Fexofenadine

About fexofenadine

Fexofenadine is an antihistamine medicine that helps with the symptoms of allergies.

It's used to treat hay fever, allergic conjunctivitis (red, itchy eye), eczema and hives (nettle rash). It's also used for reactions to insect bites and stings and for some food allergies.

Fexofenadine is known as a non-drowsy antihistamine. It's less likely to make you feel sleepy than some other antihistamines.

Fexofenadine is available on prescription. It comes as tablets.

Key facts

It's usual to take fexofenadine once a day. Children sometimes take it twice a day.
Fexofenadine is classed as a non-drowsy antihistamine, but some people still find it makes them feel quite sleepy.
Common side effects include headache, feeling sleepy, dry mouth, feeling sick (nausea) and dizziness.
Don't drink grapefruit juice, apple juice or orange juice while you're taking fexofenadine. It might make you more likely to get side effects.
It's best not to drink alcohol while you're taking fexofenadine as it can make you feel sleepy.
Fexofenadine is also called by the brand name Telfast.

Who can and can't take fexofenadine

Fexofenadine tablets can be taken by adults and children aged 6 years and over.

Fexofenadine isn't recommended for people over 65 years old because there isn't much research on the medicine in this age group. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if you're over 65 and want to take fexofenadine.

Fexofenadine isn't suitable for some people. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you:

have had an allergic reaction to fexofenadine or any other medicines in the past
have problems with your liver or kidneys
have, or have ever had, heart problems
have epilepsy or another health problem that puts you at risk of seizures
are booked to have an allergy test - taking fexofenadine may affect the results, so you might need to stop taking it a few days before the test

How and when to take it

If you or your child have been prescribed fexofenadine, follow your doctor's instructions about how and when to take it.

How much should I take?

Fexofenadine comes as tablets (30mg, 120mg and 180mg).

How much you take depends on why you're taking it:

For hay fever - the usual dose for adults and children aged 12 years and over is 120mg once a day. The usual dose for children aged 6 to 11 years is 30mg twice a day. In this case, try to space the doses 10 to 12 hours apart.
For hives (nettle rash) - the usual dose for adults and children aged 12 years and over is 180mg once a day.

How to take it

If you're taking 30mg fexofenadine tablets, you can take them with or without food.

If you're taking 120mg and 180mg fexofenadine tablets, take them before a meal.

Always take your fexofenadine tablets with a drink of water. Swallow them whole - do not chew them.

When to take it

You may only need to take fexofenadine on a day you have symptoms, such as if you've been exposed to something you're allergic to like animal hair. Or you may need to take it regularly to prevent symptoms, such as to stop hay fever during spring and summer.

What if I forget to take it?

If you're taking fexofenadine once a day, do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Take the next dose at the usual time as prescribed by your doctor.

If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.

What if I take too much?

Fexofenadine is generally very safe. Taking too much is unlikely to harm you.

If you take an extra dose by mistake, you might get some of the common side effects. If this happens or you're concerned, contact your doctor.

Side effects

Like all medicines, fexofenadine can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

Common side effects

Common side effects of fexofenadine happen in more than 1 in 100 people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or don't go away:

feeling sick (nausea)
feeling sleepy
headache
dry mouth
feeling dizzy

Serious side effects

It's rare to have a serious side effect with fexofenadine.

Tell your doctor straight away if you have a fast or irregular heartbeat.

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction to fexofenadine.

A serious allergic reaction is an emergency. Contact a doctor straight away if you think you or someone around you is having a serious allergic reaction.

The warning signs of a serious allergic reaction are:

getting a skin rash that may include itchy, red, swollen, blistered or peeling skin
wheezing
tightness in the chest or throat
having trouble breathing or talking
swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat

These are not all the side effects of fexofenadine. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.

You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme.

How to cope with side effects

What to do about:

feeling sick (nausea) - stick to simple meals and don't eat rich or spicy food
feeling sleepy - try a different non-drowsy antihistamine. If this doesn't help, talk to your doctor
headache - take an everyday painkiller like paracetamol or ibuprofen
dry mouth - chew sugar-free gum or suck sugar-free sweets
feeling dizzy - lie down until the dizziness passes, then get up slowly. Move slowly and carefully. Avoid coffee, cigarettes, alcohol and recreational drugs. If the dizziness doesn't get better within a couple of days, speak to your pharmacist or doctor.

Cautions with other medicines

Some medicines and fexofenadine interfere with each other and increase the chances of you having side effects. Check with your pharmacist or doctor if you're taking:

midodrine, a medicine used to treat low blood pressure
ketoconazole, a medicine to treat fungal infections
erythromycin, an antibiotic
ritonavir or lopinavir, medicines used to treat HIV infection
rifampicin, an antibiotic
indigestion remedies containing aluminium or magnesium - leave about 2 hours between the times that you take fexofenadine and your indigestion remedy
any medicine that makes you drowsy, gives you a dry mouth, or makes it difficult for you to pee. Taking fexofenadine might make these side effects worse.

