Fexofenadine Hydrochloride 120mg Tablets

Fexofenadine hydrochloride 120mg tablets – a once-daily, non-drowsy antihistamine for hay fever and seasonal allergies in adults and children 12+.

  • 24-hour relief from one tablet a day
  • Non-drowsy – very little crosses into the brain
  • Relieves sneezing, runny nose and itchy, watering eyes
  • Suitable from 12 years of age
  • Dispensed by a GPhC-registered UK pharmacy

£6.99

Fexofenadine hydrochloride 120mg tablets - non-drowsy antihistamine for hay fever
Fexofenadine hydrochloride 120mg tablets - non-drowsy antihistamine for hay fever

Fexofenadine hydrochloride 120mg is a once-daily, non-drowsy antihistamine tablet for the symptoms of hay fever and other seasonal allergies. One tablet covers a full 24 hours, so a single dose in the morning carries you through a high-pollen day without the sedation older antihistamines cause.

What is fexofenadine?

Fexofenadine is a second-generation (non-sedating) antihistamine. It is the active metabolite of terfenadine and works by blocking H1 histamine receptors — the receptors histamine acts on when your immune system over-reacts to an allergen such as grass or tree pollen. Because very little fexofenadine crosses into the brain, it relieves allergy symptoms without the heavy drowsiness associated with older antihistamines like chlorphenamine (Piriton).

Two strengths are licensed for sale without a prescription in the UK, and they treat different conditions. The 120mg tablet on this page is for hay fever and seasonal allergic rhinitis. If you need treatment for long-lasting hives rather than hay fever, see our fexofenadine 180mg tablets for chronic urticaria.

What is fexofenadine 120mg used for?

Fexofenadine 120mg is licensed to relieve the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever) in adults and children aged 12 years and over, including:

  • Sneezing and a runny nose
  • Itchy, blocked or irritated nose
  • Itchy, red or watery eyes
  • Itching of the palate and throat

It is not a treatment for asthma, a cold or a sinus infection, and it will not clear a blocked nose caused by congestion alone — for that a steroid nasal spray such as Beconase hayfever relief targets nasal inflammation directly and can be used alongside an antihistamine.

How does fexofenadine work?

When you breathe in pollen, mast cells in the lining of your nose and eyes release histamine. Histamine binds to H1 receptors and produces the familiar itch, sneeze, streaming nose and watering eyes. Fexofenadine occupies those H1 receptors so histamine cannot bind to them, which stops the allergic response rather than simply masking it. Its long duration of action — a half-life of around 14 hours — is what allows once-daily dosing.

How to take fexofenadine 120mg

  • Adults and children 12 years and over: one 120mg tablet once a day.
  • Take it before a meal, swallowed whole with a glass of water.
  • Do not take more than one tablet in 24 hours.
  • Take it with water, not fruit juice. Apple, orange and grapefruit juice can reduce how much fexofenadine your body absorbs — leave a gap of a few hours.
  • Leave at least 2 hours between fexofenadine and any indigestion remedy containing aluminium or magnesium, which also reduces absorption.
  • During the pollen season, taking it every day works better than taking it only on bad days — it keeps the receptors blocked continuously.

Not for children under 12 years. If you are aged 65 or over, or you have kidney or liver problems or a history of heart disease, speak to your pharmacist before starting.

How long does fexofenadine take to work?

Most people notice symptom relief within about one hour of the first dose, with the full effect around six hours in. Relief then lasts a full 24 hours, which is why one morning dose covers the day. If you have taken it daily for a few days and your symptoms have not improved at all, speak to your pharmacist — the cause may not be an allergy, or you may need a nasal steroid alongside it.

Does fexofenadine make you drowsy?

Fexofenadine is classed as a non-drowsy antihistamine and, at the recommended dose, most people are unaffected. Drowsiness is listed as an uncommon side effect, so a minority of people do feel sleepy on it. Until you know how it affects you, be careful driving or operating machinery, and avoid alcohol, which adds to any sedative effect.

