Tag: medication

Hay fever suffering drivers at risk this bank holiday weekend

Drivers are at risk of an unlimited fine and driving ban for taking over-the-counter hay fever medication

Spring allergies have arrived weeks early in the UK, and the first pollen warning of 2024 has already been issued.

Hay fever is one of the most common allergies in the UK, with reports that 10 million people in England alone suffer from pollen allergies. 

Symptoms of hay fever, which include anything from itchy eyes and a runny nose to sneezing and headaches, are usually treated with antihistamines.

However, many motorists are unaware that a normal dose of the tablets can impair driving abilities, causing drowsiness, reduced reaction times, decreased coordination and judgement as well as blurred vision.

The laws surrounding drug driving mean taking over-the-counter medication to treat summer allergies could land drivers with serious charges. 

In the UK, the law doesn’t distinguish between drug driving caused by illicit drugs, over-the-counter or prescribed medication. 

This means that if hay fever medication affects driving ability, it could lead to drug driving convictions.

The penalties for drug driving are severe, even if the driver has innocently taken drowsy-prone hay fever medication.

If convicted, motorists could receive a one-year driving ban, unlimited fines, up to six months in prison and a criminal record. 

Additionally, for 11 years afterwards, drivers found guilty will have the conviction displayed on their licences. 

The NHS strongly advises those who take medications prone to drowsiness – such as chlorphenamine, cinnarizine, diphenhydramine, hydroxyzine or promethazine – avoid driving.

Greg Wilson, CEO and car insurance expert at Quotezone.co.uk said: “It may be hard to believe taking your hay fever tablets could land you a criminal conviction, which is why we wanted to issue an urgent warning to those who suffer with seasonal allergies.

“If you are one of the millions of Brits who suffer from hay fever, it is imperative you check the side effects of any medicines you are taking.  

“Blurred vision, slow reaction times and drowsiness behind the wheel can all cause serious issues on the roads, putting yourself and other road users in serious danger.

“Driving in an impaired state under the influence is a very serious matter, meaning the penalties for doing so can be life-changing.

“We’re urging drivers who suffer from summer allergies to check the details of their medication to avoid potentially serious charges.  Any medication that says do not operate heavy machinery includes the use of a car, so drivers need to be on the lookout for such warnings and read all instructions carefully.  If in doubt, ask the pharmacist and err on the side of caution.”

Five driving tips for hay fever sufferers

1.Keep your car as pollen-free as possible – clean your car regularly to get rid of dust that could trigger symptoms before setting out, changing the pollen filters in your car’s ventilation system when necessary and try to keep windows closed. 

2.Plan your journeys – check the Met Office Pollen warnings or download the weather app, which gives a 5-day forecast, for high pollen counts – if your symptoms are particularly bad try additional travel options or ask someone else to drive, don’t take the risk.

3.Check your medication – antihistamines and hay fever medications can differ in strength, check with your doctor if in any doubt about possible side effects and always read the label – the warning, ‘do not operate heavy machinery’ is commonly found and applies to cars, forklifts and any other heavy machinery.

4.Get stocked up – keep your car stocked with fresh tissues, hay fever medicine, a bottle of water, eye drops, anything used to ease the symptoms, should they strike unexpectedly.

5.Drive safely – be extra careful on the roads, giving lots of space to fellow road users and taking breaks if hay fever symptoms start to play up.  If you don’t feel well or the pollen count is too high, play it safe and don’t take non-urgent journeys.

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‘Thunder fever’ could cost motorists up to £5000

The unusual weather this summer is causing issues for drivers that could result in fines or penalty points – adding to the mounting cost of living expenses.

This week alone has seen warnings from medical experts about ‘thunder fever’ – a rare weather phenomenon that makes hay fever (and asthma) much worse with a combination of thunderstorms and elevated pollen counts across the country. It happens when moisture and lightning brought by the storm, shatter pollen normally too large to enter the lungs into tiny pieces.

Whilst drivers need to be careful that sneezing, a runny nose and watery eyes brought on by hay fever doesn’t impair their driving ability, there is a serious risk for those suffering with the pollen.  The government legislation that bans driving while under the influence does not distinguish between illicit drugs, prescription medication and over-the-counter medications. 

