Hay fever? Choose safe medication
Do you suffer from hay fever? Sneezing, itchy eyes or a runny nose are annoying, but fortunately there are good medications. Do you buy your self-care medication at our pharmacy or through our webshop? Then we always check whether you can use them safely with your other medications. If necessary, we will consult with your doctor.
Always report it if you are allergic to something. Are you pregnant or breastfeeding? Let us know. We'll see if you can use the medicine.
Hay fever tablets
| Product | Active ingredient | Age | Little narcotic | Advice driving | Contact lenses | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allerfre Loratadine 10 mg (7 tablets) | Loratadine | Consult with pharmacy | ✅ | Driving Suitable | n.N/A | |
| Allerfre Loratadine 10 mg (21 tablets) | Loratadine | Consultation with pharmacy | ✅ | Driving Suitable | n.N/A | |
| Zyrtec Cetirizine (7 tablets) | Cetirizine | From 6 years of age | ❌ | Not driving | Not driving | n.v.t. |
| Healthypharm Cetirizine 10 mg (10 tablets) | Cetirizine | From 6 years of age | ❌ | Not driving grade | n/a. |
Eye Drops and Nasal Sprays
| Product | Effective ingredient | Age | Lowest narcotic | Advised Driving | Contact- lenses | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allergo-COMOD Eye Drops | Cromoglicin- acid | From 4 years | ✅ | Drive suitable | ✅ suitable for hard and soft lenses | ||||
| Prevalin Nasal Spray Anti-allergy | Sodium chromo- glicate | From 2 years | ✅ | Drive Suitable | n/a. |
How do these medications work?
- Antihistamines (such as loratadine and cetirizine) block histamine, a substance that causes your symptoms in allergy and causes symptoms such as sneezing, itching and a runny nose.
- Cromoglicic acid stabilizes the mast cells in the body, thus preventing the release of histamine. This works best if you use it before exposure to pollen.
- Sodium cromoglicic acid works the same way as cromoglicic acid. You can find it in nasal sprays and eye drops.
How to use hay fever medication?
- Tablets (e.g., loratadine or cetirizine): Take 1 tablet per day, preferably at the same time.
- Nose sprays: Use 1-2 times per day per nostril. Shake well before use.
- Eye Drops: Drip 1-2 times per eye, several times a day. Wash your hands before and after use.
What medications make you the least drowsy?
- Loratadine is the least drowsy of the antihistamines.
- Cromoglicic acid and nasal sprays with active ingredients that act locally rarely produce drowsiness.
Can you drive with hay fever medications?
- Driving is suitable: loratadine, cromoglicic acid.
- Not driving is suitable: cetirizine - this can make you drowsy.
- Are you in doubt? Take the medicine at night or consult with us.
Source: ride-safewithmedicines.co.uk
Do you wear contact lenses?
- Use eye drops without preservatives (such as minims).
- Cromoglicic acid (such as Allergo-COMOD) is usually suitable for hard as well as soft lenses.
- Please note that not every package says something about contact lenses. If in doubt, feel free to ask us.
Questions?
Please feel free to ask. We're happy to help.
