As pollen ranges soar throughout the UK, a BBC physician has issued a ‘little-known’ warning to anybody taking the hay fever pill
Dr Punam stated folks ought to take the pill with water and keep away from any fruit juices (inventory photograph) (Picture: Getty)
Individuals taking a widely-used hay fever pill to alleviate their allergy signs are being warned to keep away from sure meals and drinks whereas on the treatment. NHS GP and well being knowledgeable, Dr Punam Krishan, outlined what sufferers want to concentrate on throughout at present’s (April 24) episode of BBC Morning Stay.
On Saturday (April 25), the pollen rely is predicted to hit ‘Very Excessive’ throughout quite a few western areas of the UK, together with Wales, north-east England and Northern Eire. Ranges will keep ‘Excessive’ for a lot of the nation on Sunday (April 26).
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Within the UK, near 10 million folks in England are affected by hay fever, spanning all age teams, in response to the Met Workplace. This equates to roughly one in 4 adults and one in ten youngsters, and analysis signifies that the variety of folks experiencing this situation is rising yearly.
Hay fever, additionally known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, triggers signs that resemble a chilly, resembling sneezing, coughing, itchy or watery eyes, and a runny or blocked nostril, however it might persist for weeks and even months. These signs are triggered by pollen and usually worsen from March to September, when pollen ranges peak, and might often depart you feeling fatigued and trigger sinus discomfort.
In response to the NHS, whereas hay fever can’t be cured, there are measures you’ll be able to take to alleviate your signs, or medicines out there to offer reduction. Frequent hay fever therapies embrace non-drowsy antihistamine tablets, resembling cetirizine, loratadine, and fexofenadine.
In a brand new warning issued to viewers in the course of the Morning Stay phase, Dr Punam suggested these taking fexofenadine to keep away from sure fruits and fruit juices that many individuals devour at breakfast. When questioned by host Gaby Roslin about what to keep away from, Dr Punam highlighted a “lesser recognized” difficulty that may compromise the pill’s effectiveness, stories the Mirror.
Gaby stated: “There’s been different tales going round that sure drinks can intrude with them. So, what can we keep away from?” Dr Punam stated: “I feel that is lesser recognized. There is a quite common antihistamine referred to as fexofenadine, which individuals take now.
“What folks do not know is that there’s a transporter within the intestine that fexofenadine is absorbed through. Now, there are specific fruit juices like orange juice, grapefruit juice and apple juice that may truly block that transporter, so it implies that the absorption of fexofenadine is affected and considerably lowered by about 70%.”
?????? Hay fever is hitting more durable than ever, and thousands and thousands are taking antihistamines each day.
Dr Punam explains what to keep away from and whether or not antihistamines actually may cause weight achieve.
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— BBC Morning Stay (@BBCMorningLive) April 24, 2026
Gaby stated: “So at breakfast, in the event you’re having it with apple juice or grapefruit juice…” Dr Punam interjected: “It could actually cut back the effectiveness of that, and it reduces the absorption of fexofenadine. So I’d all the time say, once you’re taking that, take it with water and keep away from any fruit juices a couple of hours earlier than or a couple of hours after.
“I feel this can be a good level to simply remind that antihistamines can work together with different medicines and different issues as nicely. So alcohol is a typical one. After all, when it is good and sunny, you may want a wee glass of wine or a beer, however alcohol may enhance histamine within the physique, which might make your hay fever signs worse.
“However it might additionally, alcohol is a sedative. So in the event you’re combining that with antihistamines, it might probably make you are feeling extra drowsy. It impacts your alertness, your response instances, and many others. So simply be cautious of that.”
Dr Punam Krishan issued the cautionary notice on BBC’s Morning Stay (Picture: BBC)
The NHS web site includes a assertion relating to fexofenadine which reads: “Don’t drink grapefruit juice, apple juice or orange juice whilst you’re taking fexofenadine as the medication could not work as nicely. It is best to not drink alcohol whilst you’re taking fexofenadine as it might make you are feeling sleepy.”
Providing additional steering, Dr Punam stated: “The NHS web site has acquired the NHS look-up instrument. In that, you kind in no matter antihistamine you are on, and it’ll undergo every part that it interacts with, what you’ll be able to and can’t take it with.”
Additional particulars relating to antihistamines, together with extra steering on fexofenadine, will be discovered on the NHS web site. Whereas nearly all of antihistamines are available to buy from pharmacies and retailers, sure varieties are solely obtainable through prescription.
Fexofenadine is a non-drowsy antihistamine. It is much less prone to make you are feeling sleepy than another antihistamines. It is out there on prescription and comes as tablets.
You can too purchase 120mg fexofenadine tablets for adults and youngsters aged 12 years and over from pharmacies and supermarkets. You should buy 180mg tablets for treating hives from pharmacies. Tablets for youngsters beneath 12 years previous are solely out there with a prescription from a health care provider.
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