What if I forget to take it? Do not take 2 doses to make up for a forgotten dose. What if I take too much? Common side effects Common side effects of fexofenadine happen in more than 1 in people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away: feeling sick nausea feeling sleepy headaches dry mouth feeling dizzy Serious side effects It's rare to have a serious side effect with fexofenadine.
Urgent advice: Contact for advice now if:. Serious allergic reaction In rare cases, fexofenadine may cause a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis. Information: You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme. Visit Yellow Card for further information. What to do about: feeling sick — stick to simple meals and do not eat rich or spicy food.
If this does not help, talk to your doctor. It's best not to drink alcohol. Take an everyday painkiller like paracetamol or ibuprofen.
Move slowly and carefully. Avoid coffee, cigarettes, alcohol and recreational drugs. If the dizzy feeling does not get better within a couple of days, speak to your pharmacist or doctor.
Fexofenadine and pregnancy Fexofenadine is not usually recommended if you're pregnant as there is not a lot of information about its use in pregnancy. Fexofenadine and breastfeeding If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, you can take fexofenadine while breastfeeding.
Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:. Check with your pharmacist or doctor if you're taking: ketoconazole , a medicine to treat fungal infections dronedarone, a medicine used in people who have had cardioversion to control their heart rate erythromycin , an antibiotic filgotinib or leflunomide, medicines to treat arthritis letermovir, a medicine used in people who have had a stem cell transplant pibrentasvir or velpatasvir, medicines to treat hepatitis C infection rifampicin, an antibiotic teriflunomide, a medicine to treat multiple sclerosis indigestion remedies containing aluminium or magnesium — leave about 2 hours between taking fexofenadine and taking your indigestion remedy medicines to treat cancer 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's very little information about taking herbal remedies and supplements with fexofendadine.
Ask your pharmacist for advice. Important: Medicine safety Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.
How does fexofenadine work? Fexofenadine blocks the effects of histamine and reduces these symptoms. When will I feel better? You should start to feel better within 1 to 2 hours. How long should I take fexofenadine for? It depends on why you're taking fexofenadine. Is it safe to take fexofenadine for a long time? Can I drink alcohol with it? Is there any food or drink I need to avoid? Can I drive or ride a bike with it?
Does fexofenadine cause weight gain? Fexofenadine is not known to cause weight gain. What's the difference between fexofenadine and other antihistamines? What's the difference between fexofenadine and other non-drowsy antihistamines?
Can I take it with painkillers? Can I take 2 different antihistamines together? Do not take 2 antihistamines together unless your doctor advises you to. Can I take fexofenadine with other hay fever treatments? Can I take fexofenadine at higher doses than on the packet? Will it affect my fertility? Will it affect my contraception?
Can lifestyle changes relieve hay fever? Tips for when you're outside Do not cut grass or walk on grass. Wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into your eyes. Put Vaseline around your nostrils to help trap pollen. Shower and change your clothes after you have been outside to wash off pollen. Tips for when you're inside Keep windows and doors shut as much as possible.
Vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth. Do not keep fresh flowers in the house. Do not smoke or be around smoke as it makes hay fever symptoms worse. And because of their powerful sedating qualities, antihistamines are also the active ingredients found in numerous over-the-counter sleep aids.
The story begins with histamines, which are chemical compounds that play a couple of roles in the body, though they're best known for their involvement in the body's local immune responses. When you get injured or your immune system detects a potentially dangerous foreign substance, certain white blood cells and tissue cells release histamines that seek out and attach to other cells that have a histamine receptor.
Here, the histamines induce an inflammatory response — they dilate the blood vessels, increasing blood flow to the site of injury or invasion. They also make blood vessels more permeable, allowing proteins and white blood cells to seep into the damaged or infected tissue.
But there are side effects to this healing process. Some antihistamines are less likely to cause drowsiness than others. Reactions vary considerably from one person to another. What relieves your symptoms without making you sleepy may be different from what works for someone else.
When you find one that works for you, stick with it — check chemical ingredients and dosages before changing brands or generics. An added benefit is that second-generation antihistamines last longer than Benadryl.
Allegra is generally the least sedating. Nasal spray antihistamines are also somewhat less likely to make you sleepy, since they target nasal passages directly rather than sending medicine throughout your body in the bloodstream. These are available only by prescription. Regular use of an intranasal corticosteroid is not only safe but also an effective way to reduce use of antihistamines.
They take a few days to start working, so you need to be patient. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using an antihistamine with an intranasal corticosteroid the first few days.
Some intranasal corticosteroids are available over-the-counter.
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