Fexofenadine

Take one Fexofenadine tablet once a day, before a meal, with a glass of water. Swallow the tablet whole and do not chew, crush or split it. Try to take the tablet at around the same time each day to keep symptom relief consistent.

Do not take fexofenadine with apple juice, orange juice or grapefruit juice, as these can reduce how well the medicine is absorbed.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is nearly time for your next dose. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one and continue with your usual schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet.

Fexofenadine can be taken at any time of day, as long as it is taken before a meal. Many patients prefer to take their tablet in the morning before breakfast, particularly if hay fever symptoms tend to be worse during the day. If you find that fexofenadine causes mild drowsiness (which is uncommon but possible), an evening dose may be more suitable.

If you regularly experience hay fever in a particular season, starting fexofenadine one to two weeks before the pollen count typically rises in your area may help reduce the severity of your symptoms once allergy season begins.

The recommended maximum dose of Fexofenadine for hay fever in adults and children aged 12 and over is one tablet per day. Taking more than the recommended dose will not provide additional symptom relief and may increase the risk of side effects such as dizziness, headache or drowsiness.

If your hay fever symptoms are not well controlled on one tablet a day, do not double up the dose. Speak to your GP or pharmacist, who may recommend adding a steroid nasal spray, antihistamine eye drops or, where appropriate, the higher-strength 180mg fexofenadine tablet (which is licensed for hives, not hay fever).

Fexofenadine is classed as a non-drowsy antihistamine. It is much less likely to cause sleepiness than older sedating antihistamines such as chlorphenamine (Piriton) or promethazine, because it does not significantly cross the blood-brain barrier.

However, drowsiness is listed as a common side effect (up to 1 in 10 people), and a small number of patients will feel some sleepiness or fatigue when taking it. If fexofenadine causes drowsiness, avoid driving or operating heavy machinery until you know how it affects you, and consider taking your dose in the evening instead.

The half-life of fexofenadine is approximately 11 to 15 hours, which means it takes about 2.5 to 3 days for fexofenadine to be fully cleared from the body. The effect on hay fever symptoms typically lasts up to 24 hours, which is why a once-daily dose is sufficient.

Both Fexofenadine and Cetirizine are non-drowsy, second-generation antihistamines used to treat hay fever and other allergic conditions. Differences include:

• Fexofenadine is generally considered the least sedating of the second-generation antihistamines, as it crosses the blood-brain barrier the least. It is taken once a day before a meal.
• Cetirizine may cause mild drowsiness in a small proportion of people. It is available without a prescription and is taken once a day with or without food.

Both antihistamines can help relieve hay fever symptoms. If one does not give you adequate relief from hay fever symptoms, your GP or pharmacist may suggest switching to the other antihistamine. Fexofenadine and cetirizine should not be taken together at the same time, as combining two oral antihistamines does not generally improve symptom control and may increase side effects.

Loratadine is another second-generation, non-drowsy antihistamine commonly used for hay fever. The main differences are:

• Loratadine is available without a prescription and is typically taken once a day. It can be taken with or without food.
• Fexofenadine tends to be considered more potent at standard doses than loratadine for nasal allergy symptoms in some clinical studies, and should be taken before a meal.

If loratadine has not provided adequate relief, fexofenadine is often suggested as a next step. The two antihistamines should not be taken together at the same time.

Piriton (chlorphenamine) is a sedating, first-generation antihistamine. While some prescribers may occasionally suggest a short-term sedating antihistamine at night for severe hay fever symptoms that interfere with sleep, fexofenadine and Piriton should not be routinely taken together. Combining two antihistamines does not usually improve symptom control during the day and increases the risk of drowsiness, dry mouth and other side effects.

If you are considering combining antihistamines, speak to your GP for tailored advice.

Alcohol is not specifically listed as an interaction with Fexofenadine, and the manufacturer does not state that alcohol must be avoided. However, alcohol itself can dilate blood vessels in the nose and worsen hay fever symptoms such as a runny or blocked nose. Histamine is also naturally present in some alcoholic drinks (particularly red wine and beer), which may aggravate allergic symptoms.

If you choose to drink alcohol while taking fexofenadine, do so in moderation and be aware that any drowsiness associated with the tablet may be increased.

There is limited safety data on the use of fexofenadine during pregnancy. For most pregnant patients with hay fever, GPs and the UK Teratology Information Service (UKTIS) generally recommend non-drug measures first, followed by intranasal corticosteroids or loratadine or cetirizine where an oral antihistamine is needed, as these have a longer history of use in pregnancy. Always speak to your GP or midwife before starting to take any antihistamine while pregnant.

Fexofenadine is not generally recommended during breastfeeding as there is limited clinical data on how much it passes into breast milk. If an oral antihistamine is needed while breastfeeding, loratadine and cetirizine are often preferred because they have more established safety data. Speak to your GP or pharmacist for individual advice.

Fexofenadine 120mg is available in the UK both as a generic prescription-only medicine (POM) and as a pharmacy (P) medicine under the brand name Allevia, which was reclassified in 2017 to be sold over the counter from a registered pharmacy.

At Pharmica, fexofenadine 120mg is supplied following a short online consultation reviewed by a prescriber, ensuring the treatment is suitable for you.

Fexofenadine can be taken for as long as hay fever symptoms persist, which for many people in the UK is throughout the pollen season from March to September. If you find you need to take fexofenadine year-round, it is recommended to speak with your GP, as perennial (year-round) allergic rhinitis may benefit from additional treatments such as an intranasal corticosteroid.

Weight gain is not listed as a side effect of fexofenadine. Fexofenadine is a peripheral antihistamine that does not significantly affect appetite-regulating centres in the brain in the way some older, sedating antihistamines can. If you have noticed unexpected weight changes while taking fexofenadine, it is recommended to speak to your GP, as other factors may be involved.

Anxiety is not listed as a recognised side effect of fexofenadine. Some patients report restlessness or insomnia, which are listed as rare side effects (less than 1 in 1,000 people). If you experience new or worsening anxiety symptoms while taking fexofenadine, speak to your GP for advice and consider whether other factors may be contributing.

Most medicines can be taken safely alongside fexofenadine, but some can affect how it works:

• Antacids containing aluminium or magnesium (such as Maalox or Gaviscon Advance) - leave at least two hours between taking these and fexofenadine, as these treatments could reduce absorption.
• Erythromycin and ketoconazole - these treatments can increase the level of fexofenadine in the blood, although this has not been linked to increased side effects in clinical studies.
• Apalutamide - this can reduce the effect of fexofenadine by lowering its blood levels.
• Fruit juices (apple, orange or grapefruit) - while these are not medications, they can significantly reduce how much fexofenadine is absorbed when taken close to your dose.

Always speak to your GP or pharmacist about other medicines you take, including those bought over the counter or herbal remedies, before starting to take fexofenadine.

Telfast is the original branded version of fexofenadine hydrochloride. Both contain the same active ingredient in the same dose, and both work in the same way. The generic Fexofenadine is medically equivalent to Telfast but is cheaper as generic medicines do not carry the branding and marketing costs of the original product.

Do not take Fexofenadine if you:

• Are allergic to fexofenadine hydrochloride or any of the other ingredients listed in the patient information leaflet
• Are under 12 years of age

Speak to your GP or pharmacist before taking Fexofenadine if you:

• Have kidney problems
• Have heart disease, as antihistamines may rarely cause palpitations or a faster heartbeat
• Are aged 65 or over, as your body may process medicines more slowly
• Are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Have a history of seizures or epilepsy
• Are taking other medicines, particularly antacids, erythromycin, ketoconazole or apalutamide

Always read the patient information leaflet supplied with the medicine before starting treatment.

The active ingredient in each film-coated tablet is fexofenadine hydrochloride.

The other (inactive) ingredients vary slightly between generic manufacturers but typically include microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, maize starch, povidone, magnesium stearate, and a film coating made of hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E171), macrogol and colourants such as iron oxides (E172).

For the full list of ingredients specific to your supplied product, please refer to the patient information leaflet for Fexofenadine Hydrochloride Film-Coated Tablets.