Consumer medicine information

Telfast Oral Liquid and 6-11 Years Tablets

Fexofenadine hydrochloride

BRAND INFORMATION

Brand name

Telfast

Active ingredient

Fexofenadine hydrochloride

Schedule

S2

 

Consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflet

Please read this leaflet carefully before you start using Telfast Oral Liquid and 6-11 Years Tablets.

FULL CMI

Telfast® Oral Liquid and 6-11 Years Tablets

Active ingredient(s): Fexofenadine hydrochloride


Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)

This leaflet provides important information about using Telfast. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about using Telfast.

Where to find information in this leaflet:

1. Why is my child using Telfast?
2. What should I know before my child uses Telfast?
3. What if my child is taking other medicines?
4. How do I give Telfast to my child?
5. What should I know while my child is taking Telfast?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details

1. Why is my child using Telfast?

Telfast contains the active ingredient fexofenadine hydrochloride. Fexofenadine hydrochloride is one of a group of medicines called antihistamines.

Antihistamines help reduce allergic symptoms by preventing the effects of a substance called histamine, which your body produces when exposed to certain substances.

Telfast is a non-sedating antihistamine which means it has been shown to not cause drowsiness.

Telfast is used to relieve the symptoms of:

  • hayfever (seasonal allergic rhinitis) and year round allergies (perennial allergic rhinitis). Symptoms include runny, itchy, blocked nose, sneezing and itchy, watery, red eyes.
  • hives or nettle rash (chronic idiopathic urticaria). Symptoms include pink to red, itchy swellings on the skin.

Your pharmacist or doctor may have recommended this medicine for another reason.

2. What should I know before my child uses Telfast?

Warnings

Do not give Telfast to your child if:

  • your child has had an allergic reaction to fexofenadine, terfenadine (Teldane®) or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Always check the ingredients to make sure your child can use this medicine.
  • Your child is under 2 years of age for allergies (allergic rhinitis) or 6 months of age for hives (chronic idiopathic urticaria).
There is currently not enough information available to recommend Telfast for use in children under 2 years of age for allergies and 6 months of age for hives.
  • the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack or bottle has passed or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If you give your child this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well. If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if your child:

  • has any allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
Your pharmacist or doctor will consider these points when recommending Telfast.
  • takes any medicines for any other condition.

During treatment, your child may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects?

3. What if my child is taking other medicines?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if your child is being given any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines and Telfast may interfere with each other.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements your child is taking and if these affect Telfast.

4. How do I give Telfast to my child?

How much to give your child

For Hayfever/Allergic Rhinitis:

  • Children 2 - 5 years old:
5 mL (equivalent to 30 mg) of Telfast Oral Liquid, twice daily, when required.
  • Children 6 - 11 years old:
5 mL (equivalent to 30 mg) of Telfast Oral Liquid or one 6 - 11 Years tablet#, twice daily, when required.

For Hives/Nettle Rash:

  • Children 6 - 23 months old:
2.5 mL (equivalent to 15 mg) of Telfast Oral Liquid twice daily, when required.
  • Children 2 - 5 years old:
5 mL (equivalent to 30 mg) of Telfast Oral Liquid twice daily, when required.
  • Children 6 - 11 years old:
5 mL (equivalent to 30 mg) of Telfast Oral Liquid or one 6 - 11 Years tablet#, twice daily, when required.

For children 12 years of age or older and adults, please refer to Telfast's 60 mg, 120 mg and 180 mg tablets CMI.

Follow the instructions provided with the medicine.

Do not exceed the recommended dosage.

Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if you are unsure what dose to give your child.

The dosage directed by your pharmacist or doctor may be different to the recommended dose.

Do not give your child more than the dose your pharmacist or doctor has directed.

How to give Telfast to your child

  • Measure Telfast Oral Liquid with the measuring device included in the package and give to your child.
  • Give Telfast tablets to your child with a glass of water or as directed by your pharmacist or doctor
  • Telfast may be taken with or without food.

How long should it be given for

The duration of treatment depends on the type and duration of your complaint.

Talk to your pharmacist or doctor about how long to give Telfast to your child.

Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if Telfast does not relieve your child's symptoms. Do not give extra oral liquid or tablets to your child.

