The UK is no stranger to hay fever as one in five Britons suffer from the stubborn symptoms, according to Asthma UK. As pharmacies’ shelves can be overflowing with hay fever products at this time of year, it can be difficult to navigate the world of remedies. Speaking on BBC’s Morning Live, Dr Farooque explained what to watch out for.
Antihistamines are one of the most potent weapons when it comes to hay fever, designed to relieve symptoms of various allergies.
Dr Farooque offered “two tips when it comes to” this medicine. She said: “First, always look at the name of the drug, not necessarily the brand.
“The brand doesn’t matter so much, it’s the drug that matters.
“Doctors divide antihistamines into first-generation, which are older, and second-generation, which are newer.”
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Out of these two types, the one to “avoid” is the first-generation option also known as “older”.
Dr Farooque continued: “The first-generation antihistamine is one called chlorpheniramine and I advise patients to avoid these.
“The reasons for that [is] they are really old, they’ve been around for 70, 73 years, they work less well.
“You have to take them several times a day but, also, they can be sedating.”
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