Dr Punam said people should take the tablet with water and avoid any fruit juices (stock photo) (Image: Getty)
People taking a widely-used hay fever tablet to relieve their allergy symptoms are being warned to steer clear of certain foods and drinks while on the medication. NHS GP and health expert, Dr Punam Krisham, outlined what patients need to be aware of during today’s (April 24) episode of BBC Morning Live.
On Saturday (April 25), the pollen count is predicted to hit ‘Very High‘ across numerous western regions of the UK, including Wales, north-east England and Northern Ireland. Levels will stay ‘High’ for most of the country on Sunday (April 26).
In the UK, close to 10 million people in England are affected by hay fever, spanning all age groups, according to the Met Office. This equates to roughly one in four adults and one in ten children, and research indicates that the number of people experiencing this condition is rising annually.
Hay fever, also referred to as seasonal allergic rhinitis, triggers symptoms that resemble a cold, such as sneezing, coughing, itchy or watery eyes, and a runny or blocked nose, but it can persist for weeks or even months. These symptoms are triggered by pollen and typically worsen from March to September, when pollen levels peak, and can occasionally leave you feeling fatigued and cause sinus discomfort.
According to the NHS, while hay fever cannot be cured, there are measures you can take to alleviate your symptoms, or medications available to provide relief. Common hay fever treatments include non-drowsy antihistamine tablets, such as cetirizine, loratadine, and fexofenadine.
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In a new warning issued to viewers during the Morning Live segment, Dr Punam advised those taking fexofenadine to avoid certain fruits and fruit juices that many people consume at breakfast. When questioned by host Gaby Roslin about what to avoid, Dr Punam highlighted a “lesser known” issue that can compromise the tablet’s effectiveness, reports the Mirror.
Gaby said: “There’s been other stories going around that certain drinks can interfere with them. So, what do we avoid?” Dr Punam said: “I think this is lesser known. There’s a very common antihistamine called fexofenadine, which people take now.
“What people don’t know is that there is a transporter in the gut that fexofenadine is absorbed via. Now, there are certain fruit juices like orange juice, grapefruit juice and apple juice that can actually block that transporter, so it means that the absorption of fexofenadine is affected and significantly reduced by about 70%.”
Gaby said: “So at breakfast, if you’re having it with apple juice or grapefruit juice…” Dr Punam interjected: “It can reduce the effectiveness of that, and it reduces the absorption of fexofenadine. So I would always say, when you’re taking that, take it with water and avoid any fruit juices a few hours before or a few hours after.
“I think this is a good point to just remind that antihistamines can interact with other medications and other things as well. So alcohol is a common one. Of course, when it’s nice and sunny, you might want a wee glass of wine or a beer, but alcohol could increase histamine in the body, which can make your hay fever symptoms worse.
“But it can also, alcohol is a sedative. So if you’re combining that with antihistamines, it can potentially make you feel more drowsy. It affects your alertness, your reaction times, etc. So just be wary of that.”
Dr Punam Krishan issued the cautionary note on BBC’s Morning Live (Image: BBC)
The NHS website features a statement regarding fexofenadine which reads: “Do not drink grapefruit juice, apple juice or orange juice while you’re taking fexofenadine as the medicine may not work as well. It’s best not to drink alcohol while you’re taking fexofenadine as it can make you feel sleepy.”
Offering further guidance, Dr Punam said: “The NHS website has got the NHS look-up tool. In that, you type in whatever antihistamine you’re on, and it will go through everything that it interacts with, what you can and cannot take it with.”
Further details regarding antihistamines, including additional guidance on fexofenadine, can be found on the NHS website. While the majority of antihistamines are readily available to purchase from pharmacies and shops, certain types are only obtainable via prescription.
Fexofenadine is a non-drowsy antihistamine. It’s less likely to make you feel sleepy than some other antihistamines. It’s available on prescription and comes as tablets.
You can also buy 120mg fexofenadine tablets for adults and children aged 12 years and over from pharmacies and supermarkets. You can buy 180mg tablets for treating hives from pharmacies. Tablets for children under 12 years old are only available with a prescription from a doctor.
