Just How Many Zombie Hayfever Drivers are on Britain’s Roads?

Here at Medical Specialists® Pharmacy we’d like to think that the majority of our patients would not ever think of getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after consuming alcohol or after ingesting any illegal drugs.

However, would you get behind the wheel after taking a few tablets of legal drugs? More specifically – over-the-counter or prescription medication.

A new survey by car insurance company Confused.com has found some alarming statistics which could highlight just how safety conscious some of the drivers on Britain’s roads actually are.

The survey showed that approximately 1 in every 15 motorists suffering with hayfever say they have had their driving ability negatively impacted due to being under their influence of their medication.

What is not clear in the Confused.com poll is precisely how many motorists were taking drowsy antihistamines and if any actually more sensibly decided to opt for the non-drowsy antihistamines before getting behind the wheel, the latter of which includes the popular loratadine and cetirizine, supplied from Medical Specialists®.

Antihistamine medicines are generally classified into three groups. These are:

• First-generation antihistamines – These cause drowsiness in the majority of people and treatments include alimemazine, chlorphenamine, clemastine, cyproheptadine, diphenhydramine, hydroxyzine, ketotifen and promethazine. These medicines can also be used for their sedative effects should a person’s sleep be interrupted by itching.
• Second- or third-generation antihistamines – These are referred to as ‘non-drowsy’ hayfever treatments as they are less likely to cause drowsiness, and include treatments such as acrivastine, cetirizine, desloratadine, fexofenadine, levocetirizine, loratadine, and mizolastine. However, those performing skilled tasks – for example, driving – should be aware that a sedative effect could occur and, in particular, in combination with alcohol.

Pharmacists or doctors would recommend taking second- or third-generation antihistamines and only first generation treatments where the sedating effects are beneficial to the person – i.e. to help them sleep.

The Confused.com poll found that 4% of those motorists reported they have been involved in a car accident following taking hay fever medication. This calls into question just how many sedated and zombie-like drivers are populating the roads, putting themselves at others at grave risk, especially with the survey revealing that more than 1 in 7 have driven after taking drugs.

These are not illegal drugs taken for a high – i.e. cocaine or ecstasy – the majority of those in the poll admit they are in fact driving while under the influence of legal prescription or over-the-counter medication. In fact, motorists are four times more likely to drive after taking a legal drug compared to an illegal one.

Although doses of prescribed or over-the-counter drugs might not be exceeding any limits with regards to driving, it seems those with hay fever are simply not paying attention to the important warnings given in the patient information leaflets. Medical Specialists® cannot stress enough how imperative it is to read these and they can contain warnings which could help to avoid illness or even death.

As mentioned previously, antihistamines are usually the first port of all for anyone looking to keep their hayfever symptoms at bay, but people may not realise that there can be dangerous and unpredictable effects if taken those with certain conditions or if taken in conjunction with other things such as alcohol or certain antidepressants. Failing to read the patient information leaflet to take the drugs only as directed would mean people would probably not realise these factors.

The Confused.com poll showed that 15% of motorists who suffer from hayfever do not bother to read the accompanying leaflet inside the medication’s box.

Furthermore, 1 in 15 Brits (7%) are not adhering to the recommended dose, whilst alarmingly, 3% admitted they were unaware there was such a thing.

There are about 16 million people in the UK that are suffering with hayfever, just over a third of motorists (34%) have the condition, with the majority taking medication to supress the symptoms that include watery and itchy eyes, a runny nose, sneezing and an itchy throat.

However, patients often forget that all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, which includes those to fight hay fever, can have some unwanted side effects.

The survey highlighted the common complaints from hay fever treatment, with the respondent’s driving ability affected by drowsiness (55%), feeling lethargic (35%) and blurred vision (35%).

Dr Richard Vautery, deputy chair of the British Medical Association General Practitioners Committee, said: “Patients have a responsibility to only drive if they feel safe to do so.

