Allegra Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Allegra (fexofenadine) is an antihistamine used to treat allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and a runny nose in adults and children. It also treats hives caused by chronic idiopathic urticaria in adults and children over 12 years of age. Allegra is a second-generation antihistamine that is much less likely to cause drowsiness compared with some older antihistamines, and it is available over the counter without a prescription.

What is Allegra Tablet

Allegra (fexofenadine) is an antihistamine used to treat allergy symptoms, including sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and a runny nose in adults and children. It can also be used to treat hives caused by chronic idiopathic urticaria in adults and children over 12 years of age. Allegra is available over the counter without a prescription.

Allegra Tablet uses

• Treats allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose in adults and children
• Treats hives caused by chronic idiopathic urticaria in adults and children over 12 years of age
• Allegra-D is used for nasal and sinus congestion caused by allergies and colds

Benefits of Allegra Tablet

• Second-generation antihistamine that is much less likely to cause drowsiness and sedation compared with some older antihistamines because it does not easily cross the blood-brain barrier

How Allegra Tablet works

Allegra works by blocking histamine-1 receptors. Histamine is a chemical released in response to an allergen that causes allergy symptoms like watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, itching, and hives. By binding to these receptors, Allegra stops histamine from causing these effects, which reduces allergy symptoms.

Allegra Tablet dosage

Take Allegra exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Take this medicine only with water. Take the disintegrating tablet on an empty stomach. Shake the oral suspension (liquid) before you measure a dose; use the dosing cup provided, or a medicine dose-measuring device, not a kitchen spoon.

Children's Allegra Allergy 12-hour Dissolve Tabs should only be removed from the package just before they are taken; place the tablet on the tongue and allow it to dissolve without chewing, swallowing several times as it dissolves. Allegra-D Allergy & Congestion tablets should be swallowed whole; do not divide, crush, chew, or dissolve the tablet.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse. Do not take Allegra with fruit juice such as apple, orange, or grapefruit. Do not take with antacids containing aluminum or magnesium. If a dose is missed on a dosing schedule, skip the missed dose and do not take two doses at one time.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablets
• Oral suspension

Side effects of Allegra Tablet

Common

• Headache
• Back pain
• Cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sinus pain, sore throat

Serious

• Allergic reaction: hives, difficult breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, unusual tiredness)
• New or worsening cough
• Pain
• Signs of an ear infection: fever, ear pain or full feeling, trouble hearing, drainage from the ear, fussiness in a child

Warnings and precautions

Ask a doctor before using Allegra if you are pregnant. Ask a doctor before using Allegra if you are breastfeeding. Ask a doctor or pharmacist if this medicine is safe to use if you have kidney disease.

• Do not use this medicine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to it or any of its ingredients.
• Do not take Allegra with fruit juice such as apple, orange, or grapefruit.
• Get emergency help immediately if you have hives along with trouble swallowing, dizziness or loss of consciousness, swelling of the tongue, swelling in or around the mouth, trouble speaking, wheezing, problems breathing, or drooling, as these may be signs of anaphylactic shock, which can be life-threatening if not treated right away.
• This product is not a substitute for an epinephrine injector. If you have been prescribed one for anaphylaxis or severe allergy symptoms, never use this product instead of it, and carry your epinephrine injector with you at all times.
• Do not use this product to try to prevent hives from a known cause such as foods, insect stings, medicines, latex, or rubber gloves, because it will not stop hives from occurring in these cases.
• Ask a doctor before use if your hives are an unusual color, look bruised or blistered, or if your hives do not itch.
• Do not take Allegra-D 24 HR if you are currently taking a prescription monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) for depression, psychiatric, or emotional conditions, or Parkinson's disease, or for 2 weeks after stopping an MAOI drug.
• Do not take Allegra-D 24 HR if you have difficulty swallowing.
• Older adults may be more sensitive to the effects of this medicine; if you are 65 or older, ask a doctor before taking it.
• This medicine may contain phenylalanine and could be harmful if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).
• Only take the recommended amount, don't take it with aluminum or magnesium antacids, and avoid fruit juices while using this product.
• Using Allegra with other drugs that make you drowsy, such as opioids, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, or anxiety or seizure medicines, can worsen drowsiness; ask your doctor before combining them.
• Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using fexofenadine with other medications, especially ketoconazole or erythromycin.

Storage

• Store this medicine in its original package at room temperature, away from moisture and heat
• Do not allow liquid medicine to freeze

When to see a doctor

• Stop using this medicine and ask a doctor if an allergic reaction occurs, if symptoms do not improve after 3 days of treatment, or if the hives have lasted more than 6 weeks.
• Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to fexofenadine such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Stop using fexofenadine and call your doctor right away if you have flu-like symptoms, a new or worsening cough, pain, or signs of an ear infection.
• If you think you have taken too much, seek emergency medical attention; overdose symptoms may include dry mouth, dizziness, or drowsiness.

Alternatives

• Bilastine
• Levocetirizine
• Desloratadine
• Loratadine
• Cetirizine