Telfast®
(tell-fast)
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:
Telfast contains the active ingredient fexofenadine hydrochloride. Telfast 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 not to cause
drowsiness.
Telfast 60 mg tablets are used to relieve the symptoms of seasonal and perennial allergic
rhinitis (including hayfever) in adults and children aged 12 years or older.
Telfast 120 mg tablets are used to relieve the symptoms of hayfever (seasonal allergic
rhinitis (including hayfever) such as sneezing, itchy, watery or red eyes and itchy,
blocked or runny nose in adults and children aged 12 years or older.
Telfast 180 mg tablets are used to relieve the symptoms of hayfever (seasonal allergic
rhinitis) such as sneezing, itchy, watery or red eyes and itchy, blocked or runny
nose as well as the symptoms of urticaria otherwise known as hives or itchy rash in
adults and children aged 12 years or older.
Do not use Telfast if:
you are pregnant, intend to become pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding, unless advised
to do so by a Doctor or Pharmacist.
you are allergic to ingredient fexofenadine hydrochloride, or any of the ingredients
listed at the end of this leaflet.
Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
you are under 12 years of age
the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed or if the packaging is damaged
or shows signs of tampering.
If you take it after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.
Check with your doctor if you have the following:
have any other medical conditions
take any medicines for any other condition
During treatment, you 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?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Do not take Telfast if you are pregnant, intend to become pregnant, or if you are
breastfeeding, unless advised to do so by a Doctor or Pharmacist.
If you are taking medicines to treat heartburn and indigestion that contain aluminium
or magnesium hydroxide, wait 2 hours before taking Telfast.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking 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 may interfere with Telfast and affect how it works.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins
or supplements you are taking and if these affect Telfast.
How much to take
For the relief of the symptoms of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis (including
hayfever), the usual dosage for adults and children over 12 years old is one Telfast
60 mg tablet twice daily, when required.
For the relief of the symptoms of hayfever, the usual dosage for adults and children
over 12 years of age is one Telfast 120 mg tablet daily when required, or one Telfast
180 mg tablet daily, when required.
For relief of symptoms of hives or itchy rash, the usual dosage for adults and children
over 12 years of age is one Telfast 180 mg tablet daily when required.
Follow the instructions written on the back of the box.
If you take the wrong dose, Telfast may not work as well and your symptoms may not
improve.
When to take Telfast
The duration of treatment depends on the type and duration of your complaint.
Talk to your pharmacist or doctor about how long to take Telfast.
If Telfast does not relieve your symptoms, do not take extra tablets. Tell your doctor
or pharmacist.
How to take Telfast
Take Telfast with a glass of water to make it easier to swallow.
Telfast may be taken with or without food.
If you forget to use Telfast
Do not try to make up for missed doses by taking more than one dose at a time.
This may increase the chance of getting an unwanted side effect.
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take the next
dose when you are meant to. But if there is still a long time to go before your next
dose, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking it as you would
normally.
If you use too much Telfast
If you think that you have used too much Telfast, you may need urgent medical attention.
You should immediately:
phone the Poisons Information Centre
(by calling 13 11 26 in Australia or 0800 764 766 in New Zealand), or
(by calling 13 11 26 in Australia or 0800 764 766 in New Zealand), or
contact your doctor or pharmacist, or
go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.
You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
If you take too much Telfast, you may feel dizzy, drowsy or have a dry mouth.
Things you should do
Tell all the doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking
Telfast.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your Doctor or Pharmacist
that you are taking Telfast.
If you are to have surgery that needs a general anaesthetic, tell the doctor or dentist
that you are taking this medicine.
If you become pregnant while taking Telfast, consult your Doctor or Pharmacist.
Things you should not do
Do not take 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 condition as
you.
Do not use this medicine to treat any other complaints unless your pharmacist tells
you to.
Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Telfast
affects you.
Looking after your medicine
Keep the medicine in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.
Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them.
Follow the instructions in the carton on how to take care of your 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.
Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
Getting rid of any unwanted medicine
If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy
for safe disposal.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date.
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience 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 about side effects.
Less serious side effects
|
Less serious side effects
|
What to do
|
|---|---|
|
Gastrointestinal related:
nausea
Head and neurology related:
headache
tiredness
dizziness
drowsiness
|
Speak to your doctor 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 you
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 you experience, you can
report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems . By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of
this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop
taking any of your medicines.
This medicine is only available without a doctor's prescription.
What Telfast contains
|
Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
|
Telfast 60 mg – 60 mg fexofenadine hydrochloride per tablet
Telfast 120 mg – 120 mg fexofenadine hydrochloride per tablet
Telfast 180 mg – 180 mg fexofenadine hydrochloride per tablet
|
|---|---|
|
Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
|
microcrystalline cellulose
pregelatinised maize starch
croscarmellose sodium
magnesium stearate
povidone
titanium dioxide
colloidal silicon dioxide
macrogol 400
hypromellose
Pigment Blend Pink PB1254
Pigment Blend Yellow PB1255
|
Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.
What Telfast looks like
Telfast 60 mg tablets are peach coloured, oval and double convex in shape, and are
available in packs of 20 tablets. (AUST R 70949)
Telfast 120 mg tablets are peach coloured with a modified capsule shape, debossed
with ‘012’ (underlined) on one side and a scripted “e” on the other and are available
in packs of 10 or 30 tablets. (AUST R 63339)
Telfast 180 mg tablets are peach coloured with a modified capsule shape, debossed
with ‘018’ (underlined) on one side and a scripted “e” on the other and are available
in packs of 10, 30, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 tablets. (AUST R 63338)*
*only available in Australia. Note not all pack sizes are marketed.
Who distributes Telfast
Distributed in Australia by:
Sanofi Consumer Healthcare,
87 Yarraman Place, Virginia,
Qld 4014 Australia.
Toll-free: 1800 818 806
Email: medinfo.australia@sanofi.com
Distributed in New Zealand by:
Pharmacy Retailing (NZ) Ltd t/a Healthcare Logistics
PO Box 62027
Sylvia Park Auckland 1644
Freecall: 0800 283 684
Email: medinfo.australia@sanofi.com
PO Box 62027
Sylvia Park Auckland 1644
Freecall: 0800 283 684
Email: medinfo.australia@sanofi.com
This leaflet was prepared in October 2022.
tel-s2-ccdsv5-cmiv5-19oct22