“If they feel any medication they are taking is adversely affecting their ability to make quick decisions or concentrate, then they shouldn’t be behind the wheel.

“Their insurance will also not be valid if they were to do so.

“Patients should discuss any new drugs they are prescribed with their GP and with the pharmacists that provides them to find out whether there would be any impact on their ability to drive.

“This information is also always within the leaflet provided to patients when they are given prescription drugs.”

In March last year, new drug-driving laws listing 8 prescription drugs and 8 illicit drugs came into force across England and Wales, with roadside drug screening devices to detect those driving under the influence.

The devices seem to be doing their job – in 2015, 2,090 motorists were charged with drug-driving, compared with just 870 in 2014 – an increase of 140% – according to Freedom of Information data.
Medical Specialists® again would like to stress the absolute importance of reading any drug’s patient information leaflet to avoid putting yourself and other’s at risk, especially whilst on the roads. As the weather is now picking up and more people are heading outdoors and into pollen-filled air, this means a lot of people with hayfever are going to suffer if they are not taking their antihistamines. In addition to reading through the safety information of your hayfever treatment, we would recommend familiarising yourself with the drug-driving laws that came into force last year.

Hay fever hell set to continue for millions of Brits

With it being the start of October tomorrow, hay fever sufferers may have thought they were in the clear by now and believe they are unlikely to have a flare-up of typical symptoms such as runny nose, watery and itchy eyes, and sneezing.

Unfortunately, there has been evidence of an emergence in Britain of the biggest US culprit for hay fever, which could mean that an estimated 18 million Brits with the condition are not out of the woods just yet. This equates to one in five of us.

The mild weather of the last few weeks has provided the perfect opportunity for common ragweed to flourish. Ragweed is a highly allergenic plant that can release a staggering one billion pollen grains within a single season.

Ragweed pollen came to European territory way back in the 1960s, contained in contaminated seed, but needs extended and mild autumns to really thrive and therefore does not usually have a massive impact in the UK. In North America though, ragweed pollen is responsible for sparking a huge number of asthma and allergy attacks.

In recent times, scientists have barely ever been able to detect the pollen in the UK’s air. However, earlier this month scientists in the East Midlands found ragweed pollen present in the air for four consecutive days, and on the third day, there more sufficient pollen to cause an onset of hay fever and asthma symptoms for those that have these conditions.

Ragweed is substantially more allergenic than grass and could prove a serious issue for those with hay fever and/or asthma if its volume continues to increase in the air. Not only that, it would mean a longer hay fever season for many, as the season commonly ends in August for a lot of people with hay fever.

Health experts have also warned asthmatics to be vigilant and make sure they always carry their asthma inhalers in case of an attack.

Deborah Waddell, lead clinical advisor at Asthma UK, last week said: “The milder weather and presence of ragweed pollen may now result in a longer pollen season this year which will cause misery for people with asthma and hay fever in the UK.

“The 79 per cent of people with asthma who find that pollen makes their symptoms worse may also be at an increased risk of a potentially life threatening asthma attack.”

Dr Catherine Pashley, who led the research in Leicester, says the plant can reach three feet in height and had most likely managed to find its way into Europe from birdseed imported from the US.
She also said that though cases of ragweed had been found in Britain previously, none of which were enough to cause of pollen problem.

Dr Pashley said: “Ragweed can’t survive in the East Midlands because of our cooler climate compared to North America and Central Europe, so we were very surprised to see it when we analysed the pollen and fungi in the air earlier this month.

“Most years we haven’t seen any at all. Some years we’ve seen one or two grains in a day. Now instead we’ve had ragweed in the air on four consecutive days and one of the days it went well above the level which is known to cause problems in people allergic to it. So that was completely unexpected. It could extend the hayfever season for people who may be allergic to it.

“Whether or not we continue to see more ragweed will very much depend on how mild this autumn is and when we have the first frost. If it is a late frost, it is likely that ragweed levels may increase this time next year.”