This means any type of drug that affects a motorist’s driving abilities could potentially result in a drug-driving conviction, even if it’s something as simple as hay fever medication that causes drowsiness. One in four people in the UK has hay fever, which equates to approximately 16 million people.

Other  distractions that could be classed as careless driving include  ‘rubber necking’ at the storm itself or failure to see through the windscreen properly, if caught in heavy rain.

Quotezone.co.uk, a leading car insurance comparison website, says if drivers find themselves stuck in the car during a thunderstorm, official advice from the Met Office is to wind up the window and stay inside the vehicle – the metal frame of the car should act as a conductive Faraday cage, passing the current around the passengers and into the ground, should it be struck by lightning.

However, any damage to cars caused by driving through flash floods that accompany thunder storms might not be covered by insurance policies. Quotezone.co.uk warns motorists to carefully check their policy exclusions, and even if routes are partially blocked, drivers should think twice before using waterlogged roads.

Greg Wilson, Founder of Quotezone.co.uk, comments: “The weather has been extreme this summer and driving in the heat alone has been challenging but there are things drivers need to know to avoid risking penalty points or fines and keep themselves safe on the roads.

“If a storm is predicted look at official flood warnings, avoid roads that are likely to flood and allow more travel time, note drivers may have to pull over and wait it out if the downpour starts to affect your visibility – drivers can be fined if they can’t see clearly out of all windows.

“Hay fever symptoms can come on unexpectedly and some types of medication do cause drowsiness, or carry a ‘do not operate heavy machinery’ warning. If a driver fails to obey this warning and gets behind the wheel, they could risk a hefty fine of up to £5,000, points on their licence and endanger themselves and other road users.”

It’s always sensible to check the weather before setting off on long journeys and err on the side of caution, Met Office pollen count forecasts available here.

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Hay fever: high pollen warning for Scotland’s motorists

The Met Office is issuing a ‘high’ pollen forecast for Scotland, south of Grampian and The Highlands, which could give hay fever sufferers more than watery eyes from today.

Scottish hay fever sufferers who are vulnerable to grass and nettle pollen and Cladosporium spores, which will increase in intensity during bright warm weather should take note, especially if they take medication to lessen symptoms.

The Met Office forecast has led to a warning from one of the country’s leading car insurance comparison websites, that many motorists are unaware of the fact that ‘driving under the influence’ could result in hefty fines and points on their licence.  Some hay fever medications could see drivers committing this type of motoring offence without even realising it.

Insurance comparison website Quotezone.co.uk says the government legislation that bans driving while under the influence, does not distinguish between illicit drugs, prescription medication and over-the-counter medications.  This means any type of drug that affects a motorist’s driving abilities could potentially result in a drug-driving conviction, even if it’s something as simple as hay fever medication that causes drowsiness.

One in four people in the UK has hay fever, that’s approximately 16 million people, according to the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation.  Grass pollen is arguably the biggest cause of seasonal allergies, affecting approximately 90% of hay fever sufferers – with peak season from mid-May until July.                                                           

Scotland’s hay fever sufferers could consider the following advice before getting behind the wheel:

Five driving tips for hay fever sufferers

Check medication – antihistamines and hay fever medications can differ in strength, check with the doctor if in any doubt about possible side effects and always read the label – the warning, ‘do not operate heavy machinery’ is commonly found and applies to cars, forklifts and any other heavy machinery.

Plan journeys – check the Met Office Pollen warnings or download the weather app, which gives a 5-day forecast for high pollen counts. 

Keep the car as pollen-free as possible – clean the car regularly to get rid of dust that could trigger symptoms before setting out, regularly change pollen filters in the car’s ventilation system and keep car windows closed during journeys.  

Get stocked up – keep the car stocked with fresh tissues, hay fever medicine, a bottle of water, eye drops, anything used to ease the symptoms, should they strike unexpectedly. 

