Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies in Ireland

2020 IMPACT

COVID-19 fears drive more traditional purchases

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that Irish consumers bought more cough, cold and allergy remedies in order to treat themselves at home, due to the lockdown which occurred in the spring and the subsequent social distancing restrictions. The pandemic has influenced consumers to purchase OTC medications as part of preventative health measures to prepare a personalised health kit or medicine cabinet, which has resulted in purchases of traditional cough, cold and allergy remedies in case they may need to treat symptoms of any illness at home.

Climate change and environmental allergens will continue to boost sales of allergy remedies

The increased incidence of heatwaves and generally warmer weather continues to have significant impact on demand for allergy remedies due to global warming which has brought about milder winters and allows for plants to produce more pollen for longer and to change in the kinds of crops being grown in Ireland causing environmental allergies to be on the increase. This has led to growth in demand for oral decongestants and antihistamines/allergy remedies.

Paediatric cough/cold remedies continues to decline

Despite the pandemic boosting sales of many categories of OTC medications, including adult cough, cold and allergy remedies, paediatric cough/cold remedies continued to see lower demand as a result of strict regulation by the Irish Health Product Regulatory Authority (HPRA) regarding the sale of cough/cold remedies to younger consumers due to advice from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US and the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK which highlighted concerns regarding the safety of cough and cold medicines for use in children, particularly those under two years of age. The use of cough and cold medicines in older children continues to be under review.

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