Common questions about acrivastine - Brand name: Benadryl Allergy Relief

Acrivastine is a type of medicine called an antihistamine.

When you come into contact with something you're allergic to, such as pollen, animal hair or if you're bitten or stung by an insect, your body produces a chemical called histamine.

Usually histamine is a useful substance, but in an allergic reaction it causes unpleasant symptoms including itchy, watery eyes, a running or blocked nose, sneezing and skin rashes.

Acrivastine blocks the effects of histamine and reduces these symptoms.

You should start to feel better within 1 to 2 hours of taking acrivastine.

Acrivastine is unlikely to do you any harm if you take it for a long time. But it's best to just take it for as long as you need to.

Do not take acrivastine to help you sleep. It's not meant to be used this way and is unlikely to work.

Acrivastine is known as a non-drowsy antihistamine. That's because it's less likely to make you feel sleepy than other so-called sedating antihistamines, such as chlorphenamine (Piriton).

Most people prefer to take a non-drowsy antihistamine instead of a sedating one.

An exception is when you want a drowsy antihistamine that makes you sleepy – for example, if you have itchy skin that's keeping you awake.

Other non-drowsy antihistamines like cetirizine, loratadine, desloratadine, fexofenadine and levocetirizine seem to work just as well as acrivastine.

But you need to take acrivastine 3 times a day, whereas other non-drowsy antihistamines are only taken once a day.

If one non-drowsy antihistamine has not worked for you, it's worth trying another one.

Sometimes doctors recommend that people with a severe itchy skin rash take 2 different antihistamines together for a few days.

As well as taking a non-drowsy antihistamine during the day (such as acrivastine, cetirizine or loratadine), your doctor may advise that you take a sedating antihistamine at night if the itching is making it difficult to sleep.

Do not take 2 antihistamines together unless you have been advised to by your doctor.

Yes, it's fine to take acrivastine together with some other hay fever treatments, including steroid nasal sprays (such as beclometasone, budesonide or fluticasone) or eye drops.

Acrivastine does not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill and emergency contraception.

Acrivastine is classed as a non-drowsy antihistamine, but it's still possible to feel sleepy after taking it.

If this happens to you, do not drive a car, ride a bike or operate machinery until you feel awake and not tired anymore.

It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking acrivastine. GOV.UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving.

It's best not to drink alcohol while you're taking acrivastine as it can make you feel sleepy.

Do not drink grapefruit juice when you're taking acrivastine. It might make you more likely to have side effects.

There are things you can do to help with hay fever symptoms.

Tips for when you're outside

• Spend less time outside when the pollen count is high.
• Do not cut grass or walk on grass.
• Wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes.
• Put Vaseline around your nostrils to help trap pollen.
• Shower and change your clothes after you have been outside to wash off pollen.

Tips for when you're inside

• Keep windows and doors shut as much as possible.
• Vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth.
• Do not keep fresh flowers in the house.
• Do not smoke or be around smoke as it makes hay fever symptoms worse.