If your child takes too much Telfast

If you think that your child has taken too much Telfast, your child may need urgent medical attention.

You should immediately:

  • phone the Poisons Information Centre
    (by calling Australia 13 11 26 or New Zealand 0800 POISON or 0800 764 766), or
  • contact your doctor, or
  • go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.

You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

5. What should I know while my child is taking Telfast?

Things you should do

Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist who is treating your child that your child is being given Telfast.

If your child is about to be started on any new medicine, tell your pharmacist or doctor that your child is being given Telfast.

If your child is to have surgery that needs a general anaesthetic, tell the doctor or dentist that your child is being given this medicine.

Things you should not do

Do not give your child more than the recommended dose unless your pharmacist or doctor tells you to.

Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as your child's.

Do not use this medicine to treat any other complaints unless your pharmacist or doctor tells you to.

Looking after your child's medicine

  • Keep the tablets in the blister pack until it is time to use them.
If you take the tablets out of the box or blister pack they may not keep well.
  • Keep the medicine in a cool, dry place at room temperature below 30°C for the bottle and below 25°C for the tablets.

Follow the instructions in the carton on how to take care of your child's medicine properly.

Store it in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do not store it:

  • in the bathroom or near a sink, or
  • in the car or on window sills.

Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

Keep it where young children cannot reach it.

Getting rid of any unwanted medicine

If your child no longer needs to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.

Do not give this medicine to your child after the expiry date.

6. Are there any side effects?

All medicines can have side effects. If your child experiences any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.

See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions.

Less serious side effects

Less serious side effectsWhat to do
Gastrointestinal related
  • nausea
Head and neurology related
  • headache
  • tiredness
  • dizziness
  • drowsiness
Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry you.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making your child feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.

Reporting side effects

After you have received medical advice for any side effects your child experiences, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems or Medsafe in New Zealand www.medsafe.govt.nz/safety/report-a-problem.asp#Medicine. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

7. Product details

This medicine is available over-the-counter without a doctor's prescription.

What Telfast contains

Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
Telfast Oral Liquid - each 5 mL of oral liquid contains 30 mg of fexofenadine.
Telfast 6 - 11 Years tablets# - each tablet contains 30 mg of fexofenadine hydrochloride.
Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)

Telfast Oral Liquid:

  • butyl hydroxybenzoate
  • edetate disodium
  • poloxamer 407
  • propylene glycol
  • propyl hydroxybenzoate
  • purified water
  • raspberry cream flavour
  • sodium phosphate dibasic heptahydrate
  • sodium phosphate monobasic monohydrate
  • sucrose
  • titanium dioxide
  • xanthan gum
  • xylitol

Telfast 6-11 Years tablets#

  • colloidal anhydrous silica
  • croscarmellose sodium
  • hypromellose
  • iron oxide
  • macrogol 400
  • magnesium stearate
  • microcrystalline cellulose
  • povidone
  • pregelatinised maize starch
  • titanium dioxide

Do not take give this medicine to your child if your child is allergic to any of these ingredients.

Telfast 6 - 11 Years tablets# do not contain any gluten, lactose or preservatives.

What Telfast looks like

Telfast Oral Liquid is a white liquid and is available in 60ml and 150 mL bottles (AUST R 156262)

Telfast 6 - 11 Years tablets# are round, peach coloured tablets with 03 embossed on one side and 'e' on the other (AUST R 75139)

They are available in blister packs of 20 tablets.

#Not marketed

Who distributes Telfast

Telfast is supplied in Australia by:

sanofi-aventis australia pty ltd
12-24 Talavera Road
Macquarie Park NSW 2113
Australia

Telfast is supplied in New Zealand by:

sanofi-aventis new zealand limited
56 Cawley Street
Ellersie, Auckland
New Zealand

This leaflet was prepared in May 2021.

tel-ccdsv5-cmiv4-d1-09may21

Published by MIMS September 2021

BRAND INFORMATION

Brand name

Telfast

Active ingredient

Fexofenadine hydrochloride

Schedule

S2

 

1 Name of Medicine

Fexofenadine (as hydrochloride).

2 Qualitative and Quantitative Composition

Telfast 6-11 years tablets*.

