ALLEGRA

Allegra which contains fexofenadine as an active ingredient is an antihistamine which reduces the effects and symptoms of naturally occurring chemical histamine in the body which produces sneezing, watery eyes, running nose and itching. Allegra is also used for the treatment of the symptoms of seasonal allergies like hay fever in case of adults and children. Allegra might also be used in the treatment of skin itching & hives which might be caused by a condition called as chronic idiopathic urticaria in case of adults & children.

Composition of Allegra

Allegra typically contains Fexofenadine hydrochloride as an active ingredient and is available in the form of tablets.

Allegra is an off white to white coloured crystalline powder, which is freely dissovle in ethanol and methanol, slightly dilute in water and chloroform & unsolvable in hexane. In case of a tablet, the different strengths it is available at is 30, 60 and 180 mg of Fexofenadine hydrochloride with the other inactive ingredients being croscarmellose sodium, microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinized starch and magnesium stearate . The aqueous tablet coating is made up of polyethylene glycol, hypromellose, povidone, iron oxide blends, titanium dioxide and silicone dioxide.

Allegra is also available in the ODT format which disintegrates it, once administered in the mouth. This ODT contains thirty milig fexofenadine hydrochloride with other inactive ingredients being polyethylene glycol, citric acid anhydrous, magnesium stearate, mannitol, crospovidone, methacrylate copolymer, povidone K-30, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium bicarbonate, aspartame, sodium starch glycolate, natural & artificial orange flavor, alcohol anhydrous and artificial cream flavour.

Allegra, in case of an oral suspension contains Six miligram fexofenadine hydrochloride for each mL and includes inactive ingredients like propylene glycol, propylparaben, butylparaben, edetate disodium, xanthan gum, titanium dioxide, poloxamer 407, sodium phosphate monobasic monohydrate, cream flavor of artificial raspberry, sodium phosphate dibasic heptahydrate, sucrose, xylitol & purified water.

Side effects of Allegra

In case of Allegra, the following are the severe side effects which one might experience after consumption of the medication:

• Hives
• Difficulty in breathing;
• Swelling of the face, tongue, lips or throat
• Fever, chills
• body aches
• Cough or some other flu symptoms.

In case of Allegra, the following are the common side effects which one might experience after consumption of the medication:

• mild drowsiness
• Feeling of tiredness
• nausea, diarrhea, or upset stomach
• menstrual cramps
• Headache
• muscle or back pain.

Uses of Allegra

Fexofenadine is a type of an antihistamine which is used for relieving allergy symptoms related to watery eyes, itching eyes/ nose, runny nose, sneezing, hives & itching. It works through blocking of a certain natural substance called as histamine that the body makes in case of an allergic reaction.

Contraindications of Allegra

Allegra should not be taken by one is he/she is allergic to Allegra or any of its ingredients. Also it should be avoided by them suffering from a kidney disease. Allegra should be avoided with fruit juices like apple, grapefruit and orange.

Pregnancy and Allegra

Allegra is an FDA pregnancy category C medication whose effects are not known on an unborn baby, and hence it needs to be avoided in case of pregnancy. Also, it is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk or not and hence this medicine needs to be avoided when a woman is breastfeeding.