piriton is a first generation antihistamine.
Its very good standby for allergic reactions.
Everyone should have a bottle in the first aid kit, not just the allergic population!
However is does have side effects, loss of appitite, sleepyness, headaches etc
My son seemed to have those reactions and spent his day sucking his thumb on the sofa, and loosing weight/not growing etc.
There are plenty of 2nd generation antihistimaines that work well, and do have such big side effects.
My son has tried many , had a allergic reaction to clairitin, and a behavour problem with zytec.
we stopped using daily piriton after we discovered his food allergens, and spent a lot of money and time on controling his environment as he was allergic to all environmental allergies at one point.
It seemed a better plan to only use if totally required.
His skin improved dramatically, and he started to sleep better.
His first 4 hourly solid sleep was a 9 months, and he first slept all the way through at 2 ish. ( with out scratching himself in his sleep, so it was a healthy deep sleep)
But we do have a set list of drugs for use during the tree pollen season, ( he has grown out of hay fever ,thank goodness)
We do try to start using the antihistmine 2 weeks before his season starts, as this makes them more effective.
we shower him more, we damp dust his room, etc etc.
nasel sprays , eye drops and antihismine, vasline on nose, hats , wrap around sun glaasses all are part of our battle against the evil tree pollen!!