Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Fexofenadine tablets if you:
- have a history of kidney or liver problems
- have or have had heart disease
- are elderly
You should not take Fexofenadine if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant and the tablets are not recommended during breastfeeding. Other antihistamines may be more suitable.
Are there any foods and drinks I should avoid when taking Fexofenadine?
There are certain foods and drinks you should avoid while taking Fexofenadine.
- Avoid alcohol, as it may make you sleepy
- Avoid grapefruit, apple, and orange juices as these make you more likely to get side effects
Are there any medications that interact with Fexofenadine?
The following medicines can lower the effectiveness of Fexofenadine or increase the chance of you having side effects. Speak to your doctor if you are taking any of the following:
- Apalutamide
- Berotralstat
- Betahistine
- Bulevirtide
- Cabazitaxel
- Ceritinib
- Darolutamide
- Dronedarone
- Elexacaftor
- Eliglustat
- Ibrutinib
- Isocarboxazid
- Ivacaftor
- Lapatinib
- Leflunomide
- Letermovir
- Lorlatinib
- Mirabegron
- Neratinib
- Olaparib
- Osimertinib
- Phenelzine
- Pibrentasvir
- Pitolisant
- Rifampicin
- Roxadustat
- Sotorasib
- Tepotinib
- Teriflunomide
- Tranylcypromine
- Tucatinib
- Vandetanib
- Velpatasvir
- Vemurafenib
- Venetoclax
If you are taking an indigestion remedy containing aluminium or magnesium you should wait 2 hours after your dose of Fexofenadine.
Can I take painkillers with Fexofenadine?
Yes. It’s entirely safe to take painkillers with Fexofenadine if they’re suitable for you.
Fexofenadine alternatives
There are other non-drowsy antihistamines that are as effective as Fexofenadine. If Fexofenadine makes you sleepy, you may want to try:
- Acrivastine
- Cetirizine
- Loratadine
- Desloratadine
- Levocetirizine
Fexofenadine vs Cetirizine
Both Fexofenadine and Cetirizine are antihistamines and work in the same way. Cetirizine is more likely to cause drowsiness than Fexofenadine. However, there is some evidence that its effects are longer-lasting.
Fexofenadine vs Loratadine
Fexofenadine and Loratadine work in the same way; they’re second-generation anti-histamines. Fexofenadine generally causes lower levels of drowsiness than Loratadine. Studies suggest that Fexofenadine is more effective in treating hives than Loratadine.
Can I take two antihistamines together?
If your symptoms are very severe, your GP may prescribe a sedating antihistamine to take at night in order to help you get some sleep. It’s important that you only do this on the advice of your doctor.
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