Drive safely – better to err on the side of caution, giving lots of space to fellow road users and taking breaks if hay fever symptoms start.  If drivers don’t feel well or the pollen count is high, play it safe and don’t make non-urgent journeys.

Greg Wilson, Founder of Quotezone.co.uk, comments:  “A lot of people aren’t sure exactly when the hay fever season starts, it actually runs for seven months of the year – March to September – depending on the type of pollen people are allergic to, so it can catch drivers off guard.

“Most people assume that the term ‘drug-driving’ refers to driving while under the influence of illicit narcotics, but the truth is that driving after taking any type of drug, could result in a motoring conviction if the motorist’s driving abilities are impaired.

“While some hay fever medications are non-drowsy, some types do cause drowsiness, and some prescription hay fever tablets in particular carry a ‘do not operate heavy machinery’ warning. If a driver fails to obey this warning and gets behind the wheel, they could risk a hefty fine of up to £5,000, points on their licence and endanger themselves and other road users.”

Quotezone.co.uk compares quotes from over 110 UK car insurance providers, helping over 3 million users find a more competitive deal each year on everything from car insurance to electric car insurance to convicted driver insurance

Easter weekend: Remember to order repeat prescriptions, says NHS 24

Easter is always a busy time, and with the holidays already underway, NHS 24 is reminding people who take regular medication to check on their repeat prescriptions.

The Easter Weekend impacts on many local GP and pharmacy opening times, so it’s important that people check their prescription, order only what they need and in plenty of time.

Dr Laura Ryan, medical director at NHS 24, says: “Each Easter we receive thousands of calls from people who urgently require medication that they have run out of. It’s a good idea to make yourself aware of your pharmacy and GP opening hours.

“Visit www.nhsinform.scot and search for Scotland’s Service Directory to learn more about service availability in your local area.

“You should also take a look at your list of prescriptions to see which ones you might need to top up on, and make sure you order in plenty time to make sure you have them for the Easter weekend. 111 are always happy to help if you run out of medicine, but Easter is always one of our busiest periods, so a little forward planning can save on time and stress.

‘We’re all crossing our fingers for a sunny Easter, and some simple steps mean you can relax and enjoy the holiday.”

General advice and information on how to stay healthy this Easter can be found at www.nhsinform.scot/spring.

UK’s biggest dispensing robot helps to keep medication moving

Getting the right medicine to the right patient at the right time


Working with the UK’s largest dispensing robot, a team of unsung heroes have been making sure that patients across Greater Glasgow and Clyde get the medicines they need throughout the pandemic.

The team at the Pharmacy Distribution Centre in Glasgow process around 100,000 pharmacy items each week and, with the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out, that effort has expanded to include sending some 72,000 vaccines to clinics every week.

However, their herculean effort is aided by some Amazon-style technology and a huge, robot storage and distribution machine which automates around 80% of the pharmacy work.

The machine is believed to be the biggest of its kind, operating in the UK. At any one time, the Pharmacy Distribution Centre will carry some 10,000 lines of medicines. Work to distribute the vaccines remains a manual endeavour, with the team employed on that working in an adjacent site.

Claire Aliyar, Chief Pharmacy Technician at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, explained: “The team have been working really hard throughout the pandemic – especially at the very beginning, because it just happened so fast. We tried to get as much stock in as we possibly could before it all started and we did manage to get some, but it was going out as soon as it came in.”

The team provide medicines for hospital wards, other acute settings, care homes and prison medical units. This includes major sites such as the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and Glasgow Royal Infirmary, the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley and the Inverclyde Royal Infirmary in Greenock.

Orders are placed online and the entire, high-tech production line works 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The team’s aim is to ensure that every patient gets the medicine they need, when they need it – with the robot dispensing medicines from amoxicillin to paracetamol (and everything in between) into blue boxes which are then tagged with the ward or location which has ordered them by a member of the team. The boxes are then packed into a fleet of vans ready to be shipped across the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.

Technology is an important part of the process, and a few weeks before the first lockdown the team took delivery of a smaller robot, one which is refrigerated and can look after medicines that require being stored at cold temperatures. No other UK health board or trust currently has the same technology. The tech also helps to reduce to almost zero the number of errors that can occur in dispensing.

