Fexofenadine

Abstract

In pursuit of the Holy Grail, a perfectly safe and effective H1-antagonist, pharmaceutical companies continue to develop new H1-antihistamines. One of the newest medications in this class, fexofenadine, appears to have a clear advantage over the old first-generation sedating H1-antagonists and also over other second-generation non-sedating H1-antagonists in terms of its therapeutic index (benefit-to-risk ratio). This is largely attributable to its wide margin of safety with regard to CNS adverse effects and its lack of cardiac toxicity even when the recommended doses are exceeded.