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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/3723177.stm

Hayfever poses risk to motorists

Hayfever sufferers who drive are being warned they could pose a risk to themselves and other road users by using unsuitable medication.

Motorists in west Berkshire are being urged to check their medication does not cause drowsiness or other side effects, as part of a summer campaign.

West Berkshire Council is calling on sufferers to talk to GPs or pharmacists about over-the-counter remedies.

Research shows the allergy affects 15 to 20% of the population in Britain.

Mainly caused by grass pollen, hayfever can be mild or severe in form.

The main hayfever season begins in June and continues to mid-July.

Bill Sandalls, the council's road safety officer, said: "We urge drivers to consider the implications of driving with hayfever and the effect on driving ability.

"For example, vision blurred by watery eyes and loss of control during a sneeze.

"We would also urge employers to consider these issues for their staff employed to drive."

Well, it's nice to see a teensy mention of the potential dangers of driving while on prescriptoin and over-the-counter drugs. Shame on the DfT for not making a THINK! advert out of it, especially as we're coming into the season where many drivers will be taking anti-hayfever remedies.
For that matter, why stop at anti-hayfever drugs? There must be plenty of legal drugs that affect your ability to drive safely, all of which will have any warnings in really tiny print that hardly anyone can read without a microscope while my fag packet has "You're Going To Die" in huge letters across the front (well maybe, it's in Dutch so I don't know). Health warnings are health warnings. Let's make 'em clear on everything.

_________________
Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler - Einstein

I agree. i do have hayfever, and took some trouble when first driving to make sure that the (non prescription) medication that I take is non drowsy).

For other ailments, i have previously had to take a day off work because the treatment, rather than the ailment made me so nauseous and dizzy that i couldn't travel, never mind drive safely.

Joint posting by Mad Moggie and WildCat (who is more qualified in this than I am) ( Damn - will have to change my codes again! )

Brake did radio broadcast on this a bit back as well. They do do something useful on occasion! But agreed - A THINK! advert should be made and included in whole series for prime time TV.

You could argue same case for driving with cold or flu symptoms. Watery eyes, sneeze cough, mucous in oral and nasal tracts, headaches, fatigue, muscle aches, and be affected by any of these as you pass PC Gatso...

Yet people have idea that it is "soft" to stay at home with these ailments. Have you any idea how epidemics occur? Had the bed problem coupla years back! ARRGHHHH!! We have no stats as to how many KSIs were actually caused by drivers suffering with the flu at the time either! We suspect a few! Course - speed - too easy to blame !

Most antihistamines and steroids have side effects which cause drowsiness. Most over the counter flu/cold remedies contain paracetamols - which may reduce body temperature and thus keep virus alive longer. Only - side effects can cause drowsiness, reduce overall alertness, can affect eye/brain/reflex co-ordination slightly on normal dosage and detrimentally if overdosed - some people use two sachets at once! Or even mix brands! Hands up those who take Lemsips in the morning and Beechams in the afternoon and Venos at night! Or try "Nightnurse" after downing Lemsip with a scotch! Lemsips and Anadins combined?

(Best to take chicken broth, aspirin, weee dram with hot lemon joice, and hot water bottle and just stay in bed sweating it out as the heat usually kills the virus which is causing the problem!)

That is what we do! And we are the medico and pill maker!

But then - does mean day's genuine sickie!



All medications can be dangerous. You ask your doctor if it is safe to operate machinery. (Driving a car is operating machinery). Check again with the pharmacist when you hand over the prescription.

Always read the label and always follow strict regime when popping the pills.

Report any side effect immediately to your doctor and your pharmacist who will then re-assess the treatment. If in any doubt about your fitness to drive a car or operate any machinery - don't do it!

Same applies to quack cures for the herbalist. Echinacea purpura - quite good remedy in moderation. Liquid drops contain alcohol and it has given positive breath result and negative blood result in the past!

Best to avoid them as shop assistant in the popular high street store which sells them knows very little about possible side effects. If you must use them - see the quack doctor himself - who does know little (but not much ) more about the effects of these herbs! Check them out on the net. Again if you feel unfit to drive - don't! Stay in bed!


And the same applies for fatigue. Make sure you get enough hours sleep each day, take breaks, leg stretches, arm stretches, 10 minute toes-up!

Works wonders

Mad Moggie and WildCat!

Not so sure about influenza, but it certainly looks like there's a smiley epidemic, judging by that last post!

Ach! Liebchen - I was doin' the typing - sat on his knee!

I keep gettin' ticked off on me own channel for excessive use of "Liebchen!" But then - they all thought I was callin' 'em a "string vest!" Now I am gettin' over my liking for "smileys" on here!

Ach so - I get a bit carried aways mit the icons! Tis OK - he has not logged off his computer and is still here. This time I have his permissions on grounds that I am the wild scientist who designs the expensive drugs! And can thus help with some general advice!

Have another cunning plan! Thinking of designing drug which makes those Prats think that "speed is good" and "speed does not kill" and "Gatsos are dangerous". Would like a certain Chief Con to be my guinea pig for trials as well! After all "drugs are not dangerous" according to him! Bet you cannot guess who I have in mind here!


