Cinnarizine is a drowsy antihistamine used to treat travel sickness (also known as motion sickness. It is suitable for adults and children aged five and above and you can buy it from your pharmacy without needing a prescription. Stugeron is a branded version of cinnarizine. Cinnarizine is available as tablets. They can be sucked, chewed, or swallowed whole with a glass of water. It is best to take cinnarizine after having something to eat to stop it from upsetting your stomach.

Antihistamines are a group of medications that prevent the level of histamine from rising in our body and reduce the symptoms this can cause. They can be used to treat a range of conditions including allergic reactions, motion sickness and insomnia. However, the term "antihistamines" most commonly refers to medications that are used to treat hay fever. Antihistamines can be classified as sedating (drowsy) or non-sedating. With drowsy antihistamines, care should be exercised when driving or operating heavy machinery, and alcohol should be avoided. Below, Healthwords pharmacists will go into more detail about the different antihistamines and their side effects.

Fexofenadine is an antihistamine medication that helps with the symptoms of allergies. Fexofenadine is a second-generation histamine, which means it is less likely to cause drowsiness than some of the earlier antihistamines (known as first-generation).  It is used to help with managing the symptoms of hay fever allergies, year-round allergies, and itchy skin rashes and hives. Antihistamines don’t cure these conditions but can often provide much needed relief from the unpleasant symptoms. Fexofenadine is available to purchase over–the–counter for the relief of symptoms associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis in adults and children aged 12 years and over. Different variations of medication strength are currently available as prescription-only medicines. It comes under the brand names Allevia, Allegra and Telfast.

You may be a hay fever veteran or new to the season of sneezing and streaming. There’s an array of hay fever eye drops available, so let our resident pharmacist take you through where to start and how to choose between them.

Hay fever tablets (also known as antihistamine tablets) are a group of medications that prevent the level of histamine from rising in our body and reduce the symptoms this can cause. Antihistamines can be used to treat a range of conditions including allergic reactions, motion sickness and insomnia. However, the term "antihistamines" most commonly refers to medications that are used to treat hay fever.

Loratadine is a type of over-the-counter medicine known as a non-drowsy antihistamine. It is used in adults and children aged 2 years and above to relieve the symptoms of allergies in various allergic conditions, including hay fever, insect bites, pet allergies, food allergies, contact dermatitis and atopic eczema. Loratadine helps relieve itching, sneezing, runny nose, skin rash and red/itchy/watery eyes. It is available in tablets, orodispersible tablets (they melt in your mouth) and oral liquid forms. Clarityn is a branded version of loratadine. Even though loratadine is classed as a non-drowsy antihistamine, it can still cause drowsiness in some people. If you do experience drowsiness, it is advised that you avoid driving or drinking alcohol.

Otrivine Adult Nasal Spray contains a decongestant called xylometazoline. It is used to relieve a blocked nose (nasal congestion) due to colds, sinusitis, and allergies such as hay fever.

Allegra is the brand name for an over-the-counter antihistamine called fexofenadine. It’s a medicine that prevents the level of histamine from rising in our body and reduces the symptoms this can cause. Rising histamine levels in the body are a common cause of the symptoms we associate with allergies, such as runny nose, itchy and red eyes and sneezing. Allegra is available in tablet form and is most commonly used to treat hay fever but can also be used in the treatment of urticaria, pet allergies, house dust mite allergy, insect bites and prickly heat rash.

Pregnancy can leave you hot and bothered at the best of times, and you don’t want the added burden of hay fever symptoms. But lots of the products you’ve relied on before state they may not be safe in pregnancy. So how can you treat your symptoms? As practising GPs here at Healthwords, we’re used to weighing up risks and benefits – some products that are labelled as "unlicensed for pregnancy" may be an option after discussion with your doctor. Let’s arm you with the facts first, before you speak to your doctor. It’s also worth stating that hay fever, or allergic rhinitis (similar eye and nose symptoms to any allergen), is not known to cause any harm to you or your growing baby if left untreated. It’s for your comfort if you wish to pursue treatment for your symptoms.

Antihistamines are a group of medications that prevent the level of histamine from rising in our body and reduce the symptoms this can cause. Antihistamines can be used to treat a range of conditions including allergic reactions, motion sickness and insomnia. However, the term "antihistamines" most commonly refers to medications that are used to treat hay fever. Antihistamines that are available to buy over-the-counter in the UK include: Piriton® (the active drug is chlorphenamine, Clarityn (the active drug is loratadine, Piriteze (where the active drug is cetirizine and Benadryl® allergy relief (the active drug is acrivastine. These are generally licensed for the treatment of hay fever, allergic reactions to pets, dust mites and food, insect bites, chickenpox rash and prickly heat rash. They are available as creams, tablets and oral liquid.

Piriton (which contains the medication chlorphenamine is a type of over-the-counter medicine known as a sedating antihistamine. It comes in both syrup and tablet form. It is known as sedating as it can cause side effects of drowsiness, and there are other antihistamines that are non-drowsy such as loratadine, cetirizine, acrivastine, and fexofenadine. It is used to relieve the symptoms of allergies in a wide range of allergic conditions, including hay fever, insect bites, pet allergies, food allergies, contact dermatitis, and atopic eczema. Piriton is useful in relieving symptoms of itching, sneezing, runny nose, skin rash, and red/itchy/watery eyes.

Antihistamine medication plays a crucial role in preventing the escalation of histamine levels within the body, effectively reducing allergy-related symptoms. However, it is essential to recognize that antihistamines may not provide relief if the rash stems from causes unrelated to allergies. These medications are widely available over-the-counter in the form of tablets, liquids, and creams. Understanding the underlying trigger for the rash is paramount in determining the most suitable treatment approach. Allergies often manifest as pruritic raised rashes resulting from reactions to various triggers such as food, pollen, viral infections, insect bites, or chemicals. This can be tested with a skin prick test, to see whether you have an allergy to certain groups.