Pharmacists are warning the public against buying unlicensed hay fever medication online, including the jab Kenalog, because of safety fears.
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) said people should not buy Kenalog, which can be advertised on social media sites or by salons and beauty clinics.
The organisation, which represents more than 6,000 independent community pharmacies, said health staff have been receiving more and more enquiries about Kenalog.
It is concerned that medication from unregulated sellers could be fake and poses a risk to patient safety.
The drug also has known side-effects, such as increased blood pressure, dizziness, severe abdominal pain, depression and mood swings.
Kenalog is a prescription-only medicine that is not licensed for the treatment of hay fever in the UK.
It contains triamcinolone acetonide, which is a steroid injection licensed for a number of conditions such as arthritis, but not for hay fever.
In 2022, the regulator the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) issued a joint enforcement notice about the advertising of Kenalog injections.
They told all organisations offering Kenalog as a hay fever treatment to stop advertising it on any of their social media or website advertising.
Source: ITVX, 10 May 2025
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