Allergy Tablet Guide: Names, Uses, Side Effects and Prices in Pakistan
Allergies are a common health concern in Pakistan, affecting millions of people each year. Fortunately, there are several effective allergy tablets in Pakistan that provide relief from symptoms like sneezing, itching, and nasal congestion. Among the most widely used medications are Rigix Tablets 10mg, Kestine Tablets 10mg, Fexet Tablets 120mg, Zyrtec Tablets 10mg, Dictrin Tablets 5mg, Destina Tablets 5mg, Lewdes Tablets 5mg, Telfast Tablets 180mg, Softin-F Tablets 60mg, Fexo Tablets 120mg, Bistavo Tablets 20mg, Sedil Tablets 10mg, and Fexo Tablets 60mg. Each of these tablets has unique properties and is designed to address specific allergy symptoms. In this article, we’ll explore these medications in detail to help you understand which one might be the best fit for your needs.
Overview of Allergy Tablet in Pakistan
Spring pollen in Islamabad, dust from a construction site next door, or a cat sitting on your sofa. The trigger changes, but the reaction is the same: sneezing, a blocked nose, watery eyes, and skin that will not stop itching. Most people walk into a pharmacy and ask for an allergy tablet without knowing what is inside it.
That single decision matters. Some anti allergy tablets put you to sleep within an hour. Others let you drive to work. A few stop working after months of daily use. This guide covers the allergy tablet names sold across Pakistan, what each one treats, what it costs, and when you should stop self-medicating and see an allergy specialist.
How an Allergy Tablet Works
Your body releases a chemical called histamine when it meets an allergen. Histamine causes the sneezing, swelling, itching, and dripping nose. An allergy tablet blocks histamine at the H1 receptor. That is why these medicines are called antihistamines.
Antihistamines control symptoms. They do not cure the allergy. Once the medicine wears off and the dust returns, the symptoms return with it.
Sedating vs Non-Sedating Allergy Tablets
Older antihistamines cross into the brain and cause drowsiness. Newer ones mostly stay out.
- Sedating (first generation): chlorpheniramine, hydroxyzine. Cheap, strong, and sleepy.
- Partly sedating: cetirizine and levocetirizine. Many people feel fine. Many others do not.
- Non-sedating (second generation): fexofenadine, ebastine, desloratadine, loratadine.
If you drive, ride a bike, or operate machinery, start with a non-sedating option.
Allergy Tablet Name List in Pakistan
| Brand | Salt (generic) | Strength | Common use | Drowsy? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigix | Cetirizine | 10 mg | Sneezing, itching, hives | Often |
| Gixer | Cetirizine | 10 mg | Same as above | Often |
| Zyrtec | Cetirizine | 10 mg | Hay fever, chronic hives | Sometimes |
| Telfast (Sanofi) | Fexofenadine | 60/120/180 mg | Hay fever, hives | Rarely |
| Softin-F | Fexofenadine | 60/120/180 mg | Seasonal allergy | Rarely |
| Fexet-D (Getz Pharma) | Fexofenadine + pseudoephedrine | 60 mg + 120 mg | Allergy with blocked nose | Rarely |
| Kestine | Ebastine | 10/20 mg | Sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose | Rarely |
| Destina | Desloratadine | 5 mg | Runny nose, sneezing, itching | Rarely |
| Dictrin | Desloratadine | 5 mg | Skin rash, hives, seasonal allergy | Rarely |
| Lewdes | Levocetirizine | 5 mg | Skin and throat allergy, urticaria | Sometimes |
Brands change their formulations. Read the salt printed on the strip before you buy.
Cetirizine Tablets: Rigix, Gixer and Zyrtec
Cetirizine is the most common allergy medicine in Pakistani homes. I used Gixer for years. A strip cost around PKR 50 at the time. Later I switched to Rigix, which contains the same salt and worked better for me.
Two things surprised me. First, the sedation was real. I would take a tablet at night and struggle to get out of bed the next morning. Second, after long daily use, the effect faded. The tablet stopped controlling my sneezing the way it once did. That is a common complaint with cetirizine, and it is one reason doctors rotate patients to a different salt instead of raising the dose.
Dose: 10 mg once daily for adults. More than 10 mg does not work better. It only adds side effects.
Watch out for: drowsiness, dry mouth, headache. Avoid alcohol and sleeping pills with it. Ask your doctor first if you have kidney or liver disease, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Fexofenadine Tablets: Telfast, Softin-F and Fexet-D
Fexofenadine is the daytime choice. It rarely makes people sleepy.
Telfast by Sanofi comes in 60 mg, 120 mg and 180 mg. Doctors use the 180 mg strength for chronic hives and stubborn hay fever. Side effects stay mild for most users: headache, nausea, or slight dizziness.
Softin-F contains the same salt. The 60 mg pack sells for roughly PKR 120, though pharmacy prices vary. Children under six should not take the tablet form.
Fexet-D by Getz Pharma is a combination. Each tablet holds 60 mg fexofenadine plus 120 mg pseudoephedrine. The pseudoephedrine opens a blocked nose, which plain antihistamines cannot do. A pack of 10 costs around PKR 235.
That decongestant comes at a price. Fexet-D can cause insomnia, a racing heartbeat, anxiety, and a dry throat. Skip it if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, glaucoma, diabetes, or if you are under 12. Take it on an empty stomach with plain water. Fruit juice reduces how much your body absorbs.
Kestine (Ebastine): A Strong Non-Drowsy Option
Kestine contains ebastine, available in 10 mg and 20 mg. It handles sneezing, itchy eyes, and a running nose well, and it does not knock you out. In my experience it is the best second choice when cetirizine stops helping.
One warning matters here. Ebastine interacts with antifungals such as ketoconazole and with some antibiotics, which can affect heart rhythm. Anyone with heart, liver, or kidney problems should ask a doctor before starting it.
Skin Allergy Tablet Names for Itching and Hives
For itching, red welts, and hives (urticaria), doctors usually reach for these:
- Lewdes 5 mg (levocetirizine): used for skin rashes, hives, itching from dust, food, cosmetics, or insect bites. Adults take one tablet daily. Children are dosed by weight, so ask a doctor rather than halving tablets on your own. Stop the medicine and get help if you develop severe rash or ongoing stomach pain.
- Dictrin 5 mg (desloratadine): covers hives, rashes, post-nasal drip, and pollen or dust allergy. One tablet every 24 hours for adults and children over 12. Nausea, headache, and dizziness are the usual complaints.
- Destina 5 mg (desloratadine): works for sneezing, itching, and a runny nose. Take it at night if you feel any drowsiness. Children under 12 usually get the syrup, not the tablet.
An anti allergy tablet calms the itch. It does not treat fungal infections, eczema, or scabies, which often get mistaken for allergy. If the rash keeps returning in the same spot, get it examined.
When Your Allergy Tablet Stops Working
This is the point most patients reach before they finally book an appointment. The tablet that once worked now does nothing. Doubling the dose is not the answer.
See a specialist if:
- symptoms last longer than two weeks despite daily medicine
- you need a tablet every single day for months
- you wheeze, cough at night, or feel short of breath
- hives keep coming back with no clear trigger
- your child needs regular allergy medicine
Allergy testing identifies your actual trigger. Treatment then targets the cause, not just the histamine. Immunotherapy, nasal sprays, and trigger control often reduce how many tablets you need in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which allergy tablet is best in Pakistan? There is no single best one. Fexofenadine (Telfast, Softin-F) suits daytime use. Cetirizine (Rigix) suits nighttime itching. Kestine helps when cetirizine fails.
Can I take an allergy tablet daily? Many people do, under medical supervision. Long-term daily use should be reviewed by a doctor.
Do allergy tablets cure allergy? No. They block symptoms for 24 hours at a time.
This article is for general information. It is not a prescription. Doses, prices, and product details change, so confirm them with your doctor or pharmacist.
Struggling with allergies in Islamabad? Book a consultation at the Allergy Center Islamabad for proper testing and a treatment plan built around your trigger.
