Fexofenadine hydrochloride tablets
"Effective for symptoms of pollen from grass, trees and flowers. Contains the same active ingredient as Telfast. Helps prevent itchy, watering eyes, runny nose, sneezing, and coughing."
What is fexofenadine?
You take fexofenadine tablets to treat allergic rhinitis, which is commonly caused by hay fever or other allergies.
What is fexofenadine used for?
Fexofenadine tablets are used to treat allergic rhinitis. This is caused by allergies, most commonly hay fever.
How does it work?
Fexofenadine contains fexofenadine hydrochloride, an antihistamine. This active ingredient works to relieve the symptoms of allergic rhinitis by blocking the effects of histamines.
Your body produces histamines when it comes into contact with something you are allergic to. This could be pollen from grass, trees and flowers, animal hair or insect bites.
When you get an allergic reaction caused by histamines, the symptoms include itchy, watery eyes, a runny nose and sneezing or coughing. The reaction may also include hives and itching. You can even experience headaches or tiredness.
How to use fexofenadine
Fexofenadine is a treatment you might not need to take every day. You might want to take a tablet on days when you have symptoms of hay fever. For example, when the pollen count is higher in the summer which can trigger hay fever symptoms. On the other hand, you may find you want to take fexofenadine more regularly so you can prevent symptoms from developing.
Our doctors will advise on how to take your medication. During treatment:
- The recommended dose is one 120mg tablet a day, with water, before a meal.
- Swallow it whole, without crushing or splitting.
- Ideally you should take the medication at the same time each day, so maybe set a reminder.
- If you forget to take your tablet, don’t take a double dose. Just take your next tablet at the usual time.
You should feel fexofenadine starting to work within an hour. The symptom relief lasts for 24 hours, right up until your next dose. Fexofenadine 120mg is specifically licensed for the treatment of hay fever.
Treatment results
Fexofenadine is an effective early-stage treatment for hay fever. You should feel relief from symptoms within an hour of taking it and for a full 24 hours, until your next dose. It has the added benefit over other antihistamines of being classed as a non-drowsy treatment.
Side effects of fexofenadine
As with all medications, when taking fexofenadine there’s a chance you may experience side effects. Up to 1 in 10 people may experience headaches, drowsiness, dizziness and feeling sick (nausea).
This medication is classed as non-drowsy. However, up to 1 in 100 people will experience the side effects of tiredness or sleepiness.
Stop taking fexofenadine tablets and tell your doctor straight away if you experience what could be signs of a serious allergic reaction. These include swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat, hot flushes, chest tightness and difficulty breathing.
Up to 1 in 10 people may experience headaches, drowsiness, dizziness, feeling sick (nausea). These are described as common side effects.
Additional, more rare side effects include sleeping disorders, bad dreams, nervousness, blurred vision, a fast or irregular heartbeat, diarrhoea, skin rash and itchy hives.
For full details of correct use and possible side effects, see the fexofenadine patient information leaflet. If you’re worried about side effects, contact us in your Patient Record.
Product features
Antihistamine tablet
Take one a day to treat hay fever
Non-drowsy treatment
What is fexofenadine?
You take fexofenadine tablets to treat allergic rhinitis, which is commonly caused by hay fever or other allergies.
What is fexofenadine used for?
Fexofenadine tablets are used to treat allergic rhinitis. This is caused by allergies, most commonly hay fever.
How does it work?
Fexofenadine contains fexofenadine hydrochloride, an antihistamine. This active ingredient works to relieve the symptoms of allergic rhinitis by blocking the effects of histamines.
Your body produces histamines when it comes into contact with something you are allergic to. This could be pollen from grass, trees and flowers, animal hair or insect bites.
When you get an allergic reaction caused by histamines, the symptoms include itchy, watery eyes, a runny nose and sneezing or coughing. The reaction may also include hives and itching. You can even experience headaches or tiredness.
How to use fexofenadine
Fexofenadine is a treatment you might not need to take every day. You might want to take a tablet on days when you have symptoms of hay fever. For example, when the pollen count is higher in the summer which can trigger hay fever symptoms. On the other hand, you may find you want to take fexofenadine more regularly so you can prevent symptoms from developing.
Our doctors will advise on how to take your medication. During treatment:
- The recommended dose is one 120mg tablet a day, with water, before a meal.
- Swallow it whole, without crushing or splitting.
- Ideally you should take the medication at the same time each day, so maybe set a reminder.
- If you forget to take your tablet, don’t take a double dose. Just take your next tablet at the usual time.
You should feel fexofenadine starting to work within an hour. The symptom relief lasts for 24 hours, right up until your next dose. Fexofenadine 120mg is specifically licensed for the treatment of hay fever.
Treatment results
Fexofenadine is an effective early-stage treatment for hay fever. You should feel relief from symptoms within an hour of taking it and for a full 24 hours, until your next dose. It has the added benefit over other antihistamines of being classed as a non-drowsy treatment.
Side effects of fexofenadine
As with all medications, when taking fexofenadine there’s a chance you may experience side effects. Up to 1 in 10 people may experience headaches, drowsiness, dizziness and feeling sick (nausea).
This medication is classed as non-drowsy. However, up to 1 in 100 people will experience the side effects of tiredness or sleepiness.
Stop taking fexofenadine tablets and tell your doctor straight away if you experience what could be signs of a serious allergic reaction. These include swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat, hot flushes, chest tightness and difficulty breathing.
Up to 1 in 10 people may experience headaches, drowsiness, dizziness, feeling sick (nausea). These are described as common side effects.
Additional, more rare side effects include sleeping disorders, bad dreams, nervousness, blurred vision, a fast or irregular heartbeat, diarrhoea, skin rash and itchy hives.
For full details of correct use and possible side effects, see the fexofenadine patient information leaflet. If you’re worried about side effects, contact us in your Patient Record.
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Fexofenadine hydrochloride tablets FAQs
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How long does fexofenadine take to work?
Fexofenadine will start to work within an hour, relieving the symptoms of hay fever.
How long does fexofenadine last?
Fexofenadine offers relief from symptoms for a full 24 hours, until you take your next dose.
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Where can I buy fexofenadine?
You can get fexofenadine on prescription or buy packs of tablets from a pharmacy.
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Fexofenadine warnings
Due to a lack of research, we recommend against taking fexofenadine while you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
Your GP or pharmacist should be able to advise on suitable hay fever treatments suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding parents.
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Fexofenadine drug interactions
As always, it’s important to tell the doctor if you’re taking any other medications when you ask for fexofenadine. Certain medications interfere with fexofenadine and increase the chance of side effects. For example, if you're taking indigestion remedies that contain aluminium or magnesium, you shouldn’t use them within two hours of taking fexofenadine.
Some drinks can increase your risk of side effects too. Avoid grapefruit, orange and apple juice. Drinking alcohol while taking fexofenadine isn’t advised either because it could make you feel sleepy.
Can I drink alcohol while taking fexofenadine?
Even though this medication is classed as non-drowsy, drinking alcohol with it could make you sleepy. So it’s best to avoid.
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How to store fexofenadine hydrochloride tablets
This medicine doesn’t require any special storage conditions, but you should keep it out of sight and reach of children.
Use the medicine before the last day of the month shown on the box after ‘EXP’.
Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines you don’t need anymore.
To help protect the environment, never dispose of any medicines down sinks or drains, or in household waste.
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Alternative fexofenadine treatments
If you know what’s causing your allergic rhinitis, try to limit your exposure to it. Nasal rinses using drops or sprays can also help keep your nose free of irritants.
Steroid nasal sprays or decongestants are often used for managing the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Combining fexofenadine with these could be an even more effective treatment.
You can use a range of eye-drops and nasal sprays to help treat hay fever symptoms. It may be possible to use fexofenadine with these, for even more effective relief. Before combining any treatments, always read the patient leaflet or get advice from a pharmacist or doctor.