Medical Specialists® Pharmacy have a wide range of treatments for hay fever that can ease symptoms for sufferers, including Loratadine – a non-drowsy antihistamine which can provide relief from the symptoms of hay fever and Nasonex nasal spray – a nasal corticosteroid spray for the relief of congestion, sneezing, itching and a runny nose. Prevalin is another nasal spray that lines the inside of your nose and actually deactivates the pollen, and Alomide allergy eye drops that can bring relief from red, itchy, watery and puffy eyes if used regularly.

Allergy Awareness Week begins as hayfever sufferers set to face brutal summer

As we are into the second day of Allergy Awareness Week – proudly supported by Medical Specialists™ Pharmacy – New research has shown that hayfever rates have soared to record levels and could get much worse in the future.

Britain is set to experience one of the most severe summers in recent years according to weather analysts, and charity Allergy UK who are running the awareness week that runs to 4 May, say that nearly a third of the population are now suffering with hayfever.

Hayfever symptoms are caused by an inhalation of pollen particles and by pollen getting into the eyes. Symptoms can flare-up from anywhere between early spring to late summer, depending on which particular pollen(s) you have an allergy to. The common pollens that prove problematic in early spring for hay fever suffers are those that emanate from trees such as the ash, oak, silver birch, and London plane.

Medical Specialists™ Pharmacy offer a wide range of medicines  to treat allergies such as hayfever, including Loratadine – a non-drowsy antihistamine which can provide relief from the symptoms of hay fever and Nasonex nasal spray – a nasal corticosteroid spray for the relief of congestion, sneezing, itching and a runny nose. Prevalin is another nasal spray that lines the inside of your nose and actually deactivates the pollen, and Alomide allergy eye drops that can bring relief from red, itchy, watery and puffy eyes if used regularly.

If all that isn’t enough, Medical Specialists™ now offer the fantastic NeilMed Sinus Rinse Starter Kit, which is suitable for all ages. This natural soothing saline wash can be used to alleviate many problems such as:

Nasal allergies & dryness.
Sinusitis, rhinitis.
Allergic asthma.
Post nasal drip.
Sinus pressure & nasal stuffiness.
Nasal symptoms from flu & cold.
Nasal irritation from occupational dust, fumes, animal dander, grass, pollen, smoke & house dust.
Nasal congestion.

Professor Jean Emberlin, scientific director for Allergy UK, commented: “We now have one of the highest rates [of hayfever] worldwide.” She says high use of antibiotics in children could be behind a higher risk of allergies in general, with as many as 38% of children now afflicted by hayfever in some areas of the UK.

Therefore, this week’s Allergy Awareness Week has arrived at a perfect time and aims to put a spotlight onto the difficulties faced by those who have allergies, what they can do to manage their symptoms, treatment options, with Allergy UK urging as many people as possible to participate and give their support. In the following weeks there will also be several fundraising events taking place.
The charity is now encouraging people to assess their medication prior to the grass pollen season beginning at the start of summer.

Prof Ember in said: “Early ­indications are that it could be severe. This year the mild winter and warm spring resulted in the birch pollen season starting about four weeks ­earlier than in 2013.
“Birch ­pollen counts increased ­rapidly in the last week of March throughout the South and Midlands and the season spread northwards quickly.

“About 25 per cent of ­sufferers are allergic to birch pollen and this year has been a severe one for them.

“The oak pollen ­season – which affects one in five sufferers – also started earlier this year.

“The grass pollen season – which affects about 95 per cent of hayfever sufferers – will start in the last week of May in the South with a fairly long lag time of a few weeks to the North.

“Due to the warm spring, the start will be gradual rather than having a sudden increase in grass pollen counts.

Maureen Jenkins, director of ­clinical services at Allergy UK, added: “We are urging people to check whether they are using their medication correctly rather than just soldiering on and ­prolonging their suffering. If symptoms aren’t improving with treatment, it’s so important to get medical advice to control this debilitating condition, which is also associated with the development of asthma.”