Dangerous hay fever shot banned because of its ‘serious side effects’ is being promoted by a private clinic despite a crackdown on illegal advertising

A potentially dangerous jab banned as a hay fever medicine because it can have ‘serious side effects’ is being promoted by a private clinic in Britain despite a crackdown on illegal advertising.

The Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has taken action against one practice for advertising triamcinolone.

The £75 steroid-based jab, which also goes by the brand name Kenalog, has been banned as a hay fever treatment in Britain since 2019.

There were concerns that the drug, which works by suppressing the immune system – something that reduces the impact on hay fever symptoms – could cause reduced bone strength, hair loss and changes in skin pigmentation.

Some doctors have claimed that the treatment is akin to ‘using a hammer to crack nuts’, with fears that its use could make people more susceptible to other diseases. The Telegraph reports.

The Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has taken action against Cheltenham-based clinic Ruth Jackson Aesthetics for advertising the drug as a hay fever treatment

Millions of people in Britain suffer from hay fever every year, with the condition caused by the body’s immune system reacting to pollen released by plants such as trees, grass and weeds.

It causes symptoms such as itchy eyes, swollen throat, runny nose and sneezing, and these are at their worst in spring and summer.

Many patients continue to seek relief in the form of over-the-counter medications that can ease their symptoms, such as antihistamines, nasal sprays, and eye drops.

Kenalog was banned by the NHS as a prescription hayfever treatment more than a decade ago, but despite this it is being issued by private clinics to treat the condition thanks to an exemption that allows them to prescribe medicines for illnesses they might not have. designed to use their own judgment.

The MHRA announced in 2022 that it would seek to stop clinics advertising hay fever medicines, with Kenalog specifically identified as a treatment of concern by the government agency.

The MHRA has said that a clinic has ‘changed their advertising’ this year after taking action against them for promoting Kenalog as a hay fever treatment.

The agency said it has taken action against Ruth Jackson Aesthetics, based in Cheltenham, because ‘promotion of POM (Prescription-Only Medicine) to the general public is prohibited in Great Britain’, adding that ‘Kenalog is not an approved treatment for hay fever’.

Dr. Sophie Farooque, an NHS allergy consultant in London, said What your doctor doesn’t tell you podcast about the experience of one of her patients taking the drug.

“I remember dealing with a patient who worked as a driver and was essentially on Kenalog for years because nothing else was working and probably hadn’t tried other medications properly,” she said.

‘As a result of Kenalog, his bones became thinner, he broke his wrist and lost his job. So I would say: avoid these drugs.’

She added: ‘If it gets to the point where nothing seems to be working and you’re thinking, “Gosh, I’ve got to get that injection because things are unbearable”, you should be referred to a specialist rather than reaching out for the injection .’

David Webb, the chief pharmaceutical officer for the NHS in England, told The Telegraph: ‘In line with MHRA guidelines, Kenalog is not an approved treatment for hay fever and we would advise against its use – it can have serious side effects.

‘If you suffer from hay fever, contact a pharmacist or GP. Medications such as antihistamines, nasal sprays or other specialized treatments are available and safe for use,” he added.

MailOnline has contacted Ruth Jackson Aesthetics for comment.