Fexofenadine symptoms and conditions

I have been taking the generic for Allegra (180mg), Fexofenadine 180mg, for about 2 years -- ever since I moved to middle-Virginia. I thought I had a cold that would not go away. The doctor put me on Allegra, and it did help, yet didn't stop, the horrible runny nose, watery eyes, etc. Around that same time, I started having horrible leg/feet cramps at night...so bad that my sleep is constantly interrupted with having to jump out of bed multiple times to walk off the cramp. My doctor prescribed Requip and, even on the strongest dose, the cramps would not go away. A pharmacist suggested I try Highlands Leg Cramp pills (w/quinine) and that helped reduce the severity and number of leg/feet cramps for a while. Now the cramping is back, full-strength, and I just began a desperate research of side effects for all the medications I am taking. Lo, and behold, I just read that others who are taking Allegra are experiencing this same symptom. Unfortunately I took my morning dose this a.m., but I will begin tomorrow not taking Allegra and hopefully that is all it takes to end these leg cramps. And, oh yes, I too have regular stomach cramps and diarrhea and have lost 20 lbs. without dieting. I'm now wondering if Allegra is also responsible for all of these unexplained "other things" going on with my body. I hope I won't be bombarded with bad side effects by going off the Allegra "cold turkey." However, anything is better than the leg cramping!

Back in July I was experiencing rapid heart beats and shortness of breath. I'm a 43 white female with a high stress job. I went to the doctor expecting him to prescribe a sedative. He hooked me up to an EKG which showed I had a left bundle branch block. He then ordered blood work, chest x-rays, an ultra sound, and a nuclear stress test. All test came back fine, but my stress test showed a heart attack, which apparently is common with the left bundle block. I then wore a 24 hour Holter moniter which indicated tachycardia. That's when the doctor prescribed 50 mg Metoprolol. My BP and heart rate are now almost normal and the shortness of breath has gone away. I still experience a mild heaviness in my chest, but that is only when I allow my self to be stressed. I have gained over 5 pounds in less than 2 months and my dreams are more vivid than usual. One side effect that was listed on my drug info sheet that I haven't read about on this site described a cough, which I have had for over a month. I mentioned the cough to my doctor and he said it was prob post nasal drip so he prescribed 180 mg Fexofenadine and told me to cut the Metoprolol in half so I would be taking 25 mg. The Fexofenadine has helped with sneezing that I have always experienced, but the cough is still there. The cough is not always severe, but it has interrupted my sleep twice and my job once. The last bad coughing episode lasted 90 mins during the night. Has anyone else experienced the coughing side effect of Metoprolol?

In November, 2007, we moved to a new house. I immediately developed a terrible cough, which I attributed to new house construction dust, plus I had started spending 4 days a week at our cabin in the woods, which tends to be damp and moldy. I just figured my allergies were really kicking in. The doctor treated me for a "sinus infection" with antibiotics and codeine cough syrup. Over the next three months, with no improvement in the violent coughing spells, the doctor ran me through 2 more rounds of antibiotics, plus 2 rounds of steroids.

I sing in a competitive choral group and were preparing to travel to Italy for an international choral competition. The terrible coughing was really messing up my rehearsals and the concerts that we had to do prior to leaving for Italy. Since November, I've probably been through 6-8 bottles of Tussionex. That is the only relief I can get from the cough, especially at night, and for concerts. I know the druggist has me on a list somewhere as an excessive cough syrup user.

Then my doctor sent me to an allergist, who administered the 80 pin pricks, concluding that I'm allergic to grasses, dust, mold, summer trees, etc. So she started me on nasal spray, fexofenadine, and singulair. AND weekly allergy shots.

Anyway, it has been CONSTANT COUGHING since November. When I went back for my 2 month check up at the allergist, I told her my symptoms had not changed, still couging, coughing, coughing. She looked at my chart and said, "You know, I see that you take Lisinopril. That can sometimes cause cough." She asked when the coughing started, and when I started taking the drug. NOVEMBER, 2007 was the answer to both questions. YOU ARE KIDDING ME!!! AFTER ALL I'VE BEEN THROUGH WITH THIS, WHY DID MY REGULAR DR NOT SUGGEST THIS?????

Needless to say, I've quit the Lisinopril, then my regular doctor put me on Tekturna (which also has cough as a side effect.) I'm going to quit all of them for a while and see if the cough stops after all this junk is out of my system.

It has been a nightmare!!!

I started prednisone last week because of an allergic reaction I had to I dunno what (yet). I started with a solumedrol shot, followed 12 hrs later by a kenalog shot, followed 12 hrs after that by oral prednisone q 24 hrs. The 'fog' is fucking horrible; I can't think straight. I'm at the end of a medic class and have finals this weekend - and I'm scared that I'll be in the middle of a fog during the exams and will fail miserably.

It's unlike anything else I've experienced. It's not a drunk or stoned feeling, it's literally like I've lost cognitive ability and cannot process information. For instance: I wanted to make some tea and forgot how to turn on the kettle.

Does anyone else experience wild mood swings? I'm not normally a tearful person, but the past few days have seen me crying uncontrollably for no reason whatsoever - and this morning, I started laughing whilst I was crying and just couldn't stop. My family think I'm losing my mind, and were I not taking prednisone, monteluklast and fexofenadine I'd agree with them. As it is, I feel somewhat reassured that it's the medications that are causing these symptoms, but holy cats, is it ever weird to feel this way.

I feel so bad for you folks who are faced with the prospect of long-term cortico-steroid therapy. If any of you would like to talk, please contact me at ****** .

Good luck, y'all!