Fexofenadine Hydrochloride 180mg Tablets

Fexofenadine 180mg is a once-daily, non-drowsy antihistamine tablet licensed to relieve the symptoms of chronic idiopathic urticaria — a long-lasting hives rash with no identifiable trigger. It is a pharmacy medicine for adults and children aged 12 years and over, and one tablet gives 24-hour relief from the itching and weals.

What is fexofenadine 180mg?

Fexofenadine hydrochloride is a second-generation antihistamine that blocks H1 histamine receptors. Because it barely crosses into the brain, it controls the itch without the heavy sedation caused by older antihistamines. The 180mg strength was reclassified from prescription-only to a pharmacy (P) medicine specifically for chronic idiopathic urticaria, so it can be supplied without a prescription after a short suitability check by the pharmacy team.

This is a different licence from the lower strength. If your symptoms are hay fever — sneezing, a runny nose, itchy eyes in pollen season — the correct product is fexofenadine 120mg tablets for hay fever, not this one.

What is fexofenadine 180mg used for?

Fexofenadine 180mg is licensed for the relief of symptoms associated with chronic idiopathic urticaria in adults and children 12 years and over. That means:

• Itchy weals (hives, nettle-rash) that keep appearing
• A rash that has been coming and going for six weeks or longer
• Hives with no identifiable cause — not a reaction to a specific food, drug or insect sting

It is not intended for a one-off allergic reaction, and it is not an emergency treatment. If a rash appears with swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or with any difficulty breathing, that is a medical emergency — call 999.

What is chronic idiopathic urticaria?

Urticaria is the medical name for hives: raised, itchy weals that come and go, often within hours, and can appear anywhere on the body. It is called chronic when it has been present most days for six weeks or more, and idiopathic when no trigger can be found. It is driven by histamine release from mast cells in the skin, which is why a daily antihistamine is the standard first-line treatment. For most people it settles over months to a few years.

How to take fexofenadine 180mg

• Adults and children 12 years and over: one 180mg tablet once a day.
• Take it before a meal, swallowed whole with a glass of water.
• Do not take two tablets in 24 hours. A second tablet does not improve control of the rash and increases the risk of side effects.
• Take it with water rather than fruit juice — apple, orange and grapefruit juice reduce how much you absorb.
• Leave at least 2 hours between this tablet and any indigestion remedy containing aluminium or magnesium.
• Take it every day rather than only on bad days; continuous dosing controls chronic urticaria far better than occasional use.

If your hives are no better after several weeks of daily treatment, or you are needing it continuously for months, see your GP — chronic urticaria sometimes needs a higher dose or a different treatment, and that decision needs a prescriber.

How long does fexofenadine 180mg take to work?

Relief usually begins within about an hour of the first tablet, with peak effect around six hours. For a chronic rash, though, judge it over days rather than hours: taken daily, it typically takes a few days of continuous dosing before the weals stop recurring.

Does fexofenadine 180mg make you drowsy?

It is classed as non-drowsy, and at the recommended dose most people are unaffected even at this higher strength. Drowsiness is listed as an uncommon side effect. Until you know how it affects you, take care driving or operating machinery and avoid alcohol.

Side effects of fexofenadine 180mg

The most commonly reported effects are:

• Headache
• Drowsiness or dizziness
• Nausea
• Dry mouth

Stop taking it and seek medical help immediately if you develop swelling of the face, lips or tongue, chest tightness or difficulty breathing.

Who should not take fexofenadine 180mg

Do not take it if you are allergic to fexofenadine or terfenadine, or to any other ingredient in the tablet. Speak to the pharmacist or your doctor first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, aged 65 or over, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease or a history of heart disease. Tell us about any other medicines you take, particularly indigestion remedies, erythromycin and ketoconazole.

Fexofenadine 120mg or 180mg — which do you need?

The strength follows the condition, not the severity. Fexofenadine 120mg is licensed for hay fever and seasonal allergic rhinitis. Fexofenadine 180mg is licensed for chronic idiopathic urticaria. Taking the 180mg tablet for hay fever, or doubling the 120mg for hives, is outside the licence — ask the pharmacist if you are unsure which applies to you. You can also compare our other antihistamine and allergy relief options.

Buy fexofenadine 180mg online

Fexofenadine 180mg is a pharmacy medicine, so a few short suitability questions are answered at the basket before the sale is completed — this is a routine pharmacy check, not a prescription consultation. Bury Healthcare Online is a GPhC-registered UK pharmacy (registration 1126145) and your order is checked and dispatched by our pharmacy team.

Always read the label and the patient information leaflet before use. If symptoms do not improve, speak to your pharmacist or doctor.

Medically reviewed by Hassan Khan, MPharm, Independent Prescriber — Superintendent Pharmacist, Bury Healthcare Online (GPhC-registered pharmacy 1126145). Last reviewed: July 2026.

Fexofenadine 180mg FAQs

{“@context”:”https://schema.org”,”@type”:”FAQPage”,”mainEntity”:[{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Can I take two fexofenadine 180mg tablets?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”No. The licensed dose is one 180mg tablet in any 24 hours. Taking two does not give better control of chronic urticaria and increases the chance of side effects such as headache and drowsiness. If one tablet a day is not controlling your rash, speak to your pharmacist or GP rather than doubling the dose – a higher dose in urticaria is a decision for a prescriber.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”What is fexofenadine 180mg used for?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Fexofenadine 180mg is licensed to relieve the symptoms of chronic idiopathic urticaria – a long-lasting hives rash with no identifiable cause – in adults and children aged 12 and over. The lower 120mg strength is the one licensed for hay fever.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”What is the difference between fexofenadine 120mg and 180mg?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”The difference is the licensed condition, not simply strength. 120mg is licensed for seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever); 180mg is licensed for chronic idiopathic urticaria (long-lasting hives). Both are taken once daily by adults and children 12 and over.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Can you buy fexofenadine 180mg over the counter?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Yes. Fexofenadine 180mg was reclassified from prescription-only to a pharmacy (P) medicine for chronic idiopathic urticaria, so it can be supplied from a pharmacy without a prescription once a few short suitability questions have been answered.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”How long does fexofenadine 180mg take to work on hives?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Individual doses start working within about an hour and peak at around six hours. For a chronic rash, take it every day – it usually takes a few days of continuous daily dosing before the weals stop recurring.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Does fexofenadine 180mg make you drowsy?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”It is a non-drowsy antihistamine and most people are unaffected even at this strength. Drowsiness is an uncommon side effect, so take care driving until you know how it affects you, and avoid alcohol.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”How long can I take fexofenadine 180mg for?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Chronic urticaria is treated with continuous daily antihistamines, often for months. If you find you need it continuously, or it is not controlling the rash after several weeks, see your GP so the diagnosis and treatment plan can be reviewed.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Can I take fexofenadine 180mg with cetirizine or loratadine?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”No. Do not take two antihistamines together unless a pharmacist or doctor has specifically advised it. If fexofenadine is not working for you, switch rather than combine.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Can you take fexofenadine 180mg in pregnancy?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”It is not usually recommended in pregnancy because safety data is limited. If you are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding, speak to your pharmacist or doctor before taking it.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Should fexofenadine 180mg be taken with food?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Take it before a meal, with a glass of water. Avoid apple, orange and grapefruit juice, and leave at least two hours between the tablet and indigestion remedies containing aluminium or magnesium – all of these reduce how much of the medicine you absorb.”}}],”reviewedBy”:{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”Hassan Khan”,”jobTitle”:”Superintendent Pharmacist”,”hasCredential”:”MPharm, Independent Prescriber”}}