Blindness Warning: Popular Hay Fever Remedy Sparks Urgent Health Alert in UK

• READ MORE: Pharmacist Raises Alarm About Widely Used Over-The-Counter Medication

Today, hay fever sufferers have been cautioned against obtaining unauthorized injections from private clinics due to alarming health hazards that might result in blindness for patients.

The potent medication Kenalog, which requires a prescription, reduces the activity of the immune system. This helps alleviate the allergic response experienced by those with hay fever. The impact of this treatment can persist for several months.

However, the administration was gradually discontinued. NHS roughly ten years ago, following safety authorities' conclusions that its hazards were not justified by its advantages.

Nevertheless, leaders from the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), representing over 6,000 UK pharmacies, have cautioned that pharmacists have observed a significant increase in customers asking for guidance on obtaining this medication.

The injections can come with concerning side effects including abdominal pain, vision loss,shortness of breath, and bone pain.

This may similarly render individuals susceptible to various infections such as chickenpox and shingles, and could lead to issues like arrhythmias, depression, and hypertension.

However, more concerning are the dangers associated with consuming a drug that does not match its description.

While people can legally get Kenalog privately, NPA officials are concerned that unregulated sellers like salons and beauty clinics could also be selling fake Kenalog.

Under UK advertising regulations, clinics are prohibited from endorsing any prescription-only medicines.

Nevertheless, MailOnline discovered that salons and beauty clinics throughout the UK were promoting Kenalog steroid injections as a treatment for hay fever on Instagram, priced between £50 and £75.

The NPA survey, conducted earlier this month, collected feedback from over 350 pharmacies.

Approximately 45 percent reported receiving inquiries from patients about obtaining Kenalog for hay fever treatment, whereas nearly all of them (96 percent) observed a substantial increase in individuals seeking assistance with this condition since April.

Olivier Picard, chairman of NPA, informed MailOnline: "The Kenalog product does not have authorization from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK for treating hay fever symptoms."

This implies that if a patient is using Kenalog, there is a chance it might be obtained from an unregulated source like a beauty salon or a foreign seller rather than a licensed pharmacy.

The medication comes with several side effects such as joint pain and an elevated chance of infections. In some less common but severe instances, it may lead to mental health problems.

We urge patients battling hay fever symptoms to steer clear of Kenalog and opt for assistance from a regulated local pharmacy, which can effectively and safely manage their symptoms.

He stated: "Medications sourced from unchecked vendors might be counterfeit, replaced with a different drug, and may fail to adhere to the strict safety protocols we enforce in the UK."

If individuals have doubts regarding medicines purchased online, they ought to consult their pharmacist.

Studies have indicated that Kenalog injections may lead to vision impairment due to increased pressure within the eye, which can harm the optic nerve—similarly affecting individuals as with other steroid treatments.

Blindness may result from an inadvertent shot into a bloodstream, with the chance of this occurring increasing when untrained individuals perform injections.

Kenalog is the trade name for triamcinolone acetonide, which is administered as an injectable steroid.

It is authorised as a medication for several ailments including joint pain linked to rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthrosis, although it is not approved for treating hay fever.

Last summer, officials from the UK’s health sector served a combined compliance order regarding the promotion of Kenalog injections on social media, which received approval from healthcare organizations and charities such as Allergy UK.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), along with the Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP), has cautioned that any advertisements containing content endorsing the vaccines will be prohibited.

Even using a syringe emoji would break the law.

At the time, Shahriar Coupal, who was the head of CAP, stated: "The enforcement notice we issued alongside the MHRA leaves no doubt that Kenalog, being a prescription-only medicine, must not be promoted either directly or indirectly to the general public."

He stated: "Our regulations span all forms of media, however, we are notably worried about the frequency of Kenalog injection advertisements on social media."

However, MailOnline has discovered that many clinics – mostly those specializing in cosmetic procedures – are still advertising Kenalog at prices as low as £50.

An aesthetic clinic located just outside of Doncaster offered £60 treatments on Instagram.

'It stated that one injection could inhibit the body's immune reaction to histamine for as long as three months.'

WHAT IS KENALOG AND WHY DID THE NHS REMOVE IT?

What is Kenalog?

Kenalog is an injectable corticosteroid employed for treating hay fever.

The injection, typically given into the buttocks, includes triamcinolone, which is a corticosteroid hormone.

Instead of curing hay fever, it acts as an imprecise instrument that functions by dampening the body’s immune reaction, thereby easing the symptoms.

For those suffering from hay fever, one shot might suffice to provide relief throughout the year; however, some individuals could require a second dose as an booster approximately two weeks following their initial treatment.

In addition to hay fever, this medication is prescribed for conditions such as arthritis, gout, and various skin ailments.

Why did the NHS cease providing Kenalog injections?

The injections were commonly administered to serious hay fever sufferers up until about ten years ago.

However, the guidelines indicated that the side-effect risks were too significant when weighed against the benefits of the vaccine.

It was discovered to make individuals susceptible to other illnesses such as chickenpox, shingles, or influenza, along with causing severe side effects including irregular heart rhythms, depression, and hypertension.

Another person in Kent provided the medication for £70.

'Hay fever shots can improve your skin and boost your self-assurance, enabling you to embrace the seasons free from allergy distress,' they noted.

The NPA has similarly called upon regulators to reinstate provisions requiring that a roster of public-facing licensed UK pharmacy websites must be accessible to everyone.

Former EU regulations mandated this occurrence, but they were abolished once the UK exited the union.

Healthcare providers have long advised For the millions of Brits afflicted with severe hay fever, along with those dealing with asthma and other respiratory problems, it’s important to take preventative measures such as consistently using prescribed medications, keeping an inhaler handy at all times, and contacting NHS 111 should their condition deteriorate.

Individuals are encouraged to head to their nearby pharmacy for prompt and secure remedies to alleviate their symptoms.

The NHS advises individuals to apply Vaseline inside their nostrils to catch pollen, wear wrap-around sunglasses to prevent pollen from entering their eyes, and take a shower and change clothing upon returning indoors to remove pollen.

In contrast to a cold that typically subsides within a week, hay fever may persist for several weeks or even months.

The onset of symptoms occurs when immune cells incorrectly recognize pollen proteins as harmful and produce antibodies that release chemicals known as histamines.

This causes the blood vessels to expand, leading to the leakage of fluid from capillaries, which results in a runny nose, sneezing, and watery eyes.

Although not immediately dangerous, many of the tens of thousands who suffer from hay fever also have asthma, which can worsen during periods of high pollen concentration. These asthma exacerbations have the potential to be lethal.

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