Telfast 120mg Tablets

Telfast 120mg Tablets Online

By Clinical Pharmacist Hywel McGlinchy

You can request to buy Telfast online from our UK registered online pharmacy and doctor service. After completing your short online assessment and checking out, your order will be passed to our UK registered doctors for review.

What is Telfast?

Telfast, also known as fexofenadine hydrochloride, is a medication used to treat hay fever. Fexofenadine is a type of drug called an antihistamine. It is considered to be non-sedating meaning it is less likely to cause drowsiness as a side effect. It is a prescription-only medication and is considered to be a potent antihistamine.

Hay fever, also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, is an allergic reaction to pollen - a powder that plants release into the air at certain times of the year. When pollen comes into contact with the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth and/or eyes it can cause inflammation of these membranes. This causes the allergic symptoms of hay fever such as:

• Sneezing
• Itching (eyes, nose, throat)
• Runny nose (rhinorrhoea)
• Nasal congestion
• Loss of sense of smell
• Red or watery eyes
• Feeling tired

Dose

Always take your medications exactly as your doctor has instructed you. If you are unsure, seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist.

For adults and children aged 12 years and over

• The recommended dose is ONE tablet daily. (i.e 120mg).
• The tablet should be taken with water and before a meal.
• Telfast will start to relieve your symptoms within 1 hour. It will remain effective for 24 hours.

If you take more than you should

If you take too many tablets, contact your doctor or the nearest hospital emergency department immediately. Symptoms of an overdose in adults are dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue and dry mouth.

If you forget to take Telfast

A double dose should not be taken if you have forgotten a tablet. Take the next dose at the usual time as prescribed by your doctor.

If you stop taking Telfast

Tell your doctor if you want to stop taking it before you have finished your course of treatment. If you stop taking it earlier than planned, your symptoms may return.

Alternatives to Telfast

A number of other treatments are available to treat hay fever. These are both "over the counter", where no prescription is required, and prescription only medicines.

We have listed below some of the more popular treatments used for hay fever. This is not an extensive list.

"Over the Counter"

• Piriton - this is available as a syrup or tablet. This can cause drowsiness (sedating antihistamine).
• Cetirizine - this a non-drowsy antihistamine tablet. Cetirizine is taken once a day.
• Loratadine -  this a non-drowsy antihistamine tablet. Loratadine is taken once a day.

Prescription Only

• Avamys - a steroid nasal spray which helps reduce inflammation. 
• Optilast eye drops - this is used to treat hay fever symptoms affecting the eyes.

The above products are available on our website.

Telfast should not be taken with another antihistamine because doing so may increase the risk of side effects. A nasal spray such as Avamys can be used alongside Telfast.

Telfast Summary

Telfast Prices

FAQ

What are Telfast tablets used for?

Telfast is an antihistamine. Our doctors can prescribe it to treat the symptoms of hay fever. It is also used in a number of other allergic conditions such as eczema, hives and insect bites and stings.

Is it okay to drive after taking Telfast?

Telfast is considered a non-drowsy antihistamine, however, to a few people it may still cause drowsiness. If it does make you drowsy you should not drive or operate heavy machinery.

Do I take Telfast before or after food?

It should be taken prior to a meal.

How quickly does Telfast work?

Telfast is absorbed quickly into the body and should start working within 1 or 2 hours. It may need to be taken regularly to prevent symptoms, such as during spring and summer.

Can I take Telfast everyday?

Telfast should be taken everyday for hay fever symptoms. Generally this is between March and September when the pollen count is highest. You should stop taking fexofenadine during the months you are unaffected by hay fever.

Does Telfast have side effects?

Like all medicines, Telfast can cause side effects. The most common side effects are: headaches, drowsiness, dizziness and nausea.

Is it okay to take indigestion remedies with Telfast?

Indigestion remedies often contain aluminium and/or magnesium which may affect the absorption of Telfast into the body. As a result of this, it is recommended that you leave about 2 hours between the time that you take fexofenadine and your indigestion remedy.

