Fexofenadine

What is Fexofenadine?

• Fexofenadine is a drug used to treat certain allergy symptoms. It blocks a chemical released during an allergic response that causes itching, sneezing, runny nose, wheezing, and watery eyes.
• Fexofenadine, sold under the brand name Allegra among others, is an antihistamine pharmaceutical drug used in the treatment of allergy symptoms, such as hay fever and urticaria.

Fexofenadine

Fexofenadine 3D ball

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What are the uses of this medicine?

Temporarily relieves these symptoms due to hay fever or other upper respiratory allergies:

• runny nose
• sneezing
• itchy, water eyes
• itching of the nose or throat

How does this medicine work?

• Therapeutically, fexofenadine is a selective peripheral H1 blocker.
• It is classified as a second-generation antihistamine because it is less able to pass the blood–brain barrier and cause sedation, compared to first-generation antihistamines.
• It has also been called a third-generation antihistamine, although some controversy is associated with the use of the term.

Who Should Not Use this medicine?

• No sufficient studies have been done in patients over age 65, so elderly patients are advised to use caution when using fexofenadine, particularly when concern for renal impairment exists.

Is this medicine FDA approved?

• On January 25, 2011, the FDA approved over-the-counter sales of fexofenadine in the United States, and Sanofi Aventis' version became available on March 4, 2011.

How should this medicine be used?

• Take one 180 mg tablet with water once a day; do not take more than 1 tablet in 24 hours

What are the dosage forms and brand names of this medicine?

Fexofenadine is marketed under many brand names worldwide as of January 2017, including:

• Agimfast, Alafree, Alanil, Alercas, Alerfedine, Alerix, Alertam, Alexia, Allegix, Allegra, Allegratab, Allemax, Allerfast, Allerfen, Allerfexo, Allergo, Allergyna, Allerphast, Alrin, Alterfast, Aller-Fex, Altifex, Altiva, Aspen, Axodin, Axofen, BiXin, Bosnum, Dinafex, Elwigra, Ewofex, Fastel, Fastofen, Fastway, Fe Min, Feksine, Fenadex, Fenadin, Fenafex, Fenax, Fenofex, Fentradol, Fesler, Fexadyne, Fexal, Fexalar, Fexallegra, Fexaway, Fexet, Fexgen, Fexidine, Fexigra, Fexine, Fexo, Fexodane, Fexodine, Fexodis, Fexofast, Fexofen, Fexofenaderm, Fexofenadin, Fexofenadina, Fexofenadine, Fexofénadine, Fexofep, Fexofin, Fexogen, Fexomin, Fexon, Fexona, Fexonadinea, Fexoquit, Fexoral, Fexoril, Fexostad, Fexotine, Fexovid, Fixal, Fixit, Fixodin, Flexofen, Foxin, Fynadin, Glodas, Hasalfast, Histafree, Imexofen, Kofixir, Lai Duo Fei, Mayfex, Min Jie, Nefoxef, Neofex, Nolargy, Nosedex, Odafen, Oregra, Radifex, Raltiva, Rapido, Rhinogan, Ridrinal, Rinofen, Rinolast, Ritch, Rui Fei, Sailexi, Tefodine, Telfadin, Telfast, Telfastin, Telfexo, Tellerge, Terfemax, Ternafast, Tocimat, Tofexo, Torfast, Vifas, Vifasesh, X-Dine, Xergic, and Zefeksal.

As of January 2017, it was marketed as a combination drug with pseudoephedrine under brand names including:

• Alerfedine D, Allegra-D, Allergyna-D, Altiva-D, Dellegra, Fexo Plus, Fexofed, Fixal Plus, Ridrinal D, Rinolast D, and Telfast D.

• As of January 2017, it was marketed as a combination drug with montelukast under brand names including Fexokast, Histakind-M, Monten-FX, Montolife-FX, Montair-FX and Novamont-FX.

What side effects can this medication cause?

• The most common side effects include headache, back and muscle pain, miosis or pinpoint pupils, nausea, drowsiness, and menstrual cramps. Anxiety and insomnia have also been rarely reported.
• The most common side effects demonstrated during clinical trials were cough, upper respiratory tract infection, fever, and otitis media for children ages 6 to 11 and fatigue for children ages 6 months to 5 years.
• A patient over the age of 80 experienced auditory hallucinations and extreme energy bursts.

What special precautions should I follow?

Do not use

• if you have ever had an allergic reaction to this product or any of its ingredients.
• Ask a doctor before use if you have
• kidney disease. Your doctor should determine if you need a different dose.

When using this product

• do not take more than directed
• do not take at the same time as aluminum or magnesium antacids
• do not take with fruit juices (see Directions)

• Stop use and ask a doctor if an allergic reaction to this product occurs. Seek medical help right away.
• If pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use.
• Keep out of reach of children.
• In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.

Fexofenadine has not been linked to serum enzyme elevations during therapy or to instances of clinically apparent acute liver injury.

What to do in case of emergency/overdose?

• In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline of your country. In the United States, call 1-800-222-1222.

• Overdose related information is also available online at poisonhelp.org/help.
• In the event that the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services. In the United States, call 911.

Can this medicine be used in pregnancy?

• In the United States, fexofenadine is classified as pregnancy category C, and should only be used if the benefits outweigh the risks.
• No studies have been done to evaluate the presence of fexofenadine in breast milk. Therefore, nursing women are urged to take caution while using fexofenadine.

Can this medicine be used in children?

• adults and children 12 years of age and over take one 180 mg tablet with water once a day; do not take more than 1 tablet in 24 hours
• children under 12 years of age do not use

What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?

• safety sealed: do not use if carton is opened or if individual blister units are torn or opened
• store between 20º and 25ºC (68º and 77ºF)
• protect from excessive moisture

First Generation Antihistamines

• Brompheniramine
• Carbinoxamine
• Chlorcyclizine
• Chlorpheniramine
• Clemastine
• Cyclizine
• Cyproheptadine
• Dexbrompheniramine
• Dexchlorpheniramine
• Dimenhydrinate
• Diphenhydramine
• Doxylamine
• Hydroxyzine
• Meclizine
• Phenyltoloxamine
• Promethazine
• Triprolidine

Second Generation Antihistamines

• Acrivastine
• Cetirizine
• Fexofenadine
• Levocetirizine
• Loratadine
• Desloratadine

• Dailymed label info on Fexofenadine
• FDA Fexofenadine

Fexofenadine Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? WikiMD's DocFinder can help find general and specialist physicians.	Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials.

• Dailymed label info on Fexofenadine
• FDA Fexofenadine

Fexofenadine Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? WikiMD's DocFinder can help find general and specialist physicians.	Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials.