Adult Allegra OTC (allergy), HM Fexofenadine OTC (allergy), Childrens Allegra OTC (allergy)

Introduction

Written by Julz Richterman, PharmD, MBA, BCGP
Medically reviewed by Patricia Weiser, PharmD
Updated on November 14, 2023

Fexofenadine is a generic medication that’s used to relieve certain allergy symptoms. The brand-name version of this drug is Allegra. The cost of fexofenadine with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Read on to learn about fexofenadine and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about fexofenadine, including its uses, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Cost of fexofenadine

Like other medications, the cost of fexofenadine can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the drug form you use

To find out how much fexofenadine costs, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They may be able to suggest ways to save money on your prescription, including those described in this article. To find out what you’d pay using savings coupons, read the “Coupons for fexofenadine” section.

Coupons for fexofenadine

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of fexofenadine. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

Available app for coupons

To make finding and using these coupons easier, you can download the Optum Perks app. To learn more about this prescription discount app, see this article.

Insurance and other considerations for fexofenadine

Fexofenadine is an over-the-counter (OTC) drug, which means it’s available without a prescription. That said, doctors may sometimes prescribe this medication. If that’s the case, there are some considerations to keep in mind.

Here’s a list of things to consider about the cost of prescription drugs:

• Prior authorization. If you have prescription drug insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers the cost of fexofenadine. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for fexofenadine. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin taking it without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
• Insurance coverage. Even if your policy has prescription drug coverage, fexofenadine may not be covered since it’s an OTC drug. For this reason, some insurance companies either do not cover OTC medications or only cover a certain dollar amount per year.
• A 3-month supply. If you’re taking fexofenadine long term, your doctor may suggest a 90-day supply of the medication. This will have to be approved by your insurance company. Getting a 90-day supply could help lower the drug’s cost. It could also save you time having to make trips to your pharmacy.

If you have questions about any of these considerations, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Or contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.

If you don’t have a health insurance plan, let your doctor or pharmacist know. They may suggest online pharmacy options you could use. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Generics vs. brand-names

Fexofenadine is a generic medication. Its available brand-name versions are shown below:

• oral tablets: Allegra Hives, Allegra Allergy
• oral liquid suspension (mixture): Children’s Allegra Allergy

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name versions.

If you’re interested in taking Allegra rather than fexofenadine, you could talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more. They may prefer one medication over the other. Also, check whether your insurance plan covers only one version of the drug.

To learn how the cost of fexofenadine compares with its brand-name versions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company. 

Common questions about fexofenadine and cost

Here are some common questions about fexofenadine and their answers.

How does the cost of over-the-counter fexofenadine compare with prescription fexofenadine?

The cost may depend on certain factors, such as whether you have insurance and the pharmacy you use. Keep in mind, all forms of fexofenadine are available over the counter (OTC). So you can get the same medication with or without a prescription.

If you have insurance and your insurance provider covers fexofenadine, prescription fexofenadine will likely be less than OTC fexofenadine. If your doctor prescribes you fexofenadine, your pharmacy can bill your insurance, which may help save on cost. (For more information, see the “Insurance and other considerations for fexofenadine” section.)

If you don’t have insurance or your insurance provider doesn’t cover fexofenadine, your cost of OTC fexofenadine may be less than prescription fexofenadine. The price of fexofenadine without insurance may also depend on the pharmacy you use.

If you’d like to know how the cost of OTC fexofenadine compares with prescription fexofenadine, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

Why are costs different for brand-name drugs vs. generic drugs?

Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the studies needed to test how safe and effective they are.

Makers of a brand-name drug can sell their drug for up to 20 years. When the patent for a brand-name drug expires, other drugmakers can make and sell generic versions. A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.)

This competition may help keep costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active drugs as brand-name medications. So they don’t require the same testing, which can be costly.

If you’d like to know more about the cost differences between brand-name and generic drugs, talk with your doctor.

What to ask about fexofenadine

This article provides cost information related to fexofenadine. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money if this medication is prescribed to you. Above on this page, you’ll find coupons for fexofenadine.

If you have more questions about paying for this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also contact your insurance company.

Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask regarding the cost of your medication:

• Are there other lower cost drugs that could treat my condition?
• Is there a cost difference between the forms of fexofenadine?
• Does my insurance cover over-the-counter medications like fexofenadine?

Resources

• Allegra Allergy. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/81c1dcbb-28b3-4ad5-9f3d-9ccc16ddd173/spl-doc
• Allegra Hives 24HR. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/490b4c5f-448b-4563-928b-837117b59b9f/spl-doc
• Childrens Allegra Allergy. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/e2bd23c7-dfba-463a-adbe-2183970da740/spl-doc
• Fexofenadine hcl tablet, film coated. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/107f398c-f296-4190-8234-82556a039e65/spl-doc
• Fexofenadine hydrochloride oral suspension. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/e8e35d7a-a86b-4d37-979b-f454978f070b/spl-doc
• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.