• What medications cannot be used with Telfast?

  No medications specifically interact with Telfast.

• Is Telfast safe to use in pregnancy?

  Currently, there is no adequate information to say that it is okay to take Telfast whilst pregnant so its use should be avoided unless strictly advised by a medical practitioner.

• Is Telfast safe to use whilst breastfeeding?

  Currently, there is no adequate information to say that it is okay to take Telfast whilst breastfeeding so its use should be avoided unless strictly advised by a medical practitioner.

• Is Telfast safe to take with my pre-existing condition?

  If you have cardiovascular diseases you should consult a medical practitioner prior to using Telfast as an antihistamine as a class of drugs can adversely effect such as tachycardia and palpitations. 

• Is it still okay to drive after taking Telfast?

  Telfast is considered a non-drowsy antihistamine, however, to a few people it may still cause drowsiness if it does make you drowsy you should not drive or operate heavy machinery.

• Do I take Telfast before or after food?

  Telfast should be taken prior to a meal.

• Is it okay to take indigestion remedies with Telfast?

  Indigestion remedies often contain aluminium and/or magnesium which may affect the absorption of Telfast into your body so it is ideal that you leave at least 2 hours prior to taking Telfast and your indigestion remedy.

Side effects

Telfast (fexofenadine) is a well-tolerated medicine, however, there is always a risk of side effects when taking any medicine. Please read the patient information leaflet to be aware of the potential side effects.

Listed below are some common Telfast side effects that patients may have:

• Headache
• Drowsiness
• Nausea
• Dizziness

Before taking any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. You can find information leaflets for your medicines by typing them into the search bar at medicines.org, or by contacting us.

• Telfast 120mg Tablets PIL

Directions of use for Telfast 120mg Tablets

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

For adults and children aged 12 years and over

• The recommended dose is one tablet (120 mg) daily.
• Take your tablet with water before a meal.
• This medicine starts to relieve your symptoms within 1 hour and lasts for 24 hours.

If you take more Telfast than you should
If you take too many tablets, contact your doctor or the nearest hospital emergency department immediately. Symptoms of an overdose in adults are dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue and dry mouth.

If you forget to take Telfast
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet. Take the next dose at the usual time as prescribed by your doctor.

If you stop taking Telfast
Tell your doctor if you want to stop taking Telfast before you have finished your course of treatment. If you stop taking Telfast earlier than planned, your symptoms may return.

Warnings

Interactions with other medication

When filling out our online form, make sure to list any medicines you currently take. 

Current research suggests the active ingredient in Telfast interacts with very few medications. Telfast may have an interaction with: erythromycin, ketoconazole and rifampicin. 

Indigestion remedies such as Gaviscon may reduce the amount of Telfast absorbed. This may cause it to be less effective. It is recommended that you leave about 2 hours between the time that you take fexofenadine and your indigestion remedy.

Drinking alcohol with Telfast may increase the chances of feeling drowsy as a side effect.

Other conditions and Telfast

You should not take Telfast if you have ever had an allergic reaction to fexofenadine.

This medicine may not be suitable for you if:

• You have kidney or liver problems
• You are elderly
• You had or have heart disease, this medicine may lead to a fast or irregular heartbeat

Pregnant or breastfeeding patients

There is not enough research to know whether Telfast is safe in pregnant women. For this reason it is only given to pregnant women if absolutely necessary. 

 The active ingredient may appear in breast milk after taking it. For this reason, it is not recommended for women who are currently breast-feeding their babies.

Ingredients in Telfast 120mg Tablets

The active substance is fexofenadine hydrochloride. Each tablet contains 120 mg of fexofenadine hydrochloride.

The other ingredients are:

Tablet core: microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinised maize starch, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate.

Film coating: hypromellose, povidone K30, titanium dioxide (E171), colloidal anhydrous silica, macrogol 400, red iron oxide (E172) and yellow iron oxide (E172).