Promethazine (also known by the brand name Phenergan) is a drowsy antihistamine that can relieve allergy symptoms, in addition to motion sickness and short-term insomnia. …read moreSee less
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Can I get hay fever tablets over the counter?
Different hayfever tablets contain different active ingredients. Remedies containing Chlorphenamine (Piriton), Promethazine (Phenergan) or Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can be sold over the counter when their sale is reviewed by a pharmacist which is why we ask customers a few questions before they are able to purchase them. Over the counter hayfever tablets are not inherently "stronger" than those available on general sale. Tablets containing low doses of Cetirizine and Loratadine can be bought without pharmaceutical review and you may find that these are more effective for your particular symptoms. Read more about choosing the right hayfever treatment.
Can I take two kinds of hay fever medication at once?
Some hay fever sufferers may even find that when they do find a hay fever medication that works, it doesn’t completely get rid of all of their annoying hay fever symptoms.
If you’ve ever found yourself in this situation, you may start to wonder if one kind of hay fever medication is enough, and whether it would be safe to take more than one at the same time.
Do I have hay fever or a cold?
It’s the middle of summer and you’re sniffing and sneezing and, frankly, feeling a bit gross.
But what’s going on here? Have you picked up an uncomfortable Summer cold, or are you suffering from hay fever?
There are a couple of ways to figure out what’s giving you the sneezes and the coughs, so let’s take a look at each condition and how you can tell them apart.
What hay fever tablets can I take during pregnancy?
If you’re pregnant, it’s important to speak to your GP before taking any new medication to ensure that it’s safe for you and your baby.
Antihistamines like cetirizine and loratadine may be safe to take during pregnancy, but some others have been known to cause birth defects.
If your allergy symptoms are minimal, try to avoid taking an antihistamine medicine - but if they are severe, speak to a healthcare professional first to see what treatment options they advise.
More often than not, you will be advised to try hay fever eye drops or nasal sprays before taking allergy tablets, as they are usually the safer option during pregnancy.
This is because the medicines in eye drops and nasal sprays enter the bloodstream in smaller amounts than those in oral medications like tablets or capsules.
Either way, you should only take hay fever medication of any kind during pregnancy if a medical professional has advised that you should do so.
When is the best time to take hay fever tablets?
The best time to take hay fever tablets can be different from person to person, as you'll need to take into account how your allergy affects you and the type of medication you're taking.
Some people take hay fever tablets when their symptoms begin to show, while others take one every day if they know they are going to be exposed to allergens, like during high hay fever season.
You might take one before you visit a house with an animal to prevent your symptoms from flaring, too.
There are lots of different types of antihistamines, ones that are drowsy, non-drowsy, ones that work between 4 to 6 hours, and ones that last for 12 to 24 hours.
It’s important to read the instructions on the label carefully and pick a variety that works for you, for example, it might not be a good idea to take a drowsy variety if you suffer from hay fever during the day.
Which antihistamine tablets are non-drowsy?
Most people know that there are two types of antihistamines - drowsy and non-drowsy, and there are two types simply due to the advancement in pharmaceuticals.
Drowsy antihistamines are known as first-generation antihistamines, such as chlorphenamine, hydroxyzine, and promethazine.
The non-drowsy antihistamines, which include cetirizine, loratadine, and fexofenadine, are known as second-generation antihistamines.
The only difference between them is the effect of drowsiness, which means that the first-generation antihistamines can also be used as other forms of medical treatment, like insomnia.