Mixing fexofenadine with herbal remedies and supplements

There might be a problem taking some herbal remedies and supplements alongside fexofenadine - especially ones that cause sleepiness, a dry mouth or make it difficult to pee.

Ask your pharmacist for advice.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Fexofenadine isn't normally recommended during pregnancy.

A similar antihistamine called loratadine is normally used first because there's more information to say that it's safe.

Talk to your doctor about the benefits and possible harms of taking fexofenadine. It will also depend on how many weeks pregnant you are and the reason you need to take fexofenadine.

Fexofenadine and breastfeeding

There's not a lot of information on the use of fexofenadine during breastfeeding, and so it's best not to take it.

It's usually safe to take similar antihistamines called loratadine and cetirizine while you're breastfeeding.

However, speak to your doctor before taking any antihistamine if your baby was premature, had a low birth weight or has other health problems.

For safety, tell your pharmacist or doctor if you're trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or if you're breastfeeding.

Common questions

How does fexofenadine work?

Fexofenadine is a medicine called an antihistamine.

When you come into contact with something you're allergic to, such as pollen, animal hair or fur, house dust or insect bites and stings, your body produces a chemical called histamine.

Usually histamine is a useful substance but in an allergic reaction it causes unpleasant symptoms including itchy, watery eyes, running or blocked nose, sneezing and skin rashes.

Fexofenadine blocks the effects of histamine and reduces these symptoms.

When will I feel better?

You should start to feel better within an hour or 2.

How long should I take fexofenadine for?

It depends on why you're taking fexofenadine.

You may only need to take it as a one-off dose or for a day or 2, for example if you have a reaction to an insect bite.

You may need to take fexofenadine for longer if you're taking it to prevent symptoms - for example, to stop hay fever when the pollen count is high.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure how long you need to take fexofenadine for.

Is it safe to take fexofenadine for a long time?

Fexofenadine is unlikely to do you any harm if you take it for a long time. However, it's best to take fexofenadine only for as long as you need to.

Can I drink alcohol with it?

It's best not to drink alcohol while you're taking fexofenadine as it can make you feel sleepy.

Is there any food or drink I need to avoid?

Don't drink grapefruit juice, orange juice or apple juice while taking fexofenadine. It might make you more likely to have side effects.

Can I drive or ride a bike with it?

Fexofenadine is classed as a non-drowsy antihistamine but it's still possible to feel sleepy after taking it.

If you're taking fexofenadine for the first time, see how it makes you feel before driving, cycling or using heavy machinery or tools.

Does fexofenadine cause weight gain?

Fexofenadine isn't known to cause weight gain.

What’s the difference between fexofenadine and other antihistamines?

Fexofenadine is known as a non-drowsy antihistamine. That's because it's less likely to make you feel sleepy than other, so-called 'sedating antihistamines' such as Piriton (chlorphenamine).

Most people prefer to take a non-drowsy antihistamine instead of a sedating one. An exception is when you want the medicine to make you sleepy, for example if you have itchy skin that’s keeping you awake.

What’s the difference between fexofenadine and other non-drowsy antihistamines?

Other non-drowsy antihistamines like acrivastine, cetirizine, loratadine, desloratadine and levocetirizine seem to work just as well as fexofenadine.

However, fexofenadine seems to be less likely to make you feel sleepy than other non-drowsy antihistamines.

If one non-drowsy antihistamine hasn't worked for you, it's worth trying another one.

Why is fexofenadine only available on prescription?

For a medicine to become available to buy without a prescription, it has to be shown to be safe enough to use without the need to see a doctor.

Unlike some other antihistamines, fexofenadine hasn't been through this process yet.

Can I take it with painkillers?

Yes, you can take fexofenadine together with paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Can I take more than one antihistamine together?

Sometimes doctors recommend that people with a severe itchy skin rash take 2 different antihistamines together for a few days.

As well as taking a non-drowsy antihistamine during the day (such as fexofenadine, cetirizine or loratadine), your doctor may suggest that you take a sedating antihistamine at night time if the itch is making it difficult to sleep.

Do not take 2 antihistamines together unless your doctor advises you to.

Can I take fexofenadine with other hay fever treatments?

Yes, it’s fine to take fexofenadine together with other hay fever treatments, for example steroid nasal sprays (such as Beconase, Rhinacort Aqua and Flixonase Nasules) or eye drops.

Can I take fexofenadine at higher doses than on the packet?

Your doctor might suggest you or your child take a higher dose of fexofenadine (up to 4 times the usual dose) for a severe itchy skin rash or angioedema (swelling underneath the skin).

Taking high doses of fexofenadine isn't suitable for everyone. Speak to your doctor if you don't think fexofenadine is working for you.

Will it affect my fertility?

There's no evidence that fexofenadine affects male or female fertility.

Will it affect my contraception?

Fexofenadine doesn't affect any type of contraception, including the contraceptive pill and the morning after pill.

Can lifestyle changes relieve hay fever?

It will help if you don't spend too much time outside if the pollen count is high.