Fexofenadine, sold under the brand name Allegra among others, is an antihistamine medication used in the treatment of allergy symptoms such as allergic rhinitis and urticaria.[10]
Therapeutically, fexofenadine is a selective peripheral H1 blocker. It is classified as a second-generation antihistamine because it is less able to pass the blood–brain barrier and cause sedation, compared to first-generation antihistamines.[11][12]
It was patented in 1979 and came into medical use in 1996.[13] Fexofenadine is a therapeutic alternative on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[14] Fexofenadine has been manufactured in generic form since 2011.