Drugs › Histamine-1 receptor antagonist
Generic name
Fexofenadine hydrochloride: adverse event reports filed with FDA
1,499 reports list it as a suspect or interacting product, 2004–2026. Class: Histamine-1 receptor antagonist. Also reported as Fexofenadine Hydrochloride Tablets, Fexofenadine Hydrochloride Tablets Usp, Fexofenadine Hcl Tablets Usp.
- 1,499
- reports as suspect product
- 0% of all reports · about 68 a year
- 208
- reports, 12 months to June 2026
- 165 in the 12 months before
- 49.4%
- marked serious by the reporter
- 57.7% across the class
- 1.3%
- record death among outcomes, as reported
- 19 reports · not verified by FDA
1,499 adverse event reports received by FDA list fexofenadine hydrochloride, a generic name as a suspect or interacting product, from May 2004 to June 2026. A further 4,657 reports list it only as a concomitant medication, and those are not counted in the figures on this page.
In the 12 months to June 2026, 208 reports listed it, up 26% from 165 in the 12 months before. FDA releases FAERS data quarterly, so the newest months are incomplete and grow in later releases. Over its reporting history that is about 68 reports a year and 0% of the 20,646,523 reports in the database, and 1.1% of the reports for the histamine-1 receptor antagonist class. How many people take it is not in the data, so a count is not a rate of occurrence.
Reporters most often recorded drug ineffective (16.9%), pruritus (5.9%) and dizziness (5.3%). A report can list several reactions, so shares add to more than 100%; 342 different terms appear across these reports. Drug ineffective is recorded in 16.9% of these reports, about the same share as in the median histamine-1 receptor antagonist drug (15.9%).
49.4% of the reports are marked serious by the reporter (57.7% across the class); 1.3% record death among the outcomes and 10.2% record hospitalisation, as reported. 68.6% of the reports came from consumers, and the largest patient age group is 18 to 44 (21.1%). FDA states that "a causal relationship cannot be established between product and reactions listed in a report" and that for any given report "there is no certainty that a suspected drug caused the event."
Reports by month, five years
Reports by the month FDA received them. FDA releases FAERS data quarterly, so the newest months are incomplete and grow in later releases.
By year received
2026 covers reports received through June 2026 only.
Reactions recorded in the reports
share of Fexofenadine hydrochloride reports recording the termmedian drug in histamine-1 receptor antagonist
- Drug ineffectivethe medicine did not work as expected16.9%254
- Pruritusitching5.9%89
- Dizzinesslight-headedness or unsteadiness5.3%80
- Headachehead pain5.2%78
- Condition aggravatedthe condition being treated got worse4.3%65
- Insomniadifficulty sleeping4.1%61
- Nauseafeeling sick3.3%50
- Fatiguetiredness3.3%49
- Vomitingbeing sick3.2%48
- Off label useused for a purpose or in a way not on the label3%45
- Somnolencedrowsiness3%45
- Extra dose administered2.9%43
- Dyspnoeashortness of breath2.7%41
- Anxietyanxiety2.7%40
- Diarrhoealoose or frequent stools2.6%39
- Urticariahives2.6%39
- Hypersensitivityan allergic-type reaction2.4%36
- Rashskin rash2.4%36
- Palpitationsawareness of the heartbeat2%30
- Incorrect dose administeredthe wrong dose was given1.9%29
- Feeling abnormalfeeling odd or not right1.9%28
- Angioedemadeep swelling of skin or mucous membranes1.7%26
- Abdominal pain upperupper stomach pain1.7%25
- Constipationconstipation1.7%25
- Wrong technique in product usage processthe product was used in the wrong way1.7%25
- No adverse eventno adverse event was reported1.6%24
- Rhinorrhoeaa runny nose1.6%24
- Drug interactionan interaction between medicines1.4%21
- Inappropriate schedule of product administrationthe product was taken at the wrong times1.4%21
Top 30 of 342 MedDRA preferred terms recorded across these reports, with a plain-language gloss where one is available. One report can record several terms. The hollow bar is the median share across the 34 drugs in the histamine-1 receptor antagonist class; it describes the reports, not the patients. FDA states that adverse event reports "represent a small percentage of total usage numbers of a product", that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product", and that the data "by themselves are not an indicator of the safety profile of the drug or biologic."
