NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) Practice Exam

Which second generation oral antihistamine should be taken with water, not fruit juice?

1. Cetirizine

2. Levocetirizine

3. Fexofenadine

4. Loratadine

The correct answer is: Fexofenadine

Second generation oral antihistamines are commonly used to treat allergies and are considered to have fewer side effects than first generation antihistamines. Loratadine is the only second generation antihistamine in this list that is not allegra-based.This is important because fexofenadine is known to interact with grapefruit or grapefruit juice, decreasing its effectiveness, and should therefore not be taken with any citrus juices including fruit juice. While taking loratadine with fruit juice may not necessarily decrease its effectiveness, it is recommended to take it with water to avoid any potential interactions. The other options, cetirizine and levocetirizine, do not have any known interactions with fruit juice, but it is still recommended to take them with water for optimal absorption and to avoid any potential interactions with other medications.