Finally a pill for hay fever?

A recent study from England shows that a pill may substitute for allergy shots in people who want to stop allergies.

The drug called Grazax is prescription medication in Europe and is approved for the treatment of allergies to grass pollen

Grazax is an alternative to allergy shots. Allergy shots or immunotherapy are often given to people whose medications do not control symptoms. The aim of allergy shots is to desensitize the immune system to the allergen. The allergen shots are given in a series for a few months. The shots do not cure the allergy but lessen the symptoms. Most people do not like the allergy shots because of the expense, inconvenience and discomfort. In the USA, many physicians make a living out of giving patients unnecessary allergy shots. Overall less than 10% of individuals benefit from these shots.

Grazax contains a tiny amount of grass pollen extract and is placed underneath the tongue. The drug is taken daily for several months and needs to be continued for several years.

In the British study, researchers noticed that individuals who took Grazax had fewer hay fever symptoms and needed to use less anti histamines or other allergy medications. The only side effects were itching, throat irritation and swelling around the mouth in 15 percent of patients.

So is Grazax the panacea for individuals who have hay fever?

Absolutely NOT. Read below

Final point: the researchers in the above had received funding from the maker of the pill and this makes all the results useless. Lately it has become clear that the majority of scientists who perform research studies and are paid by the pharmaceutical companies manufacturing the pill and as always the results are always positive. Pharmaceutical companies have in recent years been found guilty of paying scientists who never report any negative results and make it sound that the drug is excellent. In fact more data indicate that most drug company sponsored research is bogus.

So for the time being, if you have allergy, stick to the anti histamines and bear with the symptoms.