Outcomes recorded
Outcome flags as the reporter set them; a report can carry several, and "other serious" is FDA's own category for serious reports outside the named outcomes. Grey bar: all 135,666 reports in the class. FDA has not verified any outcome and states that the reports "cannot be used to estimate the incidence of these events."
Patients and reporters
Patient age
Patient sex
Who reported
Age and sex as stated in the report; the reporter's qualification is the primary source recorded by FDA. 55.4% of reports give the United States as the country of the event or reporter.
Reason for use recorded
| Indication as recorded (MedDRA) | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Hypersensitivity | 196 | 13.1% |
| Seasonal allergy | 130 | 8.7% |
| Urticaria | 49 | 3.3% |
| Pruritus | 28 | 1.9% |
| Rhinitis allergic | 28 | 1.9% |
| Chronic spontaneous urticaria | 20 | 1.3% |
The indication field is filled in by the reporter and is often blank; shares are of all 1,499 reports.
Drugs most often listed in the same reports
| Drug (any role in the report) | Reports | Share of Fexofenadine hydrochloride reports |
|---|---|---|
| Cetirizine hydrochloride | 45 | 3% |
| Ranitidine | 41 | 2.7% |
| Acetaminophen | 37 | 2.5% |
| Ibuprofen | 36 | 2.4% |
| Prednisolone | 35 | 2.3% |
| Omeprazole | 33 | 2.2% |
| Cetirizine | 32 | 2.1% |
| Pregabalin | 27 | 1.8% |
| Hydroxyzine | 26 | 1.7% |
| Loratadine | 26 | 1.7% |
Other products listed in reports where Fexofenadine hydrochloride is a suspect product, whatever their own role. Co-listing means the two were recorded together; it says nothing about either product's part in the event. Only the 2,500 most-reported names are counted here.
In context
| Measure | Fexofenadine hydrochloride | Histamine-1 receptor antagonist | All reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reports as suspect product | 1,499 | 135,666 | 20,646,523 |
| Share of that pool | — | 1.1% | 0% |
| Reports, latest 12 months | 208 | — | 1,332,454 |
| Marked serious | 49.4% | 57.7% | 57.4% |
| Death recorded among outcomes, per 1,000 reports | 13 | 190 | 91 |
| Hospitalisation recorded, per 1,000 reports | 102 | 203 | 213 |
| Consumer-filed share | 68.6% | 50.8% | 45.8% |
| Top term, share of reports | Drug ineffective 16.9% | median 15.9% | 6.3% |
Shares are of reports, not of patients treated. The number of people taking a product is not in the data, so none of these figures is a rate, and differences between columns reflect who takes a product, who reports and how long it has been sold. FDA states that adverse event reports "represent a small percentage of total usage numbers of a product", that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product", and that the data "by themselves are not an indicator of the safety profile of the drug or biologic."