Each tablet contains fexofenadine HCl 30 mg equivalent to 28 mg fexofenadine.

Telfast 60 mg tablets.

Each tablet contains fexofenadine HCl 60 mg equivalent to 56 mg fexofenadine.

Telfast 120 mg tablets.

Each tablet contains fexofenadine HCl 120 mg equivalent to 112 mg fexofenadine.

Telfast 180 mg tablets.

Each tablet contains fexofenadine HCl 180 mg equivalent to 168 mg fexofenadine.

Telfast Oral Liquid (reformulation).

Each mL of oral liquid contains fexofenadine HCl 6 mg (30 mg/5 mL) equivalent to 5.6 mg fexofenadine.
Excipients with known effect in Telfast Oral Liquid: potassium sorbate, sucrose.
For the full list of excipients, see Section 6.1 List of Excipients.
*Not marketed in Australia.

3 Pharmaceutical Form

Telfast 6-11 years tablets*.

Peach, round, standard convex film-coated tablets engraved with '03' on one side and a scripted 'e' on the other.

Telfast 60 mg tablets.

Peach, oval, double convex, tablets, debossed with '06' on one side and a scripted 'e' on the other.

Telfast 120 mg tablets.

Peach, oblong, double convex, tablets debossed with '012' (underlined) on one side and a scripted "e" on the other.

Telfast 180 mg tablets.

Peach oblong, double convex tablets, debossed with '018' (underlined) on one side and a scripted "e" on the other.

Telfast Oral Liquid (reformulation).

White to beige uniform aqueous suspension, with a raspberry cream flavour.
*Not marketed in Australia.

4 Clinical Particulars

4.1 Therapeutic Indications

Oral liquid.

Relief of symptoms associated with urticaria from 6 months of age. Relief of symptoms associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis and allergic rhinitis from 2 years of age.

6-11 years tablets*.

Relief of symptoms associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis, allergic rhinitis or urticaria in children aged 6 to 11 years.

60 mg tablets.

Relief of symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis in adults and children aged 12 years or older.

120 mg tablets.

Relief of symptoms associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis in adults and children aged 12 years or older.

180 mg tablets.

Relief of symptoms associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis or urticaria in adults and children aged 12 years or older.
*Not marketed in Australia.

4.2 Dose and Method of Administration

Paediatrics.

Allergic rhinitis and seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Children aged 2 to 11 years.

30 mg twice daily, when required.
Urticaria.

Children aged 6 to 23 months.

15 mg twice daily, when required.

Children aged 2 to 11 years.

30 mg twice daily, when required.

Adults and children aged 12 years or older.

Allergic rhinitis.

60 mg twice daily, when required.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis.

120 mg or 180 mg once daily, when required.

Urticaria.

180 mg once daily, when required.
Dosage adjustment is not required in the elderly or in patients with hepatic or renal impairment.

4.3 Contraindications

Telfast is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to fexofenadine, terfenadine or any of its excipients.

4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use

Use in renal impairment.

Dosage adjustment is not required in patients with renal impairment.

Use in hepatic impairment.

Dosage adjustment is not required in patients with hepatic impairment.

Use in the elderly.

Dosage adjustment is not required in the elderly.

Paediatric use.

Safety and effectiveness of Telfast has not been established in children under 2 years of age for allergic rhinitis and under 6 months of age for chronic idiopathic urticaria.
Telfast 6-11 Years tablets* is intended for paediatric patients 6 to 11 years of age and Telfast Oral Liquid for children from 6 months.
*Not marketed in Australia.

Effects on laboratory tests.

No data available.

4.5 Interactions with Other Medicines and Other Forms of Interactions

As fexofenadine undergoes negligible hepatic biotransformation, it is unlikely to interact with other drugs through hepatic metabolism.
The pharmacokinetics of fexofenadine HCl and pseudoephedrine are not altered when both drugs are co-administered.
Coadministration of fexofenadine with erythromycin or ketoconazole has been found to result in a 2 - 3 times increase in the level of fexofenadine in plasma. The changes were not accompanied by any effects on the QT interval and were not associated with any increase in adverse events compared to the drugs given singly. Fexofenadine had no effect on the pharmacokinetics of erythromycin or ketoconazole.
Animal studies have shown that the increase in plasma levels of fexofenadine observed after coadministration of erythromycin or ketoconazole appears to be due to an increase in gastrointestinal absorption and either a decrease in biliary excretion or gastrointestinal secretion, respectively.
No interaction between fexofenadine and omeprazole has been observed. However, the administration of an antacid containing aluminium and magnesium hydroxide gel 15 minutes prior to fexofenadine HCl causes a reduction in bioavailability, most likely due to binding in the gastrointestinal tract. It is advisable to leave 2 hours between administration of fexofenadine HCl and aluminium and magnesium hydroxide containing antacids.

