According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 7 percent of adults and 9.6 percent of children were diagnosed with hay fever, also called allergic rhinitis, in 2008. There are multiple drugs on the market for the treatment of hay fever, including Allegra. According to Drugs.com, Allegra is used to treat hay fever symptoms caused by allergies. Allegra is the brand name for the drug fexofenadine, and is made by the pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis.
Side Effects in Infants/Children
Allegra allergy medication may cause side effects in infants and children, according to the prescribing information provided by Sanofi-Aventis. The prescribing information indicates that a clinical trial was conducted to determine side effects of Allegra on children. Children 6 months to 5 years of age experienced vomiting (12 percent), diarrhea (3.7 percent) and sleepiness/fatigue (2.8 percent). Though Allegra seemed to cause vomiting in more than 10 percent of children, it is interesting to note that 8.6 percent of children taking the placebo (sugar pill) also reported vomiting as a side effect. Another clinical trial studying the effect of Allegra on older children found that approximately 3 percent of children 6 years to 11 years of age who took Allegra experienced a cough or an upper respiratory tract infection. Though this side effect was rare, it was significant over placebo.
Side Effects in Adults
Sanofi-Aventis reports that Allegra may also cause side effects in adults. Results from another clinical trial, which tested the effects of Allegra on people 12 and older, the following side effects were reported: pain during menstruation (1.5 percent), headache (10.3 percent), back pain (2.5 percent), dizziness (2.1 percent, stomach discomfort (2.1 percent), and pain in an extremity (such as feet or hands, 2.1 percent). Again, it is interesting to note that even though 10.3 percent of those taking Allegra reported a headache, 7.2 percent of people reported a headache after taking the placebo. Indeed, Sanofi-Aventis reports that another clinical trial found that only 4.8 percent of those adults taking Allegra experienced a headache.
Anaphylaxis
Some people may be allergic to Allegra. For these people, a potentially serious side effect of Allegra is a severe allergic reaction to the medication, also called anaphylaxis. Symptoms of an allergic reaction to Allegra, according to MedlinePlus, include hives, rash, itching, difficulty breathing or swallowing, and swelling in the tongue, throat, face, hands, feet, ankles or lower legs. MedlinePlus also reports that excessive hoarseness may also be a sign of anaphylaxis.
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