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Allegra User Reviews & Ratings

Allegra has an average rating of 6.8 out of 10 from a total of 91 reviews on Drugs.com. 59% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 23% reported a negative experience.

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Reviews for Allegra

  • Tra...
  • May 5, 2018

For Urticaria "Guys, it works great for temporary relief of the hives for sure. Don’t ever settle for idiopathic if you get them often though. I have been going through this for years myself, constant breakouts, suppressing symptoms, now I’m done doing that. I’m getting to the root of the problem, and the answer is going to integrative functional medicine. This issue seems to be more gut-related and it’s gonna cost me a fortune, but they have the proper tests to run to find out what’s going on instead of pushing a million pills on you. Let me tell you, my issue and probably a lot of you have autoimmune-related things going on. Don’t ever let someone tell you that autoimmune means your body is attacking itself, I can promise you it’s not. It’s your body trying to heal itself, that’s what our bodies are made to do in a crisis. I will update once I get my tests done."

8 / 10
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  • Reg...
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • May 2, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "It took me 5 years to realize Allegra was making my life a living nightmare. I have bad allergies and take it year-round. Prior to starting Allegra, I had never experienced anxiety. Overnight, I started having panic attacks. My ears started ringing all the time, and I started getting this tingling/numbing in my left arm. I also started waking up with swollen hands, feet, and face. I saw many doctors for these symptoms, I was in my mid-20s. Nobody could figure it out. I recently had been talking to a new allergist about all the issues and realized the correlation between days I take the med and waking up swollen, so I Googled the side effects. I was horrified to see the reviews!! One lady even wrote an entire article about the tingling issue. I stopped the medication immediately and am starting to feel like my old self again. I'm angry that I've been dealing with this for so long and could've stopped it had I known....."

1 / 10
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150 Report
  • bas...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • February 16, 2019

For Urticaria "I started getting daily urticaria in October 2018. At first, I just hoped it would go away, and I refused to take antihistamines, but after a month of itching and rashes, I started taking Allegra. The Allegra worked well, my rashes and itching were significantly reduced. However, Allegra is only effective for me at daily doses of 180 mg or higher. I tried the 60 mg doses, they helped but there was still itching and random rashes. With my doctor's approval, I eventually doubled the dose of Allegra to 360 mg daily. This dose is very effective for me. For me, side effects are nonexistent with Allegra. I have tried other antihistamines, but Allegra and Loratadine are the only ones that aren't noticeably sedating. Cetirizine is supposed to be nonsedating, but that isn't the case. If anyone has chronic urticaria, I recommend first trying the 180 mg dose of Allegra. If this isn't enough, talk to your doctor to see if it is okay to take the 180 mg dose twice daily."

8 / 10
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116 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Lat...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 18, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "I went to a clinic because I couldn't breathe very well. I thought I had COVID-19, even though they gave me a COVID test. The doctor looked into my nose with a flashlight and said that my nose was blocked. He prescribed me with Allegra... when I tell you! It worked almost right away! No side effects, and it shrunk all my nose glands and helped me breathe better! This is so exciting!"

10 / 10
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74 Report
  • Hiv...
  • August 19, 2016

For Urticaria "I have suffered from severe urticaria for years. Claritin and Zyrtec never did anything for me. I tried oatmeal creams and baths, Benadryl, and any kind of anti-itch cream I could find, but nothing works like Allegra and Pepcid. As long as I take it daily, I'm hive-free. Allegra is the answer to hive sufferers."

10 / 10
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121 Report

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  • Aka...
  • January 10, 2018

For Urticaria "It's a great medicine for the hives I get daily. Other medicines were good, but non-drowsy Allegra is the best solution. Now my worry is how can I get rid of the hives permanently because if I don't take a pill a day, then the hives start appearing back immediately. Any solutions? My life is now dependent on this medicine. Can anyone please tell me the side effects of this medicine because I am taking it on a daily basis."

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  • Red...
  • August 10, 2019

For Urticaria "My sister-in-law, who is an M.D., recommended Allegra to me daily for my urticaria. I was hesitant at first because I didn't want to begin my day taking pills. I guess I was waiting for my hives to clear on their own, which to this day I still struggle with. Allegra is my savior, I take one every morning to relieve my itchiness and welts. They help me very much."

