Allegra D

Generic Name: fexofenadine and pseudoephedrine (FEX oh FEN a deen and SOO doe ee FED rin)
Brand Names: Allegra-D 24 Hour, Allegra-D

What is Allegra D?

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Allegra D contains a combination of fexofenadine and pseudoephedrine. Fexofenadine is an antihistamine that reduces the natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.

The pseudoephedrine in Allegra D is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).

Allegra D is used to treat sneezing, cough, runny or stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes, hives, skin rash, itching, and other symptoms of allergies and the common cold.

Allegra D may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Allegra D

Always ask a doctor before giving Allegra D to a child. Death can occur from the misuse of cough and cold medicines in very young children. Do not use any other over-the-counter cold, allergy, or sleep medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. If you take certain products together you may accidentally take too much of a certain drug. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains an antihistamine or decongestant.

Do not use Allegra D if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take cough or cold medicine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.

Allegra D can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of Allegra D.

Before taking Allegra D

Do not use Allegra D if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take cough or cold medicine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take Allegra D.

• kidney disease;

• diabetes;

• glaucoma;

• heart disease or high blood pressure;

• diabetes;

• a thyroid disorder;

• an enlarged prostate; or

• problems with urination.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Allegra D is harmful to an unborn baby. Before taking Allegra D, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Fexofenadine and pseudoephedrine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use Allegra D without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take Allegra D?

Take Allegra D exactly as it has been prescribed by your doctor. Do not use the medication in larger amounts, or use it for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Cold medicine is usually taken only for a short time until your symptoms clear up.

Always ask a doctor before giving Allegra D to a child. Death can occur from the misuse of cough and cold medicines in very young children. Take Allegra D with a full glass of water. Do not crush, chew, or break an Allegra-D 24 extended-release tablet. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking or opening the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time. Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 7 days of treatment, or if you have a fever with a headache, cough, or skin rash.

If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time if you have taken Allegra D within the past few days.

Allegra D can cause you to have unusual results with allergy skin tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are taking an antihistamine.

Store Allegra D at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since cold or allergy medicine is usually taken only as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include feeling restless or nervous, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, warmth or tingly feeling, or seizure (convulsions).

What should I avoid while taking Allegra D?

Allegra D can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of Allegra D.

Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as sleeping pills, pain medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by Allegra D.

Avoid using antacids within 15 minutes before or after taking Allegra D. Antacids can make it harder for your body to absorb this medication.

Avoid taking diet pills, caffeine pills, or other stimulants (such as ADHD medications) without your doctor's advice. Taking a stimulant together with a decongestant can increase your risk of unpleasant side effects.

Do not use any other over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, or sleep medication without first asking your doctor or pharmacist. Antihistamines and decongestants are contained in many combination medicines. If you use certain products together you may accidentally use too much of a certain drug. Read the label of any other medicine you are using to see if it contains an antihistamine or decongestant.

Allegra D side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Allegra D: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat;

• confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;

• severe dizziness, anxiety, restless feeling, or nervousness;

• increased blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, trouble concentrating, chest pain, numbness, seizure);

• confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;

• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms; or

• urinating less than usual or not at all.

Less serious Allegra-D side effects may include:

• blurred vision;

• dry mouth;

• nausea, stomach pain, constipation;

• mild loss of appetite, stomach upset;

• warmth, tingling, or redness under your skin;

• sleep problems (insomnia);

• restless or excitability (especially in children);

• skin rash or itching;

• dizziness, drowsiness;

• problems with memory or concentration; or

• ringing in your ears.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Allegra D?

Before taking Allegra D, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• medicines to treat high blood pressure;

• a diuretic (water pill);

• medication to treat irritable bowel syndrome;

• bladder or urinary medications such as oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol) or tolterodine (Detrol);

• aspirin or salicylates (such as Disalcid, Doan's Pills, Dolobid, Salflex, Tricosal, and others);

• a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), carteolol (Cartrol), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal), sotalol (Betapace), timolol (Blocadren), and others; or

• antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), clomipramine (Anafranil), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), and others.

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Allegra D. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about Allegra D.

• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.

Copyright 1996-2009 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 2.01. Revision Date: 04/08/2009 2:08:16 PM.

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