E-DRUG: Safety of Fexofenadine (cont'd)

[Leesette Turner <hamis@iafrica.com>]

E-drug: Safety of Fexofenadine (cont'd)
---------------------------------------------

There has not been much published internationally on fexofenadine and
its adverse effects. It does appear to have less potential to impair
central nervous function, and it appears to be devoid of the cardiac
effects associated with its parent drug, terfenadine.

The Medical Letter 1996, 38 (986), October 25 has this to say:
Fexofenadine, like terfenadine, astemizole, loratidine in recommended
doses generally does not cause somnolence or other symptoms; in one
study, school performance improved in patients with allergic rhinitis
treated with the drug (MC Reilly et al. Clin Drug Invest, 11:278,1996).
Prolongation of the QTc Interval has not been detected clinically with
fexofenadine. In healthy volunteers, according to the manufacturer,
fexofenadine doses of up to 690 mg twice daily have not prolonged the
QTc interval. When fexofenadine was taken concurrently with
erythromycin 500 mg every 8 hours, or with ketoconazole 400 mg once
daily, steady-state plasma fexofenadine concentrations increased, but
without prolongation of the QTc interval or, apparently, other adverse
effects.

Conclusion: although published data are limited, fexofenadine appears
to be, like loratidine, an effective non-sedating H1 blocker without the
cardiovascular toxicity that can occur rarely with terfenadine or
astemizole. How it compares in effectiveness with these drugs or other
antihistamines remains to be determined.

Leesette Turner 
South Africa
hamis@iafrica.com
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