Antihistamines
Antihistamines are the most widely used hay fever treatment in the UK, available as tablets, liquids and nasal sprays, and sold both over the counter and on prescription.
How They Work
When your body detects an allergen such as pollen, cells in the respiratory passages release a chemical called histamine. It is the histamine, (rather than the pollen itself) that produces the familiar symptoms: the sneezing, the itching, the streaming nose and eyes.
Antihistamines block the effect of that histamine, which is why they act across most hay fever symptoms rather than targeting just one.
What To Know Before Taking Them
They are effective, and for a great many people they are the first and only thing needed. There are two things worth being aware of.
The older antihistamines cause drowsiness in most people who take them, which rules out driving and operating machinery. Newer products are described as non-sedating, and are much less likely to cause it, but not everyone finds this holds true for them.
It is always worth seeing how a new product affects you before you drive.
Some people also find that a product becomes less effective with continued use over a long season, and switching to a different one helps.
If you are taking other medication, are pregnant, or are buying for a young child, ask your pharmacist which product is suitable.
How The Hay-Band Compares
The Hay-Band contains no drugs and nothing is absorbed into the body, so there are no sedative effects and nothing that could interact with medication you already take.
It can be worn at the same time as taking antihistamines. You do not need to stop taking anything in order to use one.