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As part of the Frosts Pharmacy Group, a family run business established in 1925 by John Frost and now run by his grandson Stuart Gale, we are a fully registered UK pharmacy and adhere to the standards set by the General Pharmaceutical Council. We run successful high street pharmacies in Banbury and Oxford, in the UK, as well as our online chemist services.
The different treatments for allergies and hay fever
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Do you suffer from allergies and are unsure about the best treatment? Whether you get symptoms of hay fever or have a dust mite allergy, in this article we will explain the function of the various treatments available so you can make an informed decision.
What are antihistamines?
Antihistamines are used to block the effects of histamine, a chemical which is naturally produced by your body when you are exposed to something you are allergic to.
When histamines are released, they can cause the following symptoms:
- Itchy skin
- Insomnia
- Itchy eyes
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Hives
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Vomiting
Many people choose to treat these symptoms with the use of antihistamines.
Antihistamines are categorised into two main groups:
- First-generation (H-1 receptor antagonists)
- Second-generation (H-2 receptor antagonists)
H-1 receptor antagonists were introduced in 1942, and examples include Chlorphenamine (Piriton).
The effects of first-generation antihistamines work between 4 and 6 hours. This is why they’re mostly taken up to 4 times a day.
An advantage of first-generation antihistamines is that they get to work fast, as quickly as 30 minutes. This is why they are often used when someone is experiencing a sudden allergic reaction.
While these types of treatments are effective at relieving allergy symptoms, they can also cause drowsiness.
Other side effects of first-generation antihistamines include:
- Dry mouth and eyes
- Increased heart rate
- Constipation
- Trouble urinating
- Dizziness
- Lowered blood pressure
- Blurry vision
- Headaches
- Mucous thickening
Years later, in the 1980s, H-2 receptor antagonists became available for general use. Examples of these hayfever medicines are Fexofenadine (Alevia), Cetirizine (Piriteze), and Loratadine (Clarityn).
These second-generation treatments were well received by allergy sufferers, as they seemed to be more effective than first-generation treatments at relieving allergy symptoms and are only taken once daily as their effects last up to 24 hours.
The other benefit of second-generation antihistamines is that they are less likely to react with other medicines and have fewer side effects compared to first-generation, including fewer drowsy effects, making them a popular option for the majority of allergy sufferers. 1
Reported side effects with second-generation antihistamines include:
- Headache
- Feeling sick
- Vomiting
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Sore throat
- Stomach pain
There are many available treatments for the symptoms of allergies, these treatments are used for the following allergies:
- Hives
- Allergic skin rashes
- Hay fever
- Food allergies
- Dust mites
- Tree pollen
- Insect bites
- Reactions to medications
While second-generation antihistamines successfully treat most allergy types, specialist treatments are also available for certain allergy types, which we will discuss in more detail below.
Antihistamines are available in different forms, such as tablets, syrups, nasal sprays and eye drops. Using our hay fever and allergy category, we will look at the available treatments and how they work to treat the effects of allergies.
Antihistamines may be more effective or less effective for each person. To determine which is the most effective, a trial-and-error method should be implemented.
Which allergy treatments to use?
|
If you have ... |
You should consider ... |
Because ... |
|
Unexpected or short-term Allergy Eg you get an insect bite or sting |
Chlorphenamine (can be drowsy) Acrivastine (non-drowsy) |
They work quickly
|
|
Occasional Allergy (that might last up to one week) Eg you’re allergic to a friend’s pet when you go to visit |
Acrivastine (non-drowsy) Or Loratadine, Cetirizine or Fexofenadine (one-a-day, non-drowsy) if you’re visiting for a few days |
These work quickly These are more convenient as they’re once daily, but they might take a few days to be fully effective. Even though they are marketed as “non-drowsy”, they can be drowsy for some people Fexofenadine is the least likely to cause drowsiness |
|
Occasional Allergy (lasts longer than a week) E.g hayfever, which can last up to a few months or Allergy that lasts all year round E.g you have a mild allergy to a food or material eg metal |
Loratadine, Cetirizine or Fexofenadine (one-a-day, non-drowsy) Fexofenadine is less likely to cause drowsiness and is becoming the more popular choice |
They’re easy, convenient and work for most people |
|
If you have tried Cetirizine, Loratadine or Fexofenadine and find that they work but don’t fully control allergy symptoms |
Add a nasal spray and/or eye drops for extra symptom control And/or Use one of the POM antihistamines, Rupatadine, Xyzal or Desloratadine, which are stronger than the antihistamines you can buy over the counter |
At this point, we want to find the right treatment or combination of treatments for you to enjoy life as symptom-free as possible. Some people will prefer to take a low-strength antihistamine tablet and add nasal spray/eye drops because they don’t like the idea of taking something stronger Some people will prefer to take a stronger antihistamine to avoid the extra work of using a nasal spray or eye drops as well |
|
Have a seasonal or year-round allergy that doesn’t respond or doesn’t respond well enough to antihistamines to let you work, sleep or be outside |
Grazax (for allergy to grass pollen) These medicines can only be started by an allergy specialist (immunologist) after a skin-prick allergy test Once someone has had their first dose with their specialist to make sure they don’t have an allergic reaction, we will prescribe further treatment |
This type of treatment (sometimes called “desensitisation” or “immunotherapy”) is the only one that treats the cause of the allergy and could mean a person doesn’t need more treatment in the future Traditional antihistamines just treat the symptoms |
Get in touch
Head over to our allergies and hay fever product page to see our full range of treatments at Oxford Online Pharmacy, from tablets to eye drops we have a huge range of antihistamines. If you are still unsure of the best hayfever tablets and course of treatment for you, get in touch with a member of our team who will happily advise you.
References
WebMD - What's the Difference Between First-Generation and Second-Generation Antihistamines?
Reviewed on 27 March 2024
