Telfast

What is Telfast?

Telfast (Fexofenadine) is an antihistamine medication used to treat the symptoms of hay fever, alongside a number of other allergies, including conjuntivitis, eczema and reactions to insect bites or stings.

How does Telfast work?

Telfast contains the active ingredient fexofenadine, which works by preventing the action of the substance histamine. Histamine is produced by the body in reaction to the presence of allergens, such as pollen or pet fur. Fexofenadine blocks histamine receptors to prevent histamine causing symptoms of mild allergic reaction, such as itchy skin and eyes, runny nose, and scratchy throat.

Active ingredients

The active ingredient in Telfast is fexofenadine hydrochloride.

Inactive ingredients

The inactive ingredients in Telfast are microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinised maize starch, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, povidone K30, titanium dioxide (E171), colloidal anhydrous silica, macrogol 400, red iron oxide (E172) and yellow iron oxide (E172).

Is Telfast gluten-free?

Telfast does not contain gluten.

How to take Telfast

Swallow one Telfast tablet whole with water once daily. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Never take a double dose ot make up for a missed one.

Telfast dosage

You are recommended to take 1 x 120 mg tablet per day. Telfast can begin working within 1 hour and last for 24 hours.

Telfast side effects

Like all medications, Telfast can cause side effects in some patients. If you experience any symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing, stop taking Telfast and contact a doctor immediately.

Common side effects, affecting up to 1 in 10 patients, include:

• Headache
• Drowsiness
• Nausea
• Dizziness

In up to 1 in every 100 people, Telfast may cause some drowsiness. The frequency of the following side effects can not be estimated from the available data:

• Insomnia
• Sleeping disorders
• Bad dreams
• Nervousness
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Diarrhoea
• Skin rash and itching
• Hives

Contraindications

Do NOT take Telfast if you are allergic to fexofenadine or any of the other ingredients of this medication. Before taking Telfast, tell your doctor or pharmacist if:

• You have liver or kidney problems
• You have ever had heart disease
• You are elderly

Drug interactions

Before taking Telfast, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medications, including those purchased over the counter without a prescription. You are recommended to leave a gap of about 2 hours between taking Telfast and indigestion remedies containing aluminium and magnesium, as these may hinder the absorption of fexofenadine. 

How to cope with Telfast side effects

Telfast is unlikely to cause any side effects, but there are some measure you can take if you do experience them. Nausea can be avoided by eating simple meals that are not too rich or spicy. If you experience headaches or dizziness, lie down for a while and take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if necessary. A dry mouth can be helped by chewing sugar-free gum on sicking sugar-free sweets. Telfast should not cause drowsiness, but if it does, a different non-drowsy antihistamine may be better for you. 

Telfast and alcohol

It is best not to drink alcohol when taking Telfast or other antihistamines, as this can cause you to feel sleepy.

Telfast and driving

Telfast is unlikely to affect your ability to drive. However, if you experience any dizziness or drowsiness, do not drive or operate heavy machinery.

Telfast vs Fexofenadine

Telfast is a brand name for the generic drug Fexofenadine. They both contain the active ingredient fexofenadine and work in the same way to relieve symptoms of hay fever. 

Telfast vs other antihistamines

Telfast works in a very similar way to other non-drowsy antihistamines, such as Cetirizine, acrivastine and loratadine. Fexofenadine is considered to be less likely to make you drowsy that other non-drowsy antihistamines.

Can I take Telfast with other hay fever treatments?

Never take two hay fever treatments together without first consulting a doctor or pharmacist. It is usually ok to take Telfast in combination with eye drops and steroidal nasal sprays such as Beconase, Avamys, Rhinolast and Dymista. For severe symptoms, a doctor may prescribe taking 2 different antihistamines together. Telfast is a non-drowsy antihistamine, and you may chose to take a sedating antihistamine at night to help you sleep.

Can Telfast be used for other allergies?

Telfast can be used to relieve the symptoms of hay fever, eczema, conjunctivitis and reactions to insect bites and stings.

Can Telfast be taken long term?

Telfast can be taken for an extended period of time, such as for treating hay fever during months when the pollen count is high. It can also be taken on one-off occasions, such as in the event of a troublesome insect bite. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure how long you should be taking Telfast for.

Sources

• Patient Information Leaflet
• NHS > Fexofenadine