However, one little snag - cannot get recipe right. The one I tried - well that might make him a little frisky! Cannot have that! Not good for future generations!

WildCat - (making post on her husband's machine with his permission, and admit have not broken his code YET! But nothing is impossible! )

Ooops - forgot - you think I am too fond of the little smileys! Well - very fond of them on the road - as they inform and do not menace!

Some kind of 'accepts logic' pill, then? It'll never work.

Edit: Can't spell!

_________________
-mike[F]
Caught in the rush of the crowd, lost in a wall of sound..

Thanks for the advice. Next time they call it skiving I'll call it showing consideration for the health of my colleagues.
Still, makes you wonder how many extra days are lost when people come in and give the bugs to everyone else in the building, and then they go home and give it to everyone else on the tube, and then..... Anyone ever hear the boss tell someone to bugger off back home 'cos he doesn't want what they've got?
Wildcat, since you know about the pharmaceutical(sp?) stuff, are there any rules about health and safety warnings beyond 'as long as it's in there somewhere'? Does the medical profession get asked for advice? It just seems altogether too bizarre that we have legislation governing the size of the letters that shops can use to advertise credit, and warnings about driving while on over-the-counter knockout drops seem to get buried in the small print at the bottom of the leaflet that no-one ever reads.
Too much catnip does it every time. Er, that's not what you were thinking of trying on your <ahem> test subject was it?

_________________
Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler - Einstein

(joint with Wildy )

This is so true! I (Mad MogCat) can tell you that that is exactly how bugs and lurgies spread. Virulent strain can spread from handshake, and in EU - beware the "bises and baisers" Have written to firms urging them to show common sense and include this in HASAW policy - but they just do not want to know! Until - half their staff end up stacked on trolleys in all my hospitals and NHS gets spanking over it!

And all it needs is day in bed, with chicken broth etc. And of course - lots of fun if wife gets it too and you both .........



Now Liebchen - he has handed his PC over to me! (WildCat) We do liaise with the medics - as they have to know what they are prescribing! As far as over-counter goes - they place warnings on package in variety of print per current law, and also in leaflet giving the instructions. You should read it all through! Ask the pharmacist when you purchase it. EU is going to introduce some binding legislation on industry over H&S warnings etc.



Catnip! Yes there is a patch in garden just outside his den and my lair in next room. Hmm! Might just work, mein lieber Kerl! Saucer of milk. Catnip. Diet of oysters and parsnips, sprinkling of crushed viagra and garlicky vinaigrette dressing blended with essence of catnip to season.... his poor wife! But at least it would take his mind off speed cameras......might even blow his mind...... Hmmms!

Wildcat (who has her "master's" (in his dreams! ) permission to be here!)

Shurely it would eliminate much confusion if WildCat were to obtain her own separate identity...

Regards,

Peter

_________________
"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

Off topic for a bit.
LMAO - Mad Moggie, you have a dirty mind!
Wildcat, you have a twisted mind.
Mein lieber Kerl?? Help me out here. Even at school I was pretty feeble at languages, and twenty years have gone since they kindly let me drop German. And since the Mog told us about the string vest bloke I don't want to try Babelfish in case I end up thinking I'm a small pair of trousers.

_________________
Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler - Einstein

I know, Peter - we thought about it - but this could turn into this family's forum - as three of us are registered on here already. And we do not want to give Paps and his pals more "ammo" re "single-mindedness!!" There are 3 posting on the PH site as well - but they do not admit to knowing each other - same with our number three on here!

Decided to let Wildy type for herself on this as she works in this field! Seemed relevant and easier. I could do the "don't drive with lurgy" advice, and she would be better with the "read the label and instructions" advice as she knows what is in this stuff! She could have let rip on tranquillizers as well!

Yup - we are a bit We will not go into what the children should be called by current fashion and name trends!

"Mein lieber Kerl" apparently means "My dear chap!"

You think you got problems? She speaks in that twang all the time to the kids. No idea what she's on about half the time! It gets worse - she then starts mixing French, Italian and some other odd Swiss thing in there!

The mad lad himself!

Several years ago I investigated a bus crash where the driver veered off the road and hit a take-away bar. It happened at 7:300pm, was on a main road, the bus had passengers on board and there were customers in the shop. frightening stuff. Luckily no-one was badly hurt.

The most frightening aspect to the crash was the driver had no memory of the last five kilometres of the trip. She had been stung by a wasp earlier in the day and gone of a pharmacy where she got some antihistamine tablets.

She attended work, got her bus and away she went. She left the depot and 5km later plowed into the occcupied shop. (If she had not veered to the left the bus would have failed to take a corner and driven into a petrol station.)

The point of this is to illustrate how easy it is to be 'medicated' to the point of being a danger. The same dangers arise with epileptics and diabetics, either undiagnosed or having an episode, blood pressure disorders, ectera as well as physical problems like the aged, or dehydration where the driver becomes a danger to all those around him/her without always being conscious of it.

