpt from Wikipedia, hope it helps... :nice1

Allergic rhinitis, known as hay fever, is caused by pollens of specific seasonal plants, airborne chemicals and dust particles in people who are allergic to these substances. Around 20% of Australians suffer from this. It is characterised by sneezing, runny nose and itching eyes. This seasonal allergic rhinitis is commonly known as 'hay fever', because it is most prevalent during haying season. It is particularly prevalent from late May to the end of June (in the Northern Hemisphere). However, it is possible to suffer from hay fever throughout the year.

More details may be found via this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hay_fever

The symptoms you've described do seem akin to hayfever... though I'm not a doctor.

No worries! We have lots of remedies available from this thread! :)

[PeKaJoSa]

Tia -

I took a look at the NZ Customs link which Nick (NikT) provided, and after a bit of searching the only topic I could find which had any real relevance was this one:
http://www.customs.govt.nz/travellers/Arriving+in+New+Zealand/Import+Restrictions/Medicines.htm

If it's just a hayfever remedy (like Clarityn) then it sounds like the NZ prescriptions are very cheap indeed. However the Chemist Direct website does all sorts of other stuff (like skin creams, etc.) so it would be very interesting to know for sure what you can and cannot import. (I'd guess that GST would still be payable, regardless).

Has anyone here ever tried e-mailing questions to the NZ customs people? If so, are they 'responsive'?

Cheers,
Pete.

[Questor]

Under the Medicines Act, unless it's in accordance with a prescription, strictly speaking importing any medicine is illegal. You could possibly argue "personal use" for certain things, but it would depend on what classification the medicine has in this country
Jon

[StevieD]

In response to Marybelle and James 1077

The box says

KENACORT-A40 AMPS 40MG/ML

there was 2 capsules in the pack, as said one lasted the full summer (the other one of mine has a long expire date on it too). The cost of $15.00 so not bad on price.

The injection was give in my 'bum' well just up from it IYKWIM

I don't seem as bad this year, well not yet. But then I am taking herbal supplements to stop me getting cold after cold so they may be helping.

But if I do start as bad as last year will be taking the other along to the nurse.

Hope that helps.

Jani D

[Super_BQ]

I'm an allergy sufferer too. My first visit to NZ was actually my 1st experience with hayfever. That was over 10 years ago. For the 1st few years I tried every anti-histamine tablet brand available and sadly, none of them worked. Local honey and lemon remedies also didn't work.

During peak pollen season, my allergies would get so bad that I would try to clean my eyes and nostrils under the shower head. I was fed up.

I eventually saw an allergy specialist which was a battle on it's own. I went to a GP which basically gave me the run-a-round. She prescribed me some of the same anti-histamine tablets you can buy over the counter. Fed up still I saw a different GP (and $$ $$ each time you see the GP) which was able to give me a referral to the specialist. Apparently most specialists in NZ must have a referred which IMO is stupid. Especially private practicing specialists.

Anyways, the treatment involved allergen shots in each arm varying every week to up to 3 week intervals, for a period of 2 years. Each visit for the shots was $50. The allergy prick test showed I was allergic to a lot of things but the treatment was to target the 2 most allergic ones that affected me.

Total cost of the treatment was well over $5000. Was it a cure? No. But I will say that my quality of lifestyle has drastically improved - on most days, i'm like 90% where I can breath through my nose. I've heard for many, they've been able to go off on allergy pills after this treatment.

BQ