Stick it up your... nose (Beconase)

Member Name: pixis77

Product:	Beconase
Date:	23/07/09 (172 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Hayfever relief, fast-acting, long-lasting

Disadvantages: Slightly embarrassing to use in public

Beconase nasal spray is an essential weapon in my arsenal against hayfever - the other being Boots Non-drowsy hayfever and allergy relief tablets (review on this site). This dual-action approach helps to keep my hayfever in check, and makes the Summer time easier on my nose (Beconase) and my eyes (Hayfever tablets). This review focuses upon the healing effects of Beconase upon my pollen sensitive beak, a product I have used for many years.

I always know when it is time to purchase Beconase. This year, it was a hot day in May and I was travelling into work via bus. It was packed, and I could feel my nose itching. I started to sneeze, one after the other. I rubbed my nose vigorously, before it started to run. Unfortunately for me, I did not have any tissues. I therefore tried to sniffle quietly but became increasingly concerned at the level of noise I was making. By the time I had sniffed my way to Trafalgar Square, many of my fellow passengers had turned to identify who was making all the noise. Ofcourse, I may have just been paranoid, but this was the predicament I found myself in.

So... that morning I bought my first of this year's supply of Beconase. The packaging is pleasing on the eye: the outline of a face against a blue, slightly cloudy Summer's sky. "Freedom from hayfever", it reads. Beconase reduces "swelling and irritation" in the nose, combating irritation caused by pollen. I can attest that it does exactly that!

Beconase comes in a nozzle-tipped container and is very simple to use. You spray it into your nose twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. There are some days, however, when I find one spray is sufficient - on days where the pollen is high, I always use two squirts. Prior to squirting, you must first blow your nose. You then poke the nozzle into one nostril, squeeze down on a little lever whilst sniffing at the same time. At first, this can feel quite unpleasant, and can leave a lingering aftertaste in one's mouth (perhaps because some of the spray drips down the back of one's nose into one's throat - ick!). However, the slight unpleasantness soon wears off with more use. After squirting into one nostril, you then do the same with the other. If I am experiencing hayfever symptoms at the time of use, I find that it takes perhaps 20 or so minutes for them to ease off. The effect is also longlasting.

Of the few times I have used this in public, I have often felt quite self-conscious. This might just be me, but there is something slightly embarrassing about sticking something up your nose and sniffing it whilst in the presence of other people. However, this is a small price to pay for hayfever control!

Cost-wise, Beconase can be bought from Boots for around £3.50, and during the summer months is often offered as part of a deal. It's very much worth it, if only to be able to enjoy hot days without worrying about sporting a drizzling, sneezy, and itchy red nose.

Happy squirting!

Summary: Effective relief from the nasal symptoms of hayfever