HAY FEVER TABLETS AT A QUARTER OF THE PRICE

MOST EXPENSIVE: Benadryl Allergy One-a-Day 10mg

£9.99 for 30 tablets at Boots CHEAPEST: Loratadine Allergy & Hayfever Non-Drowsy 10mg,

£2.49 for 30 tablets at Superdrug

SAVINGS PER YEAR: £22.50

THERE are nine different types of antihistamine medication that all work in a similar way – branded, or unbranded, and yet products vary in price by almost a tenner. We’ll use about three packs a year and all of them block a substance called histamine. This is released by the immune system in response to something it sees as harmful – mistakenly, in the case of hay fever, pollen. It is also responsible for the bothersome symptoms. Different brands contain different antihistamines – Piriton, for instance, contains chlorphenamine while Benadryl is acrivastine or cetirizine, depending on the product.

There is little difference in effectiveness between antihistamines, and supermarket own-brand versions work just as well – for a quarter of the price.

Although some are less likely to make you sleepy than others, you don’t have to go for one labelled non-drowsy – just look for own-brand antihistamines called acrivastine, cetirizine, fexofenadine or loratadine.