fexofenadine vs levocetirizine
Side-by-side comparison of fexofenadine and levocetirizine Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Allegra
Xyzal
Fexofenadine (Allegra) is an antihistamine medicine. It helps reduce hives and relieve itching.
Levocetirizine is an antihistamine medicine. It helps relieve allergy symptoms.
This medicine treats hives and itching caused by hives. It will not stop hives or allergic skin reactions from happening. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about your condition.
This medicine treats allergy symptoms. It can help with a runny nose, sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes. It also helps with itching of the nose or throat caused by hay fever or other allergies.
Fexofenadine blocks histamine in your body. Histamine is a natural substance that causes allergy symptoms. By blocking histamine, fexofenadine reduces itching and hives.
Levocetirizine blocks histamine, a natural substance your body makes during an allergic reaction. By blocking histamine, it reduces allergy symptoms.
- • Headache
- • Fatigue
- • Nausea
No common side effects listed.
- Medicine not working 3,554
- Headache 878
- Tiredness 858
- Feeling sick to your stomach 778
- Itching 765
No adverse event reports.
There are no boxed warnings for this medication.
If you have kidney disease, do not use this medicine. Children under 6 years of age should not use this medicine.
It is not known if fexofenadine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if fexofenadine passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
There is not enough information available about the safety of levocetirizine during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Also Compare — Nearby Drugs
Compare fexofenadine with
Compare levocetirizine with
How to Read This fexofenadine vs levocetirizine Comparison
fexofenadine is classified in the Second-Generation Antihistamine drug class, while levocetirizine sits within the Second-Generation Antihistamine class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are available over the counter.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, fexofenadine has 6,833 submissions while levocetirizine has 0. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between fexofenadine and levocetirizine — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.