How to deal with hay fever in Germany

This guide explains how to fight hay fever in Germany.

What is hay fever?

Hay fever (Heufieber or Heuschnupfen) is an allergy to pollen. These are the symptoms:¹

Runny or stuffy nose
Itchy nose, eyes and ears
Sneezing

In Germany, hay fever season (Heuschnupfenzeit) starts around March, and ends around September.² It can be worse on certain months. It depends on the type of pollen you are allergic to.

You can get hay fever in Germany, even if you did not have it before. When I moved to Berlin, my hay fever became really bad.

Where to buy allergy pills

There are different types of pills against hay fever. You can buy them without a prescription. If you go to a pharmacy (Apotheke), they will help you choose. Just ask for Heuschnupfentabletten.

Loratadin
Pill. Around 10€ for 100 pills.³ No prescription needed. This is what I use. It’s called Claritin in many countries.⁴ It has minor side effects.
Cetirizine
Pill. Around 8€ for 100 pills.⁵ No prescription needed. It’s called Zyrtec in many countries.⁶ It has some side effects.
Levocetirizine
Pill. Around 8€ for 20 pills.⁷ No prescription needed. It’s called Xyzal in many countries.⁸ It has minor side effects.
Mometasone
Nose spray. Around 12€ per bottle.⁹ No prescription needed. It has some side effects.

You can buy pollen allergy pills in these places:

At any pharmacy (Apotheke)
In online pharmacies like Shop Apotheke
On Amazon

You can’t buy allergy pills from dm or Rossmann.

Does health insurance pay for it?

No. Public health insurance does not pay for allergy pills.¹⁰ Private health insurance can pay for it if it’s prescribed by a doctor.¹¹

Can I deduct it from my taxes?

Yes. You can declare allergy pills when you file your taxes, but only if it’s prescribed by a doctor.¹² File it under außergewöhnlichen Belastungen.

Tips to deal with hay fever

Use the pollen risk index tool from the German weather service. It shows you what types of pollen are in the air. This helps you find what type of pollen you are allergic to.
Wash your hair before going to bed.¹³
Buy an air purifier and a vacuum robot to remove pollen from your apartment.¹³

Sources and footnotes