Spring has sprung and hay fever season is once again upon us - but one doctor has warned against taking a specific form of antihistamines.
NHS allergy consultant and clinical lead, Dr Sophie Farooque, appeared on Morning Live on BBC this week to explain the different medications available, stating that hay fever sufferers should look out for antihistamines that cause drowsiness.
READ MORE - Drivers with hay fever or allergies at risk of landing huge £1000 fines
The doctor explained what to watch out for, offering two key tips when buying antihistamines, the Express reported.
"First, always look at the name of the drug, not necessarily the brand," she said. The brand doesn't matter so much, it's the drug that matters.
"Doctors divide antihistamines into first-generation, which are older, and second-generation, which are newer." Out of these two types, the one to "avoid" is the first-generation option also known as "older".
Dr Farooque continued: "The first-generation antihistamine is one called chlorpheniramine and I advise patients to avoid these. The reasons for that [is] they are really old, they've been around for 70, 73 years, they work less well.
"You have to take them several times a day but, also, they can be sedating." However, that isn't the only dangerous effect of the little pill. The allergy expert warned: "And even if they are not sedating, they can slow your reaction times.
"So, in some studies, they have more impact on your driving than being drunk."
MedlinePlus also warned against driving or operating machinery when following a chlorpheniramine treatment. Fortunately, there's another category of antihistamines that is "less likely" to make you sleepy.
According to the NHS, non-drowsy antihistamines include:
- Acrivastine (Benadryl)
- Cetirizine
- Fexofenadine
- Loratadine (Clarityn)
The health service stated that this option is "generally the best" as it's less likely to leave you drowsy. "Ask a pharmacist for advice if you're unsure which medicine to try as not all antihistamines are suitable for everyone," it added.
