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Overdosage
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include irregular or unusually slow or fast heartbeat, unusual nervousness or
excitement, rapid breathing, confusion, hallucinations, and seizures.
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How should you take this medication?
Dosing¡X
The dose of fexofenadine may be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average dose
of fexofenadine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so
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Possible food and drug interactions when taking this medication
Anticholinergics (medicine for abdominal or stomach spasms or cramps)¡XSide effects, such as dryness of mouth, of antihistamines or anticholinergics may be more likely to occur
Erythromycin (e.g.
E-Mycin) or
Ketoconazole (e.g., Nizoral)¡XUse of these medicines with fexofenadine may cause an increased amount of fexofenadine in the blood.
Central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medi
ines that cause drowsiness)¡XEffects, such as drowsiness, of CNS depressants or antihistamines may be worsened; also, taking maprotiline or tricyclic antidepressants may cause some side effects of eit
er of these medicines, such as dryness of mouth, to become more severe
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Possible Side Effect
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they seek medical attention immediately.
Check wi
th your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Incidence rare
- Chest tightness ; feeling of warmth, redness of the face, neck, arms and occasionally, upper ches
t; large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, sex organs; shortness of breath, difficult or labored breathing
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Why is this medication prescribed?
Fexofenadine ( Brand Name : Allegra ) is an antihistamine. It is used to relieve the symptoms of hay fever and hives of the skin.
Antihistamines work by preventing the effects of a substance
called histamine, which is produced by the body. Histamine can cause itching, sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes. Also, in some persons histamine can close up the bronchial tubes (air passages of t
he lungs) and make breathing difficult. Histamine can also cause some persons to have hives, with severe itching of the skin.
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Cautions
Before taking fexofenadine,
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to fexofenadine or any other drugs.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescript
ion medications you are taking, especially cold or allergy medications, erythromycin (E-Mycin), ketoconazole (Nizoral), and vitamins.
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney diseas
e.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking fexofenadine, call your doctor.
if you are having surgery, incl
uding dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking fexofenadine
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