4.6 Fertility, Pregnancy and Lactation

Effects on fertility.

In rat fertility studies, dose related reductions in implants and increases in postimplantation losses were observed at oral doses equal to or greater than 150 mg/kg of terfenadine respectively; these doses produced plasma AUC values of fexofenadine that were equal to or greater than three times the human therapeutic value respectively (based on a 60 mg twice daily fexofenadine HCl dose).
(Category B2)
Reproductive toxicity of fexofenadine in animals was assessed through terfenadine exposure. No evidence of teratogenicity was observed in animal reproduction studies (rat and rabbit) when terfenadine was given at oral doses of up to 300 mg/kg/day throughout organogenesis, which corresponds to levels of systemic fexofenadine exposure 4- and 32-fold higher, respectively, than those anticipated in clinical use. Decreased pup weight and survival occurred in rats when terfenadine was given at oral doses of 150 mg/kg/day and above throughout pregnancy and lactation.
There are no studies in pregnant women exposed to fexofenadine alone or through the administration of terfenadine.
Telfast is not recommended for nursing women unless, in the physician's judgment, the potential benefit to the patient outweighs the potential risk to the infant. There are no data on the content of human milk after administering fexofenadine. However, when terfenadine was administered to nursing mothers, fexofenadine was found to cross into human breast milk.
Exposure of rats to fexofenadine and terfenadine through the administration of terfenadine at dietary doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg/day throughout pregnancy and lactation (corresponding to systemic exposure at levels (AUC) approximately 3- and 6-fold higher than those anticipated in clinical use) caused decreased pup weight gain and survival. The relative risks of these effects from terfenadine or fexofenadine are unknown. Effects on pups exposed to fexofenadine only during lactation are unknown.

4.7 Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machines

The effects of this medicine on a person's ability to drive and use machines were not assessed as part of its registration.

4.8 Adverse Effects (Undesirable Effects)

Telfast is generally well tolerated. In placebo controlled trials involving seasonal allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria patients, adverse events were comparable in fexofenadine and placebo treated patients. The most common adverse events reported in controlled clinical trials were headache, fatigue, dizziness or drowsiness, and nausea. No apparent dose trends were revealed in adverse events.
Events that have been reported during controlled trials involving seasonal allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria patients with incidences less than 1% and similar to placebo and have been reported rarely during postmarketing surveillance include: fatigue, insomnia, nervousness, and sleep disorders or paroniria. In rare cases, rash, urticaria, pruritus and hypersensitivity reactions with manifestations such as angioedema, chest tightness, dyspnoea, flushing and systemic anaphylaxis have been reported.
Adverse events reported in placebo controlled chronic idiopathic urticaria studies were similar to those reported in placebo controlled seasonal allergic rhinitis studies. In placebo controlled trials involving paediatric seasonal allergic rhinitis patients (6-11 years of age), adverse events were similar to those observed in trials involving seasonal allergic rhinitis patients 12 years and older.
In controlled clinical trials involving paediatric patients 6 months to 5 years of age, there were no unexpected adverse events in patients treated with fexofenadine hydrochloride.
As with adults, the incidence of adverse events with fexofenadine in paediatric patients was similar to placebo.

Reporting suspected adverse effects.

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after registration of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit-risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems (Australia) or https://nzphvc.otago.ac.nz/reporting/ (New Zealand).

