Allegra 120: Uses, How It Works, Side Effects
Also known as: Allegra, Allegra 120 mg, Allegra 120 tablet, Allegra tablet, Fexofenadine 120 mg tablet, Fexofenadine hydrochloride 120 mg
Allegra 120 is a tablet containing 120 mg of fexofenadine, a non-sedating antihistamine. It is used to relieve allergy symptoms such as sneezing, a runny or itchy nose and itchy, watery eyes. It is usually taken once a day and is less likely than older antihistamines to cause sleepiness. It eases symptoms but does not remove the allergy.
- Active ingredient
- Fexofenadine 120 mg
- Type of medicine
- Antihistamines
- Used for
- Allergic rhinitis
- Starts working in
- About 1 hour
- Effect lasts
- About 24 hours
- With or without food
- Either; avoid taking it with fruit juice
- Alcohol
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist
- Pregnancy
- Ask your doctor
- Habit-forming
- No
- Made by
- VERIFY on pack
Pharmacist review in progress. This page is based on the sources listed below and is being checked by our registered pharmacist.
On this page
- What is Allegra 120 used for?
- How does Allegra 120 work?
- How to take Allegra 120
- Side effects of Allegra 120
- Who should be careful
- Medicines and things that interact with Allegra 120
- If someone takes too much
- Storage
- Regulatory status in India
- Other brands with the same medicine
- Other strengths and forms
- Common questions
What is Allegra 120 used for?
Allegra is used to relieve the symptoms of allergic rhinitis and, at other strengths, hives.
- Allergic rhinitis, including hay fever
- Sneezing and a runny, blocked or itchy nose
- Itchy, watery or red eyes caused by allergy
- Long-lasting itchy hives (chronic idiopathic urticaria), at the strength a doctor advises
How does Allegra 120 work?
Fexofenadine blocks H1 histamine receptors. Histamine is the chemical released during an allergic reaction that causes sneezing, itching and a runny nose, so blocking it eases these symptoms. Very little fexofenadine enters the brain, which is why it is called non-sedating.
What happens in your body after you take it
You swallow the tablet
The tablet breaks down in the stomach and fexofenadine is absorbed from the gut. Fruit juice and some antacids can reduce how much is absorbed.
It reaches the blood within a few hours
Levels in the blood peak about 1 to 3 hours after a dose. Many people notice relief within about an hour.
It blocks histamine receptors
Fexofenadine attaches to H1 histamine receptors in the nose, eyes and skin. Histamine can no longer bind there, so sneezing, itching and a runny nose settle.
Very little reaches the brain
Fexofenadine is pumped out of brain cells, so it causes less sleepiness than older antihistamines. A few people can still feel drowsy or dizzy.
It leaves mostly unchanged
Only a small part is changed by the liver. Most leaves the body unchanged, mainly in the bile and faeces and partly in the urine, over many hours, so one dose lasts about a day.
How to take Allegra 120
Take Allegra exactly as your doctor advises or as printed on the pack. It is usually taken once a day, and a doctor decides the strength and dose for children, older people and people with kidney problems.
- Swallow the tablet whole with water. It can be taken with or without food.
- Take it with water, not fruit juice. Grapefruit, orange and apple juice can reduce how much is absorbed.
- Leave about 2 hours between this tablet and antacids that contain aluminium and magnesium.
- Do not take it together with another antihistamine, such as cetirizine or levocetirizine, unless a doctor says so.
- Allegra 120 is a tablet for adults and children aged 12 and over. For younger children a doctor chooses a suitable form such as the oral suspension.
- See a doctor if symptoms do not improve, if you have trouble breathing, or if hives keep coming back.
Side effects of Allegra 120
Fexofenadine is generally well tolerated. Headache, drowsiness, dizziness and nausea are the most common effects.
Uncommon or mild
- Headache
- Drowsiness or dizziness
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Dry mouth
- Tiredness
Rare but serious: get medical help
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction: swelling of the face, lips or throat, difficulty breathing, chest tightness or a sudden widespread rash
- Fast or irregular heartbeat, or fainting
- Fits (seizures), which have been reported rarely
Who should be careful
Most people can take fexofenadine, but a few need to check with a doctor first.
