Fexigra (Fexofenadine)

Fexigra (Fexofenadine) is an antihistamine that may be used to treat allergy symptoms (including hay fever) in adults and children. Fexofenadine is also used to treat skin itching and hives caused by a condition called chronic idiopathic urticaria in adults and children who are at least 6 years old.

Fexofenadine works selectively on histamine-1 receptors that are located in our body, but not in our central nervous system – these are called peripheral histamine receptors. Because it acts on these receptors, fexofenadine is much less likely to cause drowsiness compared with some older antihistamines.

Histamine is a chemical that is released by mast cells in response to an allergen, and it is responsible for many allergy symptoms, such as watery eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, and itching. Fexofenadine binds to histamine receptors and prevents histamine from having an effect on those receptors, which reduces allergy symptoms.