HAY fever tablets are running low while pollen levels soar.
Ahead of the summer sniffles, a key ingredient found in popular antihistamines is in short supply.
Chlorphenamine maleate is the active ingredient that helps relieve the itchy eyes and runny noses of millions of hay fever sufferers.
It’s also relied on by people with eczema, hives caused by food allergies and insect bites, according to the NHS.
Chlorphenamine maleate is found in hay fever remedies including Piriton, Allercalm, Allerief, Hayleve and Pollenase.
It’s also found in pharmacy-branded hay fever medication.
Boots have reported a shortage of this vital ingredient across the industry.
Piriton, relied on by swathes of people who struggle with hay fever, is out of stock online at Boots, Superdrug and Lloyds Pharmacy.
Chlorphenamine is considered an “older” type of antihistamine, according to Patient Access.
Although it works well, it can make people drowsy.
It may be useful for those whose hay fever keeps them awake at night, but is not recommended for those who drive for work, for example.
There are several newer antihistamines that do not have a sleepy effect, including loratadine, cetirizine, fexofenadine and acrivastine.
These do not appear to be affected by the shortages, while other options for the seasonal condition include eye drops and nasal sprays.
A spokesperson for Boots said it expected the problem to be resolved soon and "new deliveries are expected in the coming weeks".
It stressed there is a large range of hay fever medication in good stock, with only five per cent of its product range affected by the chlorphenamine shortage.
Superdrug said it was only experiencing issues with a couple of Piriton products, with alternatives containing chlorphenamine meleate available.
It said: "We are currently experiencing shortages of Piriton 30s and 60s however the Piriton 4mg 500s (also a Pharmacy line) and the Piriton syrup is in stock.
"Superdrug has good supplies of its own brand allergy ranges.
"Allevia is also a potential alternative for customers who currently use Piriton.
"On the back wall in our pharmacies we also have good stocks of the Almus chlorphenamine line (an alternative to Piriton)."
It is not clear what is behind the chlorphenamine supply problem.
But increasing costs for raw ingredients, manufacturing issues, quality issues and panic buying are among some of the drivers of drug shortages.
It comes amid a supply crisis for HRT - medication to ease menopause symptoms - affecting millions of women in the UK.
Demand for HRT has soared thanks to awareness campaigning, and manufacturing has not kept pace.
It comes as the pollen levels peak across England and Wales today.
The Met Office estimates pollen levels will subside over much of the week but reach a high across most of the UK this Friday.
At the moment, tree pollen is in abundance - which a quarter of people with hay fever are allergic to.
However, grass pollen starts to pick up in mid-May, reaching peak levels in June and July. The majority of people with hay fever are allergic to this type.
Sarah Kent, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “Pollen levels will be high across much of the UK on Monday and Tuesday.
“At the moment it’s predominantly tree pollen, [but] grass season is just starting.
“You may start noticing symptoms more if you're sensitive to grass pollen.”
For most hay fever sufferers, symptoms are worse around midday when pollen levels peak.
So taking a once-a-day anti-allergy tablet first thing in the morning will give better protection.
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