Side effects of fexofenadine

Most people take fexofenadine with no trouble. The more commonly reported effects are:

  • Headache
  • Drowsiness or dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Dry mouth

Stop taking it and get medical help straight away if you develop a rash, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing — these can be signs of an allergic reaction to the medicine itself.

Who should not take fexofenadine

Do not take it if you are allergic to fexofenadine or terfenadine or any of the tablet's other ingredients. Check with your pharmacist or doctor first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding (fexofenadine is not usually recommended in pregnancy), if you have kidney or liver disease, if you have a heart condition, or if you are elderly. Tell your pharmacist about any other medicines you take, including indigestion remedies and erythromycin or ketoconazole, which can raise fexofenadine levels.

Fexofenadine or cetirizine or loratadine — which should you choose?

All three are non-drowsy, once-daily antihistamines and all three are effective; individual response varies more than the drugs do. Fexofenadine is the least sedating of the three in most studies. Cetirizine 10mg works quickly and is often the most potent for skin itch, but causes drowsiness in slightly more people. Loratadine 10mg sits between the two. If one antihistamine has not worked for you, it is reasonable to try a different one — but take one at a time, not two together, unless your pharmacist has advised it.

Buy fexofenadine online

Bury Healthcare Online is a GPhC-registered UK pharmacy (registration 1126145). Your order is checked and dispatched by our pharmacy team, and you can ask our pharmacist for advice about hay fever treatment before or after you order. Browse our full range of hay fever and allergy relief treatments.

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 FAQs

What is fexofenadine used for?
Fexofenadine 120mg is used to relieve the symptoms of hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis) in adults and children aged 12 and over - sneezing, a runny or itchy nose, and itchy, red or watering eyes. The higher 180mg strength is used for chronic idiopathic urticaria, a long-lasting hives rash, rather than for hay fever.
Does fexofenadine make you drowsy?
Fexofenadine is a non-drowsy antihistamine and most people are not sedated by it. Drowsiness is listed as an uncommon side effect, so a small number of people do feel sleepy. Until you know how it affects you, take care when driving or using machinery, and avoid alcohol.
How long does fexofenadine take to work?
Most people feel relief within about an hour of taking a tablet, with the maximum effect at around six hours. One dose lasts a full 24 hours, which is why it is taken once daily.
Can you buy fexofenadine over the counter?
Yes. Fexofenadine 120mg for hay fever and fexofenadine 180mg for chronic hives are both available without a prescription in the UK from a pharmacy. The 30mg strength for younger children remains prescription-only.
How much fexofenadine can I take in a day?
One 120mg tablet in any 24 hours for hay fever. Taking a second tablet does not improve relief and increases the chance of side effects. If one tablet a day is not controlling your symptoms, speak to your pharmacist rather than increasing the dose.
Can you take cetirizine and fexofenadine together?
No - you should not take two antihistamines at the same time unless a pharmacist or doctor has specifically advised it. Doubling up increases side effects such as drowsiness without reliably improving symptom control. If one is not working, switch to the other rather than combining them.
How long does fexofenadine stay in your system?
Fexofenadine has a half-life of about 14 hours, so it is largely cleared from the body within roughly two to three days of the last dose. Its symptom-relieving effect lasts around 24 hours per tablet.
Can fexofenadine cause weight gain?
Weight gain is not a recognised side effect of fexofenadine and it is not listed in the product information. Some older, sedating antihistamines can increase appetite; fexofenadine is not one of them.
Can you take fexofenadine when pregnant?
Fexofenadine is not usually recommended during pregnancy because there is limited safety data. If you are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding, speak to your pharmacist or doctor before taking it - they may suggest a different option.
Should fexofenadine be taken with food or on an empty stomach?
Take it before a meal, with a glass of water. Avoid taking it with apple, orange or grapefruit juice, and leave at least two hours between fexofenadine and indigestion remedies containing aluminium or magnesium, as both reduce how much of the drug you absorb.

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