Hay Fever Injection
A single injection providing fast, season-long relief from severe hay fever symptoms — for sufferers who have not responded adequately to standard treatments.
Overview
Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) affects approximately 1 in 5 people in the UK, causing miserable symptoms including persistent sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, nasal congestion, and fatigue throughout the spring and summer months.
For many sufferers, standard treatments — antihistamines, nasal sprays, and eye drops — provide insufficient relief. At Gloucester Travel Clinic, we offer the hay fever injection (Kenalog®), a prescription corticosteroid injection containing triamcinolone acetonide, which can provide significant relief from severe hay fever symptoms for the duration of the pollen season.
The injection is a prescription-only medicine (POM) and is administered following a consultation with our pharmacist to confirm it is appropriate and safe for you. It is not available on the NHS for hay fever and is provided as a private service from our Gloucester pharmacies.
How It Works
The hay fever injection contains triamcinolone acetonide, a long-acting corticosteroid. When injected intramuscularly (into the buttock), it slowly releases into the bloodstream over several weeks, reducing the inflammatory allergic response triggered by pollen.
- Effects typically begin within 2–5 days of injection
- Relief usually lasts 6–8 weeks — often covering the main grass pollen season
- Most patients require one injection per season
- A second injection is not routinely recommended due to cumulative steroid exposure
Who Is It Suitable For?
The hay fever injection is suitable for adults with moderate to severe hay fever who:
- Have not achieved adequate symptom control with antihistamines alone or combined with a nasal corticosteroid spray
- Have significant impact on their quality of life — including sleep disruption, inability to work or concentrate, or impact on daily activities
- Have no contraindications to corticosteroid therapy (see below)
Our pharmacist will conduct a full clinical assessment before prescribing to confirm the injection is appropriate for you.
Pricing & Service Details
| Treatment | Kenalog® (triamcinolone acetonide 40 mg/mL injection) |
| Route | Deep intramuscular injection (gluteal muscle) |
| Price | £75 (includes consultation and injection) |
| Duration of effect | 6–8 weeks (individual variation) |
| When to book | Ideally 1–2 weeks before the start of your pollen season |
Contraindications & Who Should NOT Have the Injection
The hay fever injection is a systemic corticosteroid and is NOT suitable for everyone. It should not be given to people with:
- Diabetes mellitus — steroids raise blood glucose and can cause dangerous glycaemic instability
- Osteoporosis — corticosteroids reduce bone density
- Active or untreated infections or recent live vaccination
- Glaucoma or raised intraocular pressure
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Children and adolescents under 18
- Those who have had other corticosteroid injections in the past 3 months
Our pharmacist will review your full medical and medication history during your consultation to confirm suitability.
Side Effects
As a systemic corticosteroid, Kenalog can cause side effects, particularly with repeated use:
- Temporary skin pallor or dimpling at the injection site
- Mild flushing of the face for a few days
- Temporary elevation of blood glucose (important for diabetics)
- Transient disruption to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis
- Menstrual irregularities in some women
Serious side effects are uncommon with a single seasonal dose in otherwise healthy adults. The injection should not be repeated more than once per year.