When the label says not to use it
- Allergy to fexofenadine or any ingredient of the tablet
- Kidney disease: a doctor may want to start with a lower dose
- Heart rhythm problems or heart disease
- Past allergic reaction to fexofenadine or any ingredient of the tablet
- Driving, using machines or work needing full alertness, until you know how it affects you
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding: use only if a doctor advises it
- Older adults: ask a doctor about the dose
- Children: give only at the dose and in the form a doctor advises
Medicines and things that interact with Allegra 120
Fexofenadine has few interactions, but some products change how much of it is absorbed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about everything you take.
- Antacids that contain aluminium and magnesium: can reduce absorption; leave about 2 hours between doses
- Fruit juices such as grapefruit, orange and apple: can reduce absorption; take the tablet with water
- Other antihistamines: taking two together is not advised unless a doctor says so
- Erythromycin and ketoconazole: raise fexofenadine levels, though studies showed no important effect on heart rhythm
- Alcohol and sedating medicines: may add to drowsiness in some people
Effects on lab tests
- Skin allergy (prick) tests: antihistamines can weaken the skin reaction and give a false negative result
If someone takes too much
Taking too much fexofenadine can cause dizziness, drowsiness and a dry mouth. Call 112 or go to the nearest hospital and take the pack with you, especially if a child has taken it.
Storage
Store as directed on the pack, usually in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and out of the reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date.
Regulatory status in India
Approved for sale in India. Single-ingredient fexofenadine is not on the CDSCO list of banned medicines, but some fixed-dose combinations that contain fexofenadine have been banned in India, so check that the pack lists fexofenadine only. Check the schedule printed on the pack.
Other brands with the same medicine
Other brands and generic tablets containing fexofenadine 120 mg work the same way. Check the ingredients and strength printed on the pack, because fexofenadine is also sold as 180 mg tablets, as a suspension for children and in combinations with other medicines.
Other strengths and forms
Allegra is also sold as 180 mg tablets and as an oral suspension for children. Check the pack to be sure which strength and ingredients you have. Children's doses are set by age, as a doctor advises.
Common questions
What is Allegra 120 used for?
Allegra 120 contains fexofenadine and is used to relieve allergy symptoms such as sneezing, a runny or itchy nose, and itchy, watery eyes. At the strength a doctor advises, fexofenadine is also used for long-lasting hives. It eases symptoms but does not remove the allergy.
Does Allegra 120 make you sleepy?
It is called non-sedating and is less likely to cause sleepiness than older antihistamines, but a few people still feel drowsy or dizzy. Until you know how it affects you, take care when driving or using machines.
Can I take Allegra 120 with fruit juice?
It is better to take it with water. Grapefruit, orange and apple juice can reduce how much fexofenadine your body absorbs, so it may work less well.
Can I take Allegra 120 with antacids?
Leave a gap. Antacids containing aluminium and magnesium can reduce how much is absorbed, so the label advises about 2 hours between the two. Ask your pharmacist if you are unsure.
How long does Allegra 120 take to work?
Many people notice relief within about 1 hour, and one dose lasts around a day. Symptoms may return if you meet your trigger again.
Is Allegra 120 an antibiotic or a steroid?
No. It is an antihistamine. It does not kill germs and is not a steroid. It blocks histamine, the chemical that causes allergy symptoms.
What is the difference between Allegra 120 and Allegra 180?
Both contain fexofenadine; 180 mg is a higher-strength tablet. The right strength depends on the condition and your doctor's advice, so do not switch or double up on your own.
Is Allegra 120 safe in pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
Ask your doctor first. The label says to use it in pregnancy only if clearly needed, and information on breastfeeding is limited. Do not start or stop any allergy medicine on your own during pregnancy.
Can children take Allegra 120?
The 120 mg tablet is for people aged 12 and over. For younger children there are other forms, such as a suspension, with doses set by age, so ask a doctor.
Is Allegra 120 habit-forming?
No. Fexofenadine is not addictive.
Sources
- Allegra (fexofenadine hydrochloride) tablets and oral suspension: product information. Sanofi India
- Fexofenadine. NHS (UK)
- Side effects of fexofenadine. NHS (UK)
- Common questions about fexofenadine. NHS (UK)
- Taking fexofenadine with other medicines and herbal supplements. NHS (UK)
- Fexofenadine. StatPearls, National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), US National Library of Medicine
- List of drugs prohibited for manufacture and sale through gazette notifications under section 26A of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)