4.9 Overdose

There is no clinical experience with a fexofenadine overdose. The maximum single dose tested in clinical trials is 800 mg in six healthy subjects. In a multiple dose study, doses of 690 mg every 12 hours for 28.5 days were given to three healthy subjects and, in another study with forty subjects, a dose of 400 mg every 12 hours was given for 6.5 days. No clinically significant adverse events were reported in these studies.
In the case of an overdose, standard measures to remove any unabsorbed drug should be employed. Symptomatic and supportive treatment is recommended. Haemodialysis is not an effective means of removing fexofenadine from plasma.
For general advice on management of overdose, contact the Poisons Information Centre, telephone number 13 11 26 (Australia) or the National Poisons Centre, 0800 POISON or 0800 764 766 (New Zealand).

5 Pharmacological Properties

5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antihistamine for systemic use, ATC code: R06A X26.

Mechanism of action.

The antihistaminic effects of fexofenadine have been demonstrated in animal systems in vitro and in vivo. Oral administration of fexofenadine to guinea pigs indicated that fexofenadine antagonised histamine induced skin wheals in a dose dependent manner. Fexofenadine and terfenadine antagonised the contractile effects of histamine in the guinea pig ileum in vitro. In this model, fexofenadine was found to be a more selective histamine antagonist than terfenadine.
Fexofenadine inhibited antigen induced bronchospasm in sensitised guinea pigs and, at high doses (> 100-fold higher than those required for antihistaminic activity), inhibited histamine release from peritoneal mast cells of the rat. In laboratory animals, no anticholinergic or alpha-1-adrenergic receptor blocking effects were observed. Radiolabelled tissue distribution studies in rat indicated that fexofenadine does not cross the blood brain barrier.
Fexofenadine is not associated with significant ECG abnormalities. Studies have shown that fexofenadine does not affect the action potential or ion channel currents (IK, ICa, INa) in either guinea pig or neonatal rat myocytes. Fexofenadine was 583 times less potent than terfenadine in blocking a delayed rectifier potassium channel cloned from human heart. Additionally, doses of fexofenadine ten times greater than the dose of terfenadine that produces prolongation of QTc intervals do not prolong QTc intervals in anaesthetised rabbits and conscious dogs.

Clinical trials.

An escalating acute dose study demonstrated antihistaminic activity via skin wheal and flare inhibition at doses ranging from 40 mg to 800 mg, with maximum inhibition reaching a plateau at a dose of 130 mg. An escalating repeat dose study demonstrated increasing skin flare inhibition at twice daily doses, ranging from 20 mg to 690 mg. During both acute dose and repeat dose studies, an antihistaminic effect was observed within one hour, achieving maximum effect within 2 - 4 hours and lasting a minimum of 12 hours. There was no evidence of tolerance to these effects after 28 days of dosing.
In dose ranging studies, fexofenadine HCl was shown to relieve the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis, significantly reducing total symptom scores (including scores for sneezing, rhinorrhoea, itchy nose, palate and/or throat, and itchy, watery, red eyes) over a dosage range of 40 mg to 240 mg twice daily. In a double-blind, placebo controlled trial of 208 patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria, fexofenadine HCl 180 mg and 240 mg once daily for 6 weeks were found to significantly reduce total symptom scores (number of wheals (hives) and pruritus).
In a double-blind, placebo controlled clinical efficacy study involving 821 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis, fexofenadine HCl 120 mg and 180 mg once daily were found to be significantly superior to placebo in relieving symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis, including sneezing, rhinorrhoea, itchy nose, palate and/or throat, itchy, red or watery eyes and nasal congestion, after 24 hours. There was no statistically significant difference in efficacy between the two doses of fexofenadine, however the 180 mg dose did show a trend toward greater reduction in the mean total symptom score.
In a double-blind placebo controlled study, 861 patients aged 12 - 65 years were randomised to receive either 120 mg fexofenadine or 180 mg fexofenadine or placebo, once daily for a 2 week period. The primary efficacy measure was change from baseline of average total symptom score. Both doses provided significant (p ≤ 0.05) improvement in symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis, compared to placebo. While there was no statistically significant difference in efficacy between the two doses, the 180 mg dose showed a trend toward greater reduction in the average total symptom score.
In a double-blind placebo controlled study investigating quality of life, 845 patients aged 12 - 65 years were randomised to receive 120 mg fexofenadine or 180 mg fexofenadine or placebo once daily for a 2 week period. The primary efficacy measures were change from baseline in a quality of life score and in a work/ activity impairment score. Patients receiving either 120 mg or 180 mg dose reported a significant (p ≤ 0.006) improvement in overall quality of life score and a significant (p ≤ 0.004) reduction in work/ activity impairment score, compared to placebo. No statistical comparison was made between the effects of the two doses of fexofenadine.
The incidence of drowsiness in controlled clinical seasonal allergic rhinitis trials was similar when comparing patients treated with fexofenadine and placebo. There was no dose related increase in drowsiness.
The effects of fexofenadine on the QTc interval have been investigated in a variety of studies at doses up to 800 mg/day. There were no statistically significant differences in QTc interval between fexofenadine and placebo treated patients. Similarly, there were no statistically significant differences from placebo or dose related changes in other ECG parameters as a result of fexofenadine treatment.
Also, no statistically significant change in QTc intervals was observed in long term studies in healthy subjects given fexofenadine HCl 60 mg twice daily for 6 months and 240 mg once daily for 12 months, when compared to placebo.
Interaction studies in healthy volunteers between fexofenadine and erythromycin or ketoconazole demonstrated that although the plasma AUC for fexofenadine increased approximately 2 - 3-fold, there were no significant effects on mean or maximal QTc, nor were there any effects on the incidence of adverse events. Although these plasma levels were above those seen with the recommended dose, they were within the range of plasma levels achieved in controlled dose ranging clinical trials. Fexofenadine had no effect on the pharmacokinetics of erythromycin or ketoconazole (see Section 4.5 Interactions with Other Medicines and Other Forms of Interactions for further information).
Across the clinical trials, patients between the ages of 12 to 16 years have received doses ranging from 20 mg to 240 mg twice daily. Adverse events were similar in this group compared to patients above the age of 16 years.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties

Fexofenadine HCl is rapidly absorbed into the body following oral administration, with tmax occurring approximately 1 - 3 hours post-dose. Following administration of a single 60 mg oral dose to healthy volunteers, fexofenadine HCl was rapidly absorbed, with a mean Cmax of 209 nanogram/mL. Following the administration of single oral doses of 120 mg and 180 mg fexofenadine HCl, the mean Cmax values were approximately 427 nanogram/mL and 494 nanogram/mL, respectively.
The absolute bioavailability following fexofenadine HCl administration was estimated to be 33%. Coadministration with food has no clinically significant effect on the absorption of fexofenadine HCl.
The single and multiple dose pharmacokinetics of fexofenadine are linear for oral doses up to 120 mg bd. A dose of 240 mg bd produced a slightly greater than proportional increase (8.8%) in steady state area under the curve, indicating that fexofenadine pharmacokinetics are practically linear at daily doses between 40 mg and 240 mg. Fexofenadine is 60% to 70% bound to plasma proteins.
Fexofenadine undergoes negligible metabolism. Following a single radiolabelled 60 mg oral dose, approximately 80% and 11% of the total [14C]-fexofenadine dose was excreted in faeces and urine, respectively.
The plasma concentration vs. time profiles of fexofenadine follow a bi-exponential decline with a mean terminal elimination half-life ranging from 14 to 15 hours following multiple dosing.
The pharmacokinetics of fexofenadine in seasonal allergic rhinitis patients are similar to those in healthy subjects.
Studies indicated that females may be exposed to higher plasma levels than males, however, there was no indication of any difference in efficacy or in the frequency of adverse events reported. Elderly patients, patients with hepatic impairment and patients with cardiac disease exposed to fexofenadine by administration of terfenadine showed no statistically significant differences in pharmacokinetic parameters for fexofenadine, compared to healthy individuals. Although peak plasma level and half-life were increased 68% and 15%, respectively, in elderly patients and 54% and 19%, respectively, in patients with renal disease, regardless of disease severity, these levels are within the range of plasma levels shown to be tolerated in short term dose ranging trials.
The pharmacokinetics of fexofenadine in children and adults are similar, including tmax, clearance (corrected for body surface area), t1/2 and volume of distribution, because fexofenadine undergoes negligible metabolism, with 80% of the dose being eliminated unchanged in the faeces. In contrast, other H1-receptor antagonists, which are extensively metabolised in the hepatic cytochrome P450 system, usually have shorter half-life values in children than adults.
In children, studies indicate that 30 or 60 mg fexofenadine suppresses the histamine induced wheal and flare within 1 to 2 hours, with both doses producing similar mean maximal suppression.
A dose of 5 mL of Telfast Oral Liquid containing 30 mg of fexofenadine HCl is bioequivalent to a 30 mg dose of Telfast tablets. Following oral administration of a 30 mg dose of Telfast Oral Liquid to healthy adult subjects, the mean Cmax was 118.0 nanogram/mL and occurred at approximately 1.0 hour.

