Latest news with #Piriton
Glasgow Times
08-07-2025
- Glasgow Times
Boots forced to make huge change for customers in stores
Boots has been forced to take drastic action to prevent everyday medicines, such as Nytol, from being stolen. The high-street pharmacy giant and chemist has been forced to stash everyday medicines behind its tills after a wave of shoplifting swept through stores. Tried Nytol to help me sleep.... Woke an hour earlier than usual... Fail... — bad and mad OBE (@Returnofthemad) June 19, 2025 One mum told the Sun newspaper: 'This is a disgrace. People rely on getting hold of these medicines when in need. If shoplifters have stolen all the supplies the shelves will be soon be left empty. 'And that is surely what was happening. How sad Boots has to take such drastic action because of a bunch of selfish thieves.' Nytol and £9.95 boxes of hay fever tablets Piriton swapped out for dummies Signs tell customers to exchange them for the real thing after paying. It comes as retail crime is "out of control" and shoplifters are carrying out increasingly brazen and violent acts of theft because they do not fear any consequences, an industry body has said. The figures were published on Thursday in the annual crime survey from the British Retail Consortium (BRC), which represents more than 200 major retailers. Recommended reading: Andrew Goodacre, CEO of the British Independent Retailers Association, said he was "not surprised" by the figures. "The harsh reality of this is this is only the tip of the iceberg. We've been encouraging our members to report the incidents but a lot of them just don't bother reporting because historically they've had no response. "So there's still a huge gap between the crimes being committed and the report to the police."
Scottish Sun
05-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Boots forced to take drastic action to stop everyday medicines such as Nytol being stolen by ‘selfish thieves'
Scroll to read the staggering sum theft costs UK businesses last year 'HOW SAD' Boots forced to take drastic action to stop everyday medicines such as Nytol being stolen by 'selfish thieves' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BOOTS has been forced to stash everyday medicines behind its tills after a shoplifting spree. Packs of £6.60 sleep aid Nytol and £9.95 boxes of hay fever tablets Piriton have been swapped out for dummies at one store. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up Signs tell customers to exchange them for the real thing after paying in Croydon, South London. Last night outraged shopper, mum of two Fran Griffin, 45, told us: 'This is a disgrace. People rely on getting hold of these medicines when in need. 'If shoplifters have stolen all the supplies the shelves will be soon be left empty. 'And that is surely what was happening. How sad Boots has to take such drastic action because of a bunch of selfish thieves.' It comes just days after Boots announced plans to tackle serial shoplifters. The pharmacy chain was previously forced to take baby milk off shelves — and pricey fungal nail treatments. The high street chemist stashed the £25.99 Nailner kits behind counters, leaving empty boxes on the the shop floor. While last year reports stated the chain had stuck anti-theft gadgets on fake eyelashes worth as little as £1 and taken baby milk off shelves in some crime hit stores. In January, the British Retail Consortium reported the total cost of customer theft had soared to £2.2 billion in 2023/24. There were over 20 million incidents of theft last year compared to 16 million the previous year. Moment Co-op worker grabs fleeing shoplifter by the THROAT to stop him making off with arms full of stolen items Graham Wynn, of the BRC, told us: 'Shoplifting is not a victimless crime; it feeds through into higher prices for honest shoppers at the till." The firm was contacted for comment.
Western Telegraph
29-06-2025
- Health
- Western Telegraph
Can you mix hay fever tablets with medication and alcohol?
Peter Thnoia, superintendent pharmacist at NHS-registered online pharmacy PillTime, is urging the public to double-check medication ingredients. He warns people taking sleeping tablets or tranquillisers, such as diazepam or zopiclone, face a "heightened risk of developing breathing difficulties" when these drugs are mixed with certain allergy treatments. Can you take hay fever tablets with other medications? While the NHS advises that it's generally okay to take hay fever tablets with other medications, it's always crucial to check for potential interactions and side effects. It's also wise to consult with a pharmacist or GP before taking hay fever tablets alongside other medications. Mr Thnoia, from PillTime, said: 'Hay fever is hitting the country hard, but taking these sedating-style tablets is a no-go if you're already taking medication to help you get to sleep. 'Not only will they both combine to sedate you, but it can impact breathing, and make you short of breath. 'It can also lead to dizziness and in extreme cases people could even fall unconscious.' The concern centres around first-generation antihistamines – the older type of hay fever medication commonly sold under brand names such as Piriton and Benadryl. These drugs are known for causing drowsiness, which can become dangerous when combined with other sedatives. How do I know which hay fever tablets to take? Non-drowsy antihistamines, such as loratadine, cetirizine, and fexofenadine, are widely available and generally safe to take alongside sleep aids or tranquillisers. Mr Thnoia continued: 'These are becoming increasingly common on shelves and are less likely to cross the blood-brain barrier, so shouldn't cause the same sedative effects.' Even SSRIs, the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants - such as sertraline - may carry similar risks, particularly when combined with older-generation antihistamines. Can you drink alcohol while taking hay fever tablets? One of the most commonly mixed substances with antihistamines that isn't a medicine at all – but can have the same dangerous effect when combined – is alcohol. Recommended reading: And it's easy to forget while having a good time in the sun that you've had both in the same day. Mr Thnoia added: 'Alcohol significantly amplifies the sedative effect of first-generation hay fever tablets, which can result in severe impairment and lead to unconsciousness or serious accidents. 'Even non-drowsy antihistamines can occasionally react with alcohol, depending on individual sensitivity, so it's best to avoid alcohol altogether if you're thinking of allergy medication.'