There are many more greater dangers on the road then a car going of the speed limit while being driven by a driver who knows what he is doing.

This may be a bit off-topic, but there's an interesting parallel here.
It used to be a universally accepted 'fact' - many people still believe it - that colds are caused by cold weather, when it's actually peoples' tendency to congregate in warm, enclosed places, out of the cold, which spreads the disease.
Similarly, it's accepted 'fact' that speed causes accidents, and, also similarly, the current focus on speed limit enforcement fails to address the real causes of accidents, and may actually be making things worse.

Regards
Peter

WildCat posting this! - With his permission and because it is in interests of topic!

Impossible to predict how any medication will affect each individual as metabolism, general health, predisposition, idiosyncracies all vary!

Course I cannot give advice on every medicine you may use - but this is just to give you idea as to what to ask and tell GP.

But general and common:

ANTIHISTAMINES

Tell your doctor or pharmacist of other medications and if you suffer from high blood pressure, liver/kidney disorder, thyroid, urinary, pregnancy, glaucoma, prostate problems - can be decisive in generic brand to use.

Common side effects - Constipation, the runs, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting (rarer but not unknown - fatigue, confusion, decreased sexual desire, irregular heartbeat, vision changes)

Although less frequent with generics such as astemizole and terfenadine

Alcohol can increased side-effects of dizziness and drowsiness and can even induce severe sedation.

Other interactions: Antidepressants, axiolytics, other antihistamines (Of same generic group), tranquillizers INCREASES the effects of the antihistamine. Likewise the antihistamine on these medications!


Antacids will DECREASE the effects (small drop of Andrews may help with the nausea and drowsiness to some extent! )

Anti-inflammatories, oestrogen, progesteron and oral contraceptives will be compromised in effect by antihistamine.

Bear in mind that atihistamine will deplete Vit C (which is natural antihistamine in property and that excessive intake of alkaline foods (lettuce, tomataoes, potatoes, cream, fruits, etc - but most of these convert to more acid if you chew properly!) may decrease the excretion of these drugs and lead to overdose

ANTACID

generic - aluminium hydroxide

Doctor/pharmacist need to know if you have acute stomach pain, constipation, runs, hernia, liver/kidney, stomach bleed, pregnancy, prostate, retain urine. Inform of any other medication as well.

Overdose can cause fatigue, dental problems and if you do suffer for any drowsiness - do not drive!

Side effects are very rare but palpitations, dry mouth blurred vision with Kolanticon brands

if you are on betablockers - contact doctor/pharmacist as reactions are unpredictable!

Chew food properly as you need to create the enzyme ptyalin in your saliva. Antacids deplete Vits A, C and B complex and disturb phosphorus, magnesium anc calcium levels as well!

ANTIDEPRESSANTS

Large trolley load of these - you need to tell your doctor everything. They can cause drowsiness, dizziness, low blood pressure, fever, sweat, dental problems, vision disorders, and you certainly would not "feel the speed" effectively in a car. Has even caused some aggression in some cases.

React unpredictably with other antidepressant brands, analgesics, aspirins, anticoagulants (warfarin etc) and increase side effects of antihistamines and decongestants. (Aggression being one side effect)

ANTIVIRALS

(Zovirax, Lemsips et al)

Blurred vision can occur if medications are mixed with alcohol, and if the medication is generic of amantadine (see label!)

ASPIRINS

Again reacts badly with alcohols (sedative) and and anticoagulents (because if is blood thinner itself!) Can cause respiratory problem. You also need to tell your dentist if you have taken aspirin - especially if you are having tooth removed!

Greatest danger is taking with other medicines by mistake. If you mix aspirin brands - leads to ulcers and enteric coated aspirin should not be taken with antacid on this basis. Van cause deafneess and ringing in the ears - not good when driving as you do not hear the BiB's sirens when he is doing you for speeding! Also - the stomach upset - you would speed to get to nearest loo!


ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES

(Ibuprofen, Nurofen, Benoral, naproxen, ketoprofen etc.)

Need to mention heart disease, eye disorders, peptic ulcer, blood pressure, pregnancy, pyschological disorders, bowel problems, urine problem, digestion. If you are having treatment which means anaesthesia - let them know! Reacts!


Avoid indigestion remedies, sunbathing (you burn!). Can cause drowsiness if alcohol is consumed, but most common side effects are digestive! Relatively safe to drive though!


PARACETAMOL

(Solpadeine, Disprol, Disprin, Calpol, co-codamo)

Drowsiness and dizziness are very common side effects as is vomiting. Alcohol should be avoided completely with these medicines - risk of severe liver damage.

Taken with sleeping pill, barbiturates and alcohol - reactions unpredictable.,

Effects of contraceptives (side effects and effectiveness) are affected by paracetamols and aspirins and antinauseants increase the side effects and the effectiveness of this group.

Too much Vit C and drug is slow to excrete. Also amino acids will reduce liver damage caused by this medicine.

These are just some of the very common items in use by many drivers. There are so many - so ask the doc, the chemist and mention anything you think is relevant!

WildCat (posting with permission as probably relevant information!)