10 / 10
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More FAQ

  • Dan...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 21, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "I'm a 20-year-old female. I started taking Allegra because other allergy meds were too strong for me or didn't work, and I wanted to avoid lactose. Well... I've been taking Allegra 60 mg for like three weeks for my food/seasonal/pet allergies, and these past couple of days my stomach is a mess!!! I feel like pure trash, and I'm having major panic attacks out of nowhere. Dehydration, dry mouth, chapped and painful lips, this weird scalp rash, and just feeling generally unwell. I might just switch back to Zyrtec because I'm out of options."

2 / 10
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56 Report
  • Bam...
  • December 11, 2013

For Urticaria "I was taking Zyrtec, Benadryl, Benadryl gel, and Pepcid for hives. Nothing got them under control until I tried Allegra. I am amazed my doctor did not suggest I try it. I had a week of steroids which worked, but the hives came back once I finished them, and the doctor would not give me more (not that I want more). I was miserable--now it's tolerable. Still have no idea what caused the hives. I am 53 and have never had a hives outbreak like this."

9 / 10
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103 Report
  • CLa...
  • August 29, 2019

For Urticaria "I have chronic idiopathic urticaria, may have an autoimmune component. It started 4 months ago after multiple days of bites by oak mites and maybe a spider or two. I'm on 3 x 180 mg Allegra and 300 mg Zantac in the morning, plus 3 x 10 mg Zyrtec and 300 mg Zantac at night. Plus, miscellaneous Benadryl here and there. Hives went away for a few weeks, and now they are back. Can't afford Xolair. Not sure what's next. This is craziness. Might have to research 'Vitamin D deficiency in chronic idiopathic urticaria.'"

6 / 10
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55 Report
  • Jca...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • August 20, 2019

For Allergic Rhinitis "I have taken Allegra the past few years during ragweed season, which I am allergic to. I take it at night, so I do not have drowsiness during the day. I find it effective but have one major problem, which is a side effect that has caused me to stop taking it - joint pain and weakness, especially in my ankles. It became unbearable. As soon as I stopped taking it, it went away. I noticed the correlation last year but thought it was a coincidence. Now I know it's not. Pharmacists and Drs, please pay attention to this very real and perhaps more common than thought side effect."

7 / 10
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  • Sku...
  • February 23, 2021

For Allergic Rhinitis "I’m a 25-year-old female whose allergies have recently decided to screw me over. I’ve been on Claritin for a couple of months now, and it works “okay.” Three days ago, I broke out with hives and went to the hospital and got prescribed Allegra. The first day I took it, it worked great! Now I’m on the second day of it, and I’m having panic attacks, anxiety, diarrhea, and dehydration. It is a shame because it does so well in treating my allergies, but I don’t think these side effects are worth it."

5 / 10
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  • Rak...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • August 11, 2017

For Urticaria "I am 47 years old, and I have been suffering from urticaria since 2014. After lots of treatment, now I am taking Allegra 180 mg twice a day... but only when I take Allegra does my itching reduce (does not completely vanish), but when I don't take it, it again erupts. Is there no permanent treatment for it? How long can one take medicine?"

2 / 10
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57 Report
  • Ale...
  • November 10, 2015

For Urticaria "I have chronic idiopathic urticaria and, like a lot of other people on this thread, I tried Benadryl, creams, oatmeal baths, and changing soaps... it didn't help. I tried Allegra for the first time last night and had almost instant relief. I still have some hives, but the itching is far less intense and the hives are less red. I am glad I came across some of these reviews!!"

9 / 10
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67 Report
  • fan...
  • February 27, 2012

For Urticaria "My husband got a very acute urticaria on his whole body for 2 weeks. Nothing helped really to get rid of the burning patches. Benadryl caused more drowsiness than any help, and additionally, my husband's face was swelling all over when taking Benadryl. Finally, we got Allegra 180 mg pills. And just after the first Allegra pill, all red patches on his skin and all swollen areas were gone for good as long as he keeps taking it twice a day, 180 mg each tablet. This medicine is really great."

10 / 10
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85 Report
  • Wor...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 13, 2015

For Urticaria "I went to a local clinic to treat urticaria and was given 60 mg of prednisone on my cheek. It had no effect on my body, and the symptoms even got worse. Then my doctor recommended taking Benadryl (H1 blocker) and Zantac (H2 blocker) altogether. I took both pills, and it made me extremely drowsy (Benadryl), while Zantac actually alleviated my symptoms just a little bit. I woke up the next morning and found out that urticaria had come back. Then someone recommended that I take Allegra (Fexofenadine 180 mg), and it really works without any side effects of drowsiness. I think Fexofenadine is a godsend allergy medicine. I tried Benadryl, Zyrtec, and Claritin before. Their effectiveness on urticaria is far less than Allegra."