5.3 Preclinical Safety Data

Genotoxicity.

Fexofenadine showed no genotoxic activity in a series of assays for gene mutations and chromosomal damage.

Carcinogenicity.

The carcinogenic potential and reproductive toxicity of fexofenadine HCl were assessed using terfenadine studies. No evidence of carcinogenicity was observed when mice and rats were given daily oral doses of 50 and 150 mg/kg of terfenadine for 18 and 24 months, respectively; these doses resulted in plasma AUC values of fexofenadine that were two to four times the human therapeutic value (based on a 60 mg twice daily fexofenadine HCl dose).

6 Pharmaceutical Particulars

6.1 List of Excipients

Telfast tablets contain the following excipients: croscarmellose sodium, pregelatinised maize starch, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, povidone, titanium dioxide, colloidal anhydrous silica, macrogol 400, Pigment Blend Pink PB1254 (ARTG PI No.3225) and Pigment Blend Yellow PB1255 (ARTG PI No.3226).
Telfast Oral Liquid (reformulation) contains 6 mg/mL of fexofenadine HCl. Telfast Oral Liquid (reformulation) also contains the following excipients: propylene glycol, edetate disodium, xanthan gum, poloxamer 407, titanium dioxide, sodium phosphate monobasic monohydrate, sodium phosphate dibasic heptahydrate, potassium sorbate, artificial raspberry cream flavour (ARTG PI No. 12546), sucrose, xylitol and purified water.

6.2 Incompatibilities

Incompatibilities were either not assessed or not identified as part of the registration of this medicine.

6.3 Shelf Life

In Australia, information on the shelf life can be found on the public summary of the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). The expiry date can be found on the packaging.

6.4 Special Precautions for Storage

Telfast 6-11 years tablets*.

Store below 25°C.

Telfast 60 mg tablets.

Store below 30°C.

Telfast 120 mg tablets.

Store below 30°C.

Telfast 180 mg tablets.

Store below 30°C.

Telfast Oral Liquid (reformulation).

Store below 30°C.
*Not marketed in Australia.

6.5 Nature and Contents of Container

Telfast 6-11 years tablets*.

Available in blister packs of 20 tablets.

Telfast 60 mg tablets.

Available in blister packs of 10, 20 tablets.

Telfast 120 mg tablets.

Available in blister packs of 5, 10 and 30 tablets.

Telfast 180 mg tablets.

Available in blister packs of 5, 10, 30, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 tablets.

Telfast Oral Liquid (reformulation).

This product is available in 60 mL and 150 mL bottle presentations.
*Not marketed in Australia.

6.6 Special Precautions for Disposal

In Australia, any unused medicine or waste material should be disposed of by taking to your local pharmacy.

6.7 Physicochemical Properties

Fexofenadine occurs as a fine white to off-white powder. It is freely soluble in methanol, soluble in ethanol, slightly soluble in water (3.6 mg/mL) and only very slightly soluble in chloroform and hexane.
Fexofenadine is the carboxylic acid metabolite of terfenadine. It is an orally-active non sedating histamine H1-receptor antagonist that is administered as the hydrochloride salt in Telfast. The chemical name is benzeneacetic acid, 4-[1-hydroxy-4-[4- (hydroxydiphenylmethyl)-1-piperidinyl]butyl]- α,α-dimethyl-, hydrochloride.

Chemical structure.

Fexofenadine HCl is an equimolar mixture of two enantiomers. It has the following structure:
The molecular formula is C32H39NO4.HCl and the molecular weight is 538.13.

CAS number.

83799-24-0.

7 Medicine Schedule (Poisons Standard)

Pharmacy Medicine (Schedule 2).

Summary Table of Changes