Telfast

What is Telfast?

Telfast is the brand name for fexofenadine, which belongs to a group of drugs collectively known as antihistamines. It is classed as a second-generation antihistamine.

You can only buy Telfast when you have a prescription from your doctor. It is prescribed to treat the symptoms of allergic rhinitis (also known as hay fever) in people over the age of 12 years old.

Telfast works to relieve the symptoms that occur when you suffer from hay fever, allowing you to get on with your day without suffering from the likes of itchy eyes and sneezing. It can also be used for other allergic conditions.

What is Telfast (fexofenadine) used to treat?

Telfast is used to treat the symptoms of allergies. It contains the active ingredient fexofenadine hydrochloride, which is effective in relieving the symptoms of hay fever. Hay fever is a common problem, but it can seriously hinder you from living an ordinary life. It can cause debilitating symptoms such as:

• Itchy, red or watery eyes
• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Headaches
• Blocked or runny nose, including a loss of smell

Telfast also helps to relieve other conditions like eczema, hives, conjunctivitis, insect bites and stings, as well a certain food allergies.

It is a non-drowsy antihistamine, meaning it is less likely to cause drowsiness when you take it compared to other antihistamines.

How does Telfast work?

Fexofenadine hydrochloride is an antihistamine medicine. It works by preventing the effects of histamine, which is a naturally occurring chemical in your body. Histamine is released by the body in response to infections and other harmful substances; it works to protect your body from becoming infected and damaged.

In most cases, histamine is beneficial to your health. However, when it is released in response to an allergen (such as pollen or animal fur), it can cause unpleasant symptoms like itchy eyes and sneezing.

Telfast blocks the histamine, thus alleviating or preventing these symptoms. It will normally get to work within one hour of being taken.

How to take Telfast

Take one tablet at the same time each day, before a meal.

Swallow Telfast tablets whole with a drink of water.

Telfast can also be taken alongside a nasal spray and eye drops for hay fever. Do not take it at the same time as another antihistamine medication.

Thoroughly read the patient information leaflet for full instructions before you start to take this medicine. Ask your doctor if you are unsure.

Who can take Telfast?

Telfast (fexofenadine) is not suitable for everyone to use. Speak to your doctor before taking Telfast if any of these conditions apply to you:

• You have kidney problems
• You have liver problems
• You have suffered an allergic reaction to Telfast or any other medications in the past
• You have or have ever had heart problems
• You have epilepsy or any other health problems that may cause seizures
• You are booked in for an allergy test (Telfast may skew the results of these tests)
• You are pregnant or breastfeeding

Telfast is only suitable for adults and children who are aged 12 and older.

It is not usually recommended for people over the age of 65 years old. Speak to your doctor if you are older than 65 and want to start taking Telfast.

Always read the patient information leaflet, which will come with your medicine, for a comprehensive list of reasons why Telfast may not be suitable for you.

Common side effects of fexofenadine

As is the case with any medicine, fexofenadine does come with the risk of certain side effects, although these will not affect everyone who uses the course of treatment.

The below common side effects happen in more than 1 in every 100 people who take the medicine:

• Headaches
• Feeling dizzy
• Dry mouth
• Feeling sick
• Feeling sleepy

While fexofenadine hydrochloride is generally considered to be very safe, you should speak to your doctor if any of the above symptoms affect you or do not go away.

Please, refer to the Side Effects tab on this page for a list of more serious adverse reactions you may experience while using this medicine.

You can also read the patient information leaflet which will contain a full up-to date list of any potential side effects.

Can you buy Telfast over the counter?

No, you cannot buy Telfast without a prescription. It is not for sale over the counter.

Can you buy Telfast online in the UK?

To buy Telfast online from Medicine Direct, you will be required to fill out an online questionnaire for one of our prescribers to review. This is to make certain that Telfast is the most suitable medication for your specific case. After a prescriber has confirmed that this is an appropriate medicine for you, your order will be confirmed.

We sell Telfast in packets of 30, 60 or 90 tablets, in doses of either 120mg or 180mg. If you place your order online before 2pm, we can offer you next day delivery on your medication.

For your own safety, never buy any medicine online from anywhere other than regulated pharmacies, like Medicine Direct.

Telfast alternatives

Many different antihistamine treatments are available to treat the symptoms of hay fever. 

The most closely related alternatives are other antihistamines that are considered to be non-drowsy such as Loratidine tablets and Certirizine tablets or oral solution.

Antihistamine nasal sprays such as Rhinolast can also help to alleviate the same symptoms as Telfast. Nasal sprays are good alternatives for people who may struggle to swallow whole tablets.

Corticosteroid nasal sprays like Rhinocort, Beclometasone and Nasonex work by reducing the inflammation inside the nasal passage, which in turn helps to relieve other symptoms of hay fever.

There are also non-medical steps you can take to help prevent the symptoms of hay fever, such as:

• Avoid going outside on days where the pollen count is high
• Wear wrap-around sunglasses to keep airborne allergens from irritating your eyes
• Shower when you come home to wash out pollen mites and other allergens from your hair and body
• Keep the windows of your home closed on days with high pollen counts

Visit our Hay Fever condition page to see a full list of medicines we stock to treat this condition.