Common customer conversations
COMMON CUSTOMER
CONVERSATIONS
40-year-old Billy is a pilot who is looking for a product that works quickly and is long-lasting to help with his hayfever symptoms. He is concerned as some antihistamines can cause drowsiness and he needs to stay alert for work. He doesn’t take any regular medicines or have any medical conditions.
Fexofenadine is a good option for people who require a high level of focus and concentration, and has been approved by the European & American Aviation Authority for pilots and flight crew.11 This is because, unlike some antihistamines, it is non-drowsy in most people. It also acts within 1 hour and provides 24 hour relief for multiple symptoms of allergic rhinitis, including hayfever. Before taking the medication, he should read the information leaflet to check understanding and suitability.
18-year-old Ellie was advised by her nurse to purchase Allevia 120mg tablets to manage her hayfever symptoms. However, she is concerned as she thought this was a prescription-only medicine, and she is worried that it will be very strong. She is not pregnant or breastfeeding and doesn’t have any medical conditions. The only medicine she currently uses is Opticrom eye drops for hayfever symptoms, which has helped.
The safety profile of Allevia 120mg Tablets is considered to be well established, and there has been extensive use of the medicine for over 20 years.12 It effectively relieves symptoms of airborne allergies like hayfever without causing drowsiness in most people, and does not cause anticholinergic effects (e.g. dry mouth, constipation, confusion) unlike some other antihistamines. She should still read the information leaflet to check suitability and understanding.
28-year old Roberto is asking if he can use his Allevia tablets for any other kinds of allergies. He had some tablets that he used for hayfever in the summer but has recently been around his friend’s cat and has had an itchy, runny nose and watery eyes since.
Allevia 120mg tablets can be recommended all year round for multi-symptom relief from hayfever, pet, dust and mould allergies. He should read the information leaflet to ensure that this medication is still suitable for him and he understands how to take it.
1. Craun KL and Schury MP. Fexofenadine. 2022. [Online]. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556104/#!po=60.7143
2. Crumbie L. Blood-brain barrier. 2022. [Online].
Available at: https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/the-blood-brain-barrier
3. Saucier-Sawyer JK, et al. Systemic delivery of blood-brain barrier targeted polymeric nanoparticles enhances delivery to brain tissue.
J Drug Target. 2015; 23(7-8): 736-749.
4. Pardridge WM. Drug transport across the blood-brain barrier. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2012 Nov; 32(11): 1959-1972.
5. Patient.info. Antihistamines. 2014. [Online]. Available at: https://patient.info/doctor/antihistamines-pro#:~:text=Larger%20molecules%20and%20less%20lipophilic%2C%20and%20thus%20less,degree%20and%20cause%20psychomotor%20impairment%20-in%20susceptible%20individuals
6. Simpson K and Jarvis B. Fexofenadine: a review of its use in the management of seasonal allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria. Drugs. 2000 Feb;59(2): 301-321.
7. Orzechowski RF, et al. Comparative anticholinergic activities of 10 histamine H receptor antagonists in two functional models. 2005;
506(3): 527-264.
8. Canonica GW and Blaiss M. Antihistaminic, anti-inflammatory, and antiallergic properties of the nonsedating second-generation antihistamine desloratadine: a review of the evidence. 2011. World Allergy Organ J. Feb; 4(2): 47-53.
9. Allergic Rhinitis, NHS. 2022. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/allergic-rhinitis/
10. Allevia SmPC. Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/13208/smpc/print
11. Allergy – Antihistamine & Immunotherapy medication. Federal Aviation Administration.2022.
Available at: https://www.faa.gov/ame_guide/media/AllergyAntihistamineImmunotherapyMedication.pdf
12. PAR: Reclassification of Allevia 120mg tablets from Prescription Only Medicine (POM) to General Sales List (GSL) - GOV.UK.2020.
Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-assessment-report-of-the-reclassification-of-allevia-120mg-tablets
Online references last accessed February 2024
Product information
Allevia 120 mg tablets
Presentation: Allevia (fexofenadine hydrochloride) 120mg film-coated tablets, containing equivalent to 112mg of fexofenadine. Indications: Relief of symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis in adults and children 12 years and older. Dose and administration: Adults and Children ≥ 12 years: The recommended dose is one tablet (120mg) once daily taken before a meal. Children (<12 years old): Allevia should not be used in children under 12 years of age. Elderly; Renally or hepatically impaired patients: studies indicate that dose adjustment is not necessary, but Allevia should only be administered with care in these patients on the advice of a doctor. Contraindications: Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients. Warnings and precautions: Patients with a history of or ongoing cardiovascular disease should be warned that antihistamines as a medicine class have been associated with adverse reactions such as tachycardia and palpitations, and should use Allevia 120 mg only on the advice of their doctor. Interactions: Coadministration of fexofenadine hydrochloride with erythromycin or ketoconazole has been found to increase the level of fexofenadine in plasma. The changes were not accompanied by any effects on the QT interval or an increase in adverse reactions compared to the medicinal products given singly. It is advisable to leave 2 hours between administration of fexofenadine hydrochloride and aluminium and magnesium hydroxide containing antacids. Pregnancy: Allevia should not be used during pregnancy unless on the advice of a doctor. Breastfeeding: Allevia 120 mg is not recommended for mothers breastfeeding their babies. Breastfeeding women should only use Allevia 120 mg if advised to do so by a doctor. Adverse Reactions: The following undesirable effects have been reported in clinical trials, with an incidence similar to that observed with placebo. Common (≥1/100 and˂1/10): Headache, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea. Uncommon (≥1/1,000 and ˂1/100): Fatigue. The following undesirable effects have been reported in postmarketing surveillance. Frequency not known: Hypersensitivity reactions with manifestations such as angioedema, chest tightness, dyspnoea, flushing and systemic anaphylaxis, insomnia, nervousness, sleep disorders or nightmares/excessive dreaming (paroniria), tachycardia, palpitations, diarrhoea, rash, urticaria, pruritus. RRP (ex VAT): 30 tablets pack: £8.74, 15 tablets pack: £4.91, 7 tablets pack: £2.91. Legal category: GSL. Product Licence Number: PL 53886/0065. Product licence holder: Sanofi, 410 Thames Valley Park Drive, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 1PT, UK.Further information is available from Sanofi, 410 Thames Valley Park Drive, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 1PT, UK. Email: uk-medicalinformation@sanofi.com Document number: MAT-GB-2300132 (v1.0) Date of preparation: June 2023.
Adverse events should be reported. Reporting forms and information can be found at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.
Adverse events should also be reported to the Sanofi drug safety department on 0800 0902314