10 / 10
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63 Report
  • Mar...
  • August 19, 2014

For Urticaria "I have been suffering from hives on my face (very embarrassing) from food allergies for the last few years. Since I gave birth to my first child, it became worse. Finally, an allergist suggested I take 60 mg of Allegra every day, and for the last week, I have been almost 100% hives free. My face is so clear and white again! I feel amazing and confident again thanks to Allegra."

10 / 10
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65 Report
  • Lad...
  • July 27, 2011

For Urticaria "I have urticaria for more than 6 years. Finally, I got this pill Allegra 180mg, finally works. I took it for about a week and my hives are really gone, and now I'm finally happy as I don't feel any side effects at all."

10 / 10
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77 Report
  • MSA...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • January 12, 2022

For Allergic Rhinitis "Took for about a year for allergic asthma allergies before I realized when I ran out and started something else that I no longer need a walker to walk, and I regained all the strength in my legs!!! The whole time I was told no one knew why I slowly lost my ability to walk or function, and even my allergist never suspected the Allegra, but once I stopped the drug, my weakness went away… horrible, horrible."

1 / 10
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23 Report
  • wra...
  • March 24, 2013

For Urticaria "I finally found a medication that controls my hives. Ever since I was a kid, I have been battling hives that come and go every couple of years. It's the type where my face swells and hives appear all over. I've been through prednisone treatments and several other medicines that make me drowsy. Nothing works like Allegra. Definitely worth the price."

10 / 10
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65 Report
  • Joh...
  • April 1, 2015

For Urticaria "Had chronic urticaria 3 years ago, tried everything from Benadryl, Zyrtec, Claritin and nothing worked. Took Allegra 24 hour and 70% of my hives have disappeared, leaving me less itchy. Wish I would've found out about this site earlier to do my research. This is my first day on the medication, hopefully it will go away after this week."

9 / 10
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56 Report
  • p2t...
  • May 11, 2013

For Urticaria "I have had chronic hives for the past 8 months, and originally took Zyrtec, which worked OK for a while but then stopped working. I switched to Allegra, which I have been taking for about 3-4 months now, and it has been working."

9 / 10
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60 Report
  • Ale...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • January 12, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "So, my body has a very high natural histamine level, which means that I will break out in hives with feet and hand swelling almost every day. There’s no cause, my histamine levels tend to just be high. A long time ago, my sister used to use this medicine for the same condition. Therefore, when I started breaking out, my mom recommended this to me. As soon as I started taking it, it was truly a miracle. It works so quickly and efficiently to relieve my hives and remove the swelling to allow me to be able to walk on my feet properly. I have zero side effects. It’s just a medicine that does its job: no drowsiness, no nausea. I accidentally double-dosed once, and not a single problem happened. It’s an incredible medicine. I’m thankful for Allegra/fexofenadine."

10 / 10
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31 Report
  • Gab...
  • August 7, 2015

For Urticaria "I recently had an allergic outbreak of hives. My doctor prescribed a prednisone 6-day pack and steroid cream. I tried Benadryl first, thinking it would help control the itching. It did not. I was so miserable from the itching the hives caused, I was willing to try anything. I came across this page about Allegra. I was prescribed Allegra in the past, and it worked really well for my seasonal allergies. I decided to give Allegra a try. I'm glad I did! It stopped the itching and cleared up 80% of my hives in 1 hour. Thank God this is over the counter. Doctors always tell you to use Benadryl, it will only make you sleepy and it's not very effective at controlling the itch of hives unless you take a very large dose."

9 / 10
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49 Report
  • Nau...
  • September 22, 2016

For Allergic Rhinitis "I took two 180-mg doses of Allegra for hay fever on two consecutive nights. The day after the first dose, I experienced mild, intermittent nausea and reduced appetite. The morning after the second dose, I was bedridden for 3 days with severe nausea, intermittent sweats and chills, aberrant thoughts and dreams, and a headache. I did not vomit or have diarrhea, nor did I have an abnormal temperature. As I write this on the fourth day, I am just getting up and eating a little. This was like no stomach flu I've ever had -- I feel as though I have been poisoned. I firmly believe that my illness is a side effect from the Allegra."

1 / 10
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44 Report
Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.