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Antihistamines are one of the best ways of managing hay fever symptoms. Yet they can also cause side effects, such as drowsiness, which means you shouldn’t drive or may become quite sleepy. As a result, non-drowsy antihistamines were created to help combat drowsiness and effectively tackle hay fever symptoms.
So, how do non-drowsy hay fever tablets work, and what are the different hay fever tablets on the market? In this guide, we answer all your burning questions about non-drowsy antihistamines.
Non-drowsy hay fever tablets or antihistamines, also known as second-generation antihistamines, help people with hay fever and other allergies manage their symptoms without causing drowsiness. By reducing common hay fever symptoms such as sneezing, a runny nose, and itchy eyes, antihistamines make hay fever more manageable, especially for those who suffer from more severe symptoms.
Traditional antihistamines, such as chlorphenamine (Piriton), effectively manage an individual’s hay fever symptoms but have the side effect of drowsiness, which can affect a person’s daily routine as they cannot drive or manage machinery. Non-drowsy antihistamines offer an alternative for hay fever sufferers as they effectively reduce hay fever symptoms and don’t cause drowsiness, meaning this medication will not disrupt your day. Common examples of non-drowsy antihistamines include cetirizine and loratadine.
Antihistamines work by blocking the effects of histamine, a chemical released by the immune system. Histamine causes blood vessels to expand and the skin to swell, which causes the symptoms of hay fever. By blocking histamine, your symptoms of hay fever can be reduced so you can carry on with your day.
The difference between non-drowsy antihistamines and traditional antihistamines is the drowsy element. Antihistamines can make you feel drowsy as the medicine passes through your blood-brain barrier. This barrier stops harmful toxins from entering your brain but can also allow some antihistamines to pass through. First-generation antihistamines can pass this barrier, causing drowsiness. Second-generation antihistamines are not able to, meaning non-drowsy hay fever tablets like cetirizine are non-drowsy.
Although non-drowsy antihistamines might not have the side effect of drowsiness, there are some other side effects you should look out for. This includes:
There are slightly different side effects of traditional antihistamines that you should also be aware of, such as:
Now that you understand the difference between traditional antihistamines and non-drowsy antihistamines let’s delve into the different types of non-drowsy hay fever relief available to help you manage your hay fever symptoms.
The most common non-drowsy hay fever relief is non-drowsy antihistamines. These hay fever tablets are non-drowsy, available in prescription form, or can be purchased from your local pharmacy or supermarket. Some different hay fever tablets include cetirizine and loratadine. Suitable for most, this anti-drowsy antihistamine can come in tablets, capsules, or liquids, making it accessible to all who suffer from hay fever symptoms.
It must be noted that although these are non-drowsy hay fever tablets, sleepiness is still a common side effect that affects 1/100 people, so you must still use this non-drowsy hay fever relief with care. It is not recommended you drink alcohol with this medication as this can add to the sleepiness.
An alternative to non-drowsy antihistamines is the naturally occurring substance Ectoin. Derived from microorganisms that live in extreme environments, this non-drowsy hay fever relief creates a coating of water around your mucous membranes to protect your skin from allergens.
Fusion Allergy is a company that prominently uses Ectoin in its products to effectively treat hay fever symptoms without causing drowsiness.
GPs or pharmacies commonly prescribe steroid nasal sprays for people who suffer from hay fever. These anti-inflammatory sprays can take a few days to work, so it is recommended that you take them in advance when you think your symptoms may begin.
Although steroid nasal sprays do not cause drowsiness, they can cause side effects, such as stinging or burning, dryness, and a sore throat. These are all common symptoms, and you should not worry if you display any of them.
Eye drops containing sodium cromoglicate are commonly used to treat hay fever, particularly itchy eyes. This non-drowsy hay fever relief works to soothe irritation and inflammation of the eyes, making itchy and watery eyes more manageable.
Side effects of eye drops can include mild stinging of the eyes and blurred vision.
Not as common as other non-drowsy hay fever relief methods, allergy relievers can also be an option if you suffer from hay fever. These small portable devices work by utilising red light therapy. The red light reduces the release of histamines, minimising any hay fever symptoms.
Some non-medicinal preventative measures you can take to reduce your hay fever symptoms include:
Hay fever season is not fun for any hay fever sufferer. But with the use of non-drowsy hay fever tablets, you can go about your day without the need to worry about hay fever symptoms irritating you or the risk of drowsiness. At Home Health, we have a range of non-drowsy antihistamines that can make all the difference this hay fever season. You can experience relief from your hay fever symptoms with cetirizine or loratadine. Shop our range of hay fever relief today.
Generally, it takes about 30 minutes for hay fever tablets to begin working. After about two hours, the tablet will reach its maximum efficacy. Once you feel your symptoms are becoming more manageable, you will know that the hay fever tablets have started working.
Cetirizine and loratadine are the most common non-drowsy hay fever tablets. These non-drowsy antihistamines effectively target hay fever symptoms without making you feel drowsy. You can either get them prescribed by your GP or purchase them online or in-store.
Shop our range of hay fever relief today.
As with all medication, hay fever tablets can affect each person differently. We recommend non-drowsy hay fever tablets as this can provide relief from hay fever symptoms without the drowsiness that comes with traditional antihistamines. For some, cetirizine might be more effective than loratadine or vice versa. You can try different types of hay fever relief to find the best one for you.
Cetirizine is a non-drowsy antihistamine. This means it should not make you feel drowsy. However, there are some cases where people have reported feeling drowsy when taking cetirizine, but this is less than for traditional antihistamines. Finding the right hay fever tablet for you can be a bit of trial and error, so it is best to try different hay fever tablets to determine the most effective one.
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