Other drugs in the histamine-1 receptor antagonist class
| Drug | Name type | Reports | Latest 12 months | Marked serious |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zyrtec | brand | 20,342 | 929 | 16.7% |
| Cetirizine hydrochloride | generic | 19,092 | 2,043 | 77.5% |
| Diphenhydramine | generic | 15,339 | 1,157 | 96% |
| Cetirizine | generic | 12,522 | 1,548 | 91.7% |
| Benadryl | brand | 9,612 | 432 | 66.6% |
| Allegra Allergy | brand | 7,868 | 304 | 3.6% |
| Diphenhydramine hydrochloride | generic | 5,556 | 538 | 94.6% |
| Xyzal Allergy 24HR | brand | 5,302 | 147 | 3.3% |
| Cetirizine hydrochloride, pseudoephedrine hydrochloride | generic | 4,914 | 909 | 99.3% |
| Xyzal | brand | 3,824 | 181 | 44.6% |
| Fexofenadine | generic | 3,142 | 335 | 62.5% |
| Diphenhydramine hcl | generic | 2,741 | 0 | 91% |
| Desloratadine | generic | 2,699 | 190 | 93.6% |
| Azelastine hydrochloride | generic | 2,502 | 151 | 5.7% |
| Aleve PM | brand | 1,877 | 13 | 6.4% |
Ordered by report count for navigation only. FDA states that adverse event reports "represent a small percentage of total usage numbers of a product", that "common products may have a higher number of adverse events due to the higher total number of people using the product", and that the data "by themselves are not an indicator of the safety profile of the drug or biologic." A brand and its generic are separate rows because reporters name them separately.
Questions about Fexofenadine hydrochloride reports
How many adverse event reports has FDA received for Fexofenadine hydrochloride?
1,499 reports list Fexofenadine hydrochloride as a suspect or interacting product in the openFDA FAERS release of 28 Sep 2026, covering reports received through June 2026. 208 of them arrived in the latest 12 months. Another 4,657 list it only as a concomitant medication.
What reactions are recorded in Fexofenadine hydrochloride reports?
drug ineffective (16.9%), pruritus (5.9%), dizziness (5.3%), headache (5.2%) and condition aggravated (4.3%). These are MedDRA preferred terms coded from what the reporter described; a report can list several, and a term's presence is not a finding that Fexofenadine hydrochloride was responsible.
How serious are the reports?
49.4% are marked serious by the reporter. Among the outcomes recorded, 1.3% of reports include death and 10.2% include hospitalisation. FDA has not verified these outcomes and states that the reports "cannot be used to estimate the incidence" of the events.
Who files these reports?
consumer or non-health professional (68.6%), physician (13.7%) and other health professional (11.5%). Most reports reach FDA through the manufacturer, which must forward reports it receives.
Are reports for Fexofenadine hydrochloride rising?
208 reports in the 12 months to June 2026, up 26% from 165 in the 12 months before. FDA releases FAERS data quarterly, so the newest months are incomplete and grow in later releases. Counts also move with how many people take a product, its time on the market and publicity.
Do these reports show that Fexofenadine hydrochloride was responsible for these reactions?
No. FDA states that "a causal relationship cannot be established between product and reactions listed in a report" and that for any given report "there is no certainty that a suspected drug caused the event." The reaction may relate to the condition being treated, to other medicines, or to something else.
Is this a list of the side effects of Fexofenadine hydrochloride?
No. It is a count of what was reported to FDA. The adverse reactions observed in clinical studies are printed on the FDA-approved label, which a pharmacist or clinician can go through with you.
How do I report an adverse event?
Consumers and health professionals can report to FDA through MedWatch (Form FDA 3500 online, or 1-800-FDA-1088), or to the manufacturer, which must pass reports on. See the guide on how to report.
Where this comes from. Counts are built from the openFDA Drug Adverse Event (FAERS) bulk export released 28 Sep 2026, which holds reports FDA received through 30 Jun 2026. Drug names are as reported, resolved to the brand or generic name on the FDA label where openFDA's harmonisation matched them; classes are the pharmacologic class (EPC) from the label and the National Drug Code Directory of 17 Sep 2026. A report counts here when it lists Fexofenadine hydrochloride as a suspect or interacting product; reports listing it only as a concomitant medication (4,657) are excluded. No report narrative, lot number, patient detail or reporter identity is published. See the methodology and sources; FDA's record is authoritative, and corrections are handled within five working days.
Drug data (FAERS) through 30 Jun 2026; device data (MAUDE) through 31 Aug 2026. Not medical advice.