While the machines do much of the heavy lifting, a team of technicians and operatives ensure that the entire process runs smoothly, as was evidenced with the start of the pandemic.

When COVID arrived, the demand ramped up. Claire added: “The team were fabulous, they increased their working hours and came in for extra days. They just rolled up their sleeves, all with the same purpose – to get medicines out for the patients at their time of need.”

The team were then asked to set up a vaccine distribution centre from scratch.

Claire explained: “We did a small proportion of NHSGGC’s vaccine programme before, but nothing on the scale we needed. It became huge, a massive part of our workload and we took the new warehouse space from scratch and now we’re supplying more than 70,000 doses each week – more than 2.1 million doses to date.”

Ahead of the Omicron wave, the team worked to anticipate demand. Claire said: “The more prepared we are, the less pressure there is in the wards and departments.

“It’s been a huge success. I’ve never worked with a team like this – we all look out for each other whether we’re having a good or a bad day. We’ll always be here for each other and the patients, making sure their medication gets to them when they need it.”

Gail Caldwell, Director of Pharmacy for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, added: “Medicines are the most common healthcare intervention and never has this been more important than during the pandemic.

“The pharmacy team at the Pharmacy Distribution Centre have worked tirelessly throughout to ensure NHSGGC had adequate supplies of critical medicines.”

New research finds pet dogs can predict owner’s epileptic seizures

New research led by Queen’s University Belfast has shown that dogs can predict epileptic seizures, offering a warning sign to owners that has the potential to save lives.  

Epileptic seizures are associated with a specific smell which is detectable by pet dogs. The study analysed the reaction of dogs to odours and found that the dogs could predict when a seizure was imminent.  

A reliable early warning system to make people with epilepsy aware of an impending seizure has the potential to save lives, reduce injury, provide an opportunity for medical intervention and return a sense of independence to those living with unpredictable seizures. 

Epilepsy is a debilitating and potentially life-threatening neurological condition which affects approximately 65 million people worldwide, of whom 30% (20 million), are unable to control their seizures by medication. There is currently no reliable and simple early warning seizure-onset device available, which means many people with unstable epilepsy live in fear of injury or sudden death and the negative impact of social stigmatization. 

There have been anecdotal accounts of pet dogs predicting their owner’s epileptic seizures by becoming attentive and by demonstrating attention-seeking behaviours, but to date no scientific study has investigated the veracity of these claims. 

Lead researcher Dr Neil Powell (above), from the School of Biological Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast, said: “We hypothesized that, given the extraordinary sense of smell of dogs, a volatile organic compound exhaled by the dog’s epileptic owner may provide an early warning trigger mechanism to which make dogs react before the seizure. The results have shown pet dogs to be a reliable source to detect an on-set seizure.” 

The study has been published in the journal MDPI Animals. 

The researchers explored how a cohort of pet dogs reacted to the emergence of seizure-associated odours. Using two specially designed pieces of apparatus called the Remote Odour Delivery Mechanism (RODM), the researchers separately delivered epileptic seizure-associated odours and nonseizure associated odours and recorded the reactions of the dogs to each. 

Using 19 pet dogs with no experience of epilepsy, the researchers exposed them to odours that were deemed to be characteristic of three seizure phases, by using sweat harvested from people with epilepsy.

By altering the alternating odours emerging from sweat samples, captured before seizure, during a seizure and after a seizure, and two nonseizure controls, the researchers recorded the response of the 19 pet dogs. 

They found that all 19 dogs demonstrated more affiliative behavioural changes when confronted by seizure-associated odours, compared with their response to control odours.  

Dr Powell added: “Our findings clearly showed that all dogs reacted to the seizure-associated odour whether this was through making eye contact with their owner, touching them, crying or barking. There is a unique volatile smell linked to epiletic seizures, detectable by dogs who can in-turn warn their owner a seizure is likely to occur.  

“Our research was based on pet dogs with no prior training. If we can train dogs, this has the potential to make a big difference to owners who experience unpredictable seizures and should go a long way in improving not only their safety, but also their quality of life.”  

