Summer is here and with temperatures hitting sizzling highs of up to 30°C, we all want to go outside and enjoy the sun.
For hay fever sufferers, though, it’s not that easy and on Sunday it was reported that people looked up hay fever advice on the NHS website every three seconds.
The high pollen season is well underway now – running between around March and August – with the pollen count set to be very high for most of this week.
For many people, tackling these often-debilitating symptoms means taking antihistamines.
These little tablets help to ease the symptoms of allergies – such as a runny nose, itchy eyes, or sneezing.
Although they’re extremely helpful, you still need to be mindful when taking medication.
Can you overdose on hay fever tablets?
It is possible to overdose from any antihistamine tablets.
Taking more tablets than you’re supposed to can cause blurred vision, headaches, sedation, enlarged pupils, restlessness, itching, dry mouth, and /or ringing in the ears.
More serious cases may experience tremors, palpitations, seizures, and hallucinations.
Professor Martin Marshall, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, told Metro.co.uk: ‘For patients who suffer from hay fever, the symptoms, which can include sneezing, coughing, and streaming eyes and nose, can be uncomfortable, but they should only be temporary and cause no long-term ill effects.
‘Therefore, visits to the GP, in the vast majority of cases, shouldn’t be necessary.
‘Most cases of hay fever can be treated with over-the-counter medicine, such as antihistamines or nasal sprays.
‘It’s important when taking over-the-counter medication such as antihistamines, patients read all the information that comes in the packet including how to take it, how much to take, how long to take it for, possible drug interactions, and what to do if you miss a dose or take too much.
‘Patients suffering from hay fever can also take some simple practical steps to reduce their exposure to pollen, for example by wearing a hat with a wide brim, putting a small amount of Vaseline on their nostrils to trap pollen particles, and keeping windows and doors shut as much as possible.’
How many hay fever tablets can you take?
According to the NHS, there are two main types of antihistamine:
- The older kind – such as chlorphenamine, hydroxyzine, and promethazine – which can make you feel dizzy.
- The newer kind – such as cetirizine, loratadine, and fexofenadine – which are non-drowsy.
The side effects of each of these will differ, with the older kind you should avoid using heavy machinery as they can affect coordination and judgment, as well as give you blurred vision.
The newer kind can give you a headache, a dry mouth, or make you feel sick.
You should always check the packet of any medication to see the dose you should have. For example, for one-day-type medication (surprise, surprise) it will be one a day. For other over-the-counter types, the maximum will be three tablets per day.
The maximum amount for you to take will also depend on your age and size, and whether you’re taking any medications.
If you take more than the recommended amount, it is possible to overdose. In serious cases this could cause tremors, palpitations, seizures, and hallucinations.
Just because it’s over the counter, doesn’t mean there’s no risk.
If you think you’ve taken too many hayfever tablets, or are concerned about mixing them with your current medication, please seek medical attention, even if you feel fine.
Overdose symptoms may be delayed, and it’s better to get the advice of a professional.
MORE : Hay fever sufferers may want to avoid these drinks this weekend
MORE : Mum praises 89p ‘pollen trapping’ wipes that cured son’s hay fever
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