Posted By Geoff Burt On Radio 5 today it was mentioned that taking medication for hay fever increased the chance of an accident on the roads by 6 times. Bearing in mind that using a mobile whilst driving apparently increases the chance of an accident by a factor of 4, can we now look forward to a specific law banning driving whilst under the influence of hay fever medication. Whilst I know what the answer will be - the logic defies me.

Posted By John Webster Most current hay-fever medications do not cause significant drowsiness, although one of - at least, for me - the better ones was withdrawn a few years ago following heart scares. Those that do carry warnings which I hope are heeded by most sufferers. Nevertheless, the Police do have the powers to pull anyone driving whilst impaired through any type of drug Now the prospect of a hay-fever sufferer driving WITHOUT suitable medication really IS scary. Try sneezing without closing your eyes!!!

Posted By Eric Burt I don't know whether specific laws are the answer but I thought there was already a law about driving whilst unfit through drink / drugs? However Geoff is right to raise the issue of driving whilst impaired / tired. Cast your mind back to the Selby accident where the Landrover driver fell asleep at the wheel. He was subsequently sent to prison (I think it was for manslaughter) so a specific law was not needed in that case. If anything, I would introduce a tachograph type system for cars where drivers were forced / advised to take a break of 15 minutes after 2 hours driving. In this age of technology I wouldn't have thought it would be too difficult to link this to the speedometer. After all, road safety is too important an issue to be left to the driver. Eric

Posted By Brett Day A little bit of sensationalism creeping in here I think, the older anti histamines did cause drowsiness and there were very strict warnings about not driving, most anti histamines currently on the market are of the non drowsy type, however, if in the clinical trials one person was affected by drowsiness, it goes on the precautions sheet so for all it states 'may cause drowsiness' unless you are in the small percentage that is affected, the warning is academic. The anti histamine astemizole was withdrawn after heart scares, but when I looked at the report it did note that you were likely to have a 1 in 10,000 chance of having an adverse reaction and or arythmia if you were already suffering from a cardiac condition, in which case you shouldn't be prescribed those drugs. But dry facts like that don't sell papers but the scare stories do. I used to take this drug and found it to be the only one that was affected, so was most aggrieved to find it taken of the market. Speaking to a pharmicist, by way of comparision you stand a 1 in 1000 chance of havng an adverse reaction to aspirin and a 1 in 5000 chance of having an adverse reaction to paracetamol. I currently work in rail (LUL) and the LUL Occupational Health Unit has a list of drugs (allowed and banned) and there are anti histamine drugs that are allowed, as they are classed as non drowsy.