The research was funded by and conducted in partnership with Epilepsy Ireland and Disability Assistance Dogs. 

Peter Murphy, CEO of Epilepsy Ireland, said: “A reliable method of seizure prediction and detection is the holy grail for many people living with epilepsy as well as the parents of children with the condition.

“This is especially the case where seizures involve the loss of consciousness, with a high risk of injury. While recent efforts have focused on technological solutions, it is exciting and very welcome news that anecdotal reports of dogs’ ability to predict seizures have now been backed up by scientific evidence.

“We have been immensely proud to support Dr. Powell’s work and we hope that the findings will lead to new approaches alongside ‘man’s best friend’ that promote safety and offer reassurance for people living with epilepsy.” 

Hay fever sufferers could see red with penalty points warning

The Met Office pollen forecast for Scotland could give hay fever sufferers more than just watery eyes this weekend.

Pollen predictions show things could get very uncomfortable for sufferers, especially on Sunday when the pollen count is forecast to be raised to ‘high’ for all of Scotland, except the Orkneys and Shetland which will be at a ‘medium’ level.

Scottish hay fever sufferers who are vulnerable to grass pollen might be especially affected. Spores also in peak season now in Grampian and the Highlands, with weed pollen (nettle, dock and plantain) at medium risk in lowland areas.

The Met Office forecast has led to a warning from one of the country’s leading car insurance comparison website, concerned that most motorists are aware of the fact that ‘driving under the influence’ could result in hefty fines and points on their licence – but unaware there’s a risk they could end up committing this type of motoring offence without even realising it by using medication to counter hay fever.

According to Quotezone.co.uk, the government legislation that bans driving while under the influence, does not distinguish between illicit drugs, prescription medication and over-the-counter medications. 

This means any type of drug that affects a motorist’s driving abilities could potentially result in a drug-driving conviction, even if it’s something as simple as hay fever medication that causes drowsiness.

One in four people in the UK has hay fever, approximately 16 million people, according to the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation.  Grass pollen is arguably the biggest cause of seasonal allergies, affecting approximately 90% of hay fever sufferers – with peak season from mid-May until July.*

The region’s hay fever sufferers could consider the following advice before getting behind the wheel:

Five driving tips for hay fever sufferers

  1. Check your medication– antihistamines and hay fever medications can differ in strength, check with your doctor if in any doubt about possible side effects and always read the label – the warning, ‘do not operate heavy machinery’ is commonly found and applies to cars, forklifts and any other heavy machinery.
  1. Plan your journeys –check the Met Office Pollen warnings or download the weather app, which gives a 5-day forecast, for high pollen counts. 
  1. Don’t take non-urgent journeys –if you don’t feel well or the pollen count is high, play it safe.
  1. Keep your car as pollen-free as possible– clean your car as much as possible to get rid of dust that could trigger symptoms before setting out, regularly change pollen filters in your car’s ventilation system and keep car windows closed during journeys.  
  1. Drive safely– better to err on the side of caution, giving lots of space to fellow road users and taking breaks if hay fever symptoms start.

Greg Wilson, Founder of Quotezone.co.uk, warns:  “Most people assume that the term ‘drug-driving’ refers to driving while under the influence of illicit narcotics, but the truth is that driving after taking any type of drug, could result in a motoring conviction if the motorist’s driving abilities are impaired.

“While some hay fever medications are non-drowsy, some types do cause drowsiness, and some prescription hay fever tablets in particular carry a ‘do not operate heavy machinery’ warning. If a driver fails to obey this warning and gets behind the wheel, they could risk a hefty fine of up to £5,000 as well as points on their licence.”

Tree pollen is typically from late March to mid-May, grass pollen lasts from mid-May until July then weed pollen tends to be from the end of June to September – dependent upon where you live, for example urban areas have lower counts than the countryside, and coastal areas have lower counts than inland.

Quotezone.co.uk compares quotes from over 110 UK car insurance providers, helping over 3 million users find a more competitive deal each year on everything from car insurance to electric car insurance to convicted driver insurance.