Leader Live
29-06-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Can you mix hay fever tablets with medication and alcohol?
Peter Thnoia, superintendent pharmacist at NHS-registered online pharmacy PillTime, is urging the public to double-check medication ingredients. He warns people taking sleeping tablets or tranquillisers, such as diazepam or zopiclone, face a "heightened risk of developing breathing difficulties" when these drugs are mixed with certain allergy treatments. While the NHS advises that it's generally okay to take hay fever tablets with other medications, it's always crucial to check for potential interactions and side effects. It's also wise to consult with a pharmacist or GP before taking hay fever tablets alongside other medications. Mr Thnoia, from PillTime, said: 'Hay fever is hitting the country hard, but taking these sedating-style tablets is a no-go if you're already taking medication to help you get to sleep. 'Not only will they both combine to sedate you, but it can impact breathing, and make you short of breath. 'It can also lead to dizziness and in extreme cases people could even fall unconscious.' The concern centres around first-generation antihistamines – the older type of hay fever medication commonly sold under brand names such as Piriton and Benadryl. These drugs are known for causing drowsiness, which can become dangerous when combined with other sedatives. Non-drowsy antihistamines, such as loratadine, cetirizine, and fexofenadine, are widely available and generally safe to take alongside sleep aids or tranquillisers. Mr Thnoia continued: 'These are becoming increasingly common on shelves and are less likely to cross the blood-brain barrier, so shouldn't cause the same sedative effects.' Even SSRIs, the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants - such as sertraline - may carry similar risks, particularly when combined with older-generation antihistamines. One of the most commonly mixed substances with antihistamines that isn't a medicine at all – but can have the same dangerous effect when combined – is alcohol. Recommended reading: What is thunder fever and how does it affect your hay fever? 5 drinks that could help hay fever symptoms amid pollen bomb The hay fever hack all sufferers should know to avoid a season of the sniffles And it's easy to forget while having a good time in the sun that you've had both in the same day. Mr Thnoia added: 'Alcohol significantly amplifies the sedative effect of first-generation hay fever tablets, which can result in severe impairment and lead to unconsciousness or serious accidents. 'Even non-drowsy antihistamines can occasionally react with alcohol, depending on individual sensitivity, so it's best to avoid alcohol altogether if you're thinking of allergy medication.'
Daily Record
29-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Pharmacist warns of dangers of mixing hay fever pills with common medication
As the weather gets warmer, a pharmacist has issued a warning that people may be putting their health at risk by combing hay fever tablets with certain every day medicines A pharmacist has issued a warning that people may be unknowingly risking their health by combining hay fever tablets with everyday medications. Peter Thnoia, SuperIntendent Pharmacist at PillTime, is encouraging people to double-check medication ingredients as sales of allergy remedies surge with the arrival of warmer weather. He warns those taking sleeping tablets or tranquillisers, such as diazepam or zopiclone, that they face an increased risk of developing breathing difficulties when these drugs are combined with certain allergy treatments. "Hay fever is hitting the country hard, but taking these sedating-style tablets is a no-go if you're already taking medication to help you get to sleep", warns Peter. "Not only will they both combine to sedate you, but it can impact breathing, and make you short of breath. It can also lead to dizziness and in extreme cases people could even fall unconscious." The concern revolves around first-generation antihistamines – the older type of hay fever medication commonly sold under brand names such as Piriton and Benadryl. However, Peter suggests that safer alternatives are available. Non-drowsy antihistamines like loratadine, cetirizine, and fexofenadine are widely accessible and generally safe to take alongside sleep aids or tranquillisers. "These are becoming increasingly common on shelves and are less likely to cross the blood-brain barrier, so shouldn't cause the same sedative effects", he adds. Peter also warns that it's not just sleeping tablets that can create a harmful combination. Certain antidepressants, when mixed with drowsy hay fever tablets, can lead to sedation issues – and in the most severe cases can cause heart rhythm problems if taken over an extended period of time. He explains: "Tricyclic antidepressants – or TCAs, as they're known – are like sleeping tablets in that they're a powerful sedative, so anyone who takes them and then takes a drowsy hay fever tablet runs the risk of developing serious side effects. "Both medications are anticholinergic too, so taking both means people could start to see other issues, like dry mouth, blurred vision and constipation." Even SSRIs, the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants - such as sertraline - may carry similar risks, particularly when combined with older-generation antihistamines." Peter added: "SSRIs are some of the most common antidepressants prescribed, so many people are surprised to see that they can react badly when combined with everyday tablets to tackle allergies. "Each drug under the SSRI umbrella will have a sliding scale of side effects when it comes to drowsiness, but each one will have sedative properties, which is why it's recommended that you go for a non-drowsy medication when suffering from hay fever." Peter also warns against mixing one particular substance with antihistamines that isn't a medicine but can have a dangerously similar effect. He said: " Alcohol significantly amplifies the sedative effect of first-generation hay fever tablets, which can result in severe impairment and lead to unconsciousness or serious accidents. "Even non-drowsy antihistamines can occasionally react with alcohol, depending on individual sensitivity, so it's best to avoid alcohol altogether if you're thinking of allergy medication."
