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Benzonatate is a prescription medication that helps suppress a cough by numbing certain areas in the lungs and airways. It is a non-narcotic, non-steroidal medication that is available as Tessalon and generic benzonatate. Benzonatate is generally well tolerated and can be taken up to three times a day with a maximum dosage of 600mg/day. It should not be combined with alcohol, sleep aids, or opioids, as it may cause sleepiness and increase the risk of side effects. While benzonatate may cause sleepiness, it is not recommended to take it for sleep due to its serious side effects and the risk of overdose, which can be fatal, especially in children.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Benzonatate is a non-narcotic prescription medication that helps suppress a cough by numbing certain areas in the lungs and airways. |
| Dosage | The recommended dosage is 100–200 mg, three times a day as needed. It should not be given to anyone younger than 10 years old. |
| Side Effects | Mild side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, headaches, constipation, and nausea. In rare cases, serious side effects like hallucinations, confusion, and unusual behavior may occur. Combining benzonatate with alcohol or other medications that cause drowsiness can increase the risk and intensity of side effects. |
| Precautions | Benzonatate should be stored at room temperature, protected from light and moisture, and kept out of the reach of children. It should not be broken, chewed, dissolved, cut, crushed, or shared with others. If accidentally chewed or dissolved, do not eat or drink until the numbness or tingling sensation subsides. |
| Interactions | Benzonatate may interact with alcohol, sleep aids, opioids, anesthetics, and certain medications for mental health conditions. It is important to consult a healthcare provider and disclose all medications being taken to avoid adverse interactions. |
| Pregnancy and Breastfeeding | The effects of benzonatate on pregnancy and breastfeeding are unknown. It is advised to consult a healthcare provider for guidance on taking benzonatate during these periods. |
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What You'll Learn
- Benzonatate is a prescription medication that helps suppress a cough
- It is not recommended during pregnancy
- Benzonatate may cause sleepiness and combining it with other medications that make you drowsy can worsen this side effect
- Benzonatate should not be combined with alcohol, sleep aids, or opioids
- Overdosage can be fatal, especially in children
Benzonatate is a prescription medication that helps suppress a cough
It is important to take benzonatate exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The recommended dosage is 100 milligrams (mg) to 200 mg three times a day as needed. Do not break, chew, dissolve, cut, or crush the capsules. Take each dose with a full glass of water. Swallow the capsules whole. If the capsules are chewed or opened, the medication can numb your mouth, throat, or chest, and may lead to a more serious allergic reaction.
Benzonatate may cause sleepiness, and this side effect may be more likely or intense if combined with alcohol or other medications that cause drowsiness, such as opioids and benzodiazepines. Therefore, it may be wise to avoid or limit alcohol use while taking benzonatate. Before taking benzonatate, inform your doctor about your health history, including all medications you take, and any allergies you have.
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It is not recommended during pregnancy
Benzonatate is a prescription drug that is used to provide symptomatic relief from a dry cough caused by respiratory tract infections such as the common cold and flu. It is not recommended for a wet cough as it prevents coughing by blocking the cough reflex.
Benzonatate is categorised as a US FDA pregnancy category C drug. This means that animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus, but there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans. There is no evidence of fetal risk from controlled studies in pregnant women, but caution is recommended. It is not known if or how benzonatate could affect a pregnancy or harm an unborn baby.
It is important to tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant, as they will advise you on whether you should take benzonatate. It is also important to disclose any other medications you are taking, as benzonatate can have dangerous interactions with certain drugs, including mental health medications, opioid pain medications, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, anti-anxiety pills, and antiseizure drugs.
While benzonatate can be effective in providing relief from coughing, it is not recommended during pregnancy unless advised by a healthcare professional.
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Benzonatate may cause sleepiness and combining it with other medications that make you drowsy can worsen this side effect
Benzonatate is a prescription medication that helps suppress a cough. It is not a steroid or a narcotic. It is available as Tessalon and generic benzonatate. It is not approved for use by anyone younger than 10 years old. An overdose can be fatal, especially to a young child.
Benzonatate may cause sleepiness. It is important to note that this medication can make you feel drowsy. When you first start taking benzonatate, it is recommended to avoid driving or engaging in other activities that require alertness until you know how the medication affects you. This side effect may be less noticeable compared to the sleepiness caused by prescription cough syrups containing codeine, but it is still significant.
Combining benzonatate with other medications or substances that induce drowsiness can enhance the sleepiness side effect. Alcohol, for instance, should be avoided or limited while taking benzonatate as it may increase the likelihood and intensity of this side effect. Similarly, the medication should not be taken with sleep aids or opioids, and the concurrent use of certain anesthetics and mental health medications should be approached with caution. Over-the-counter (OTC) cold medications containing antihistamines, such as Benadryl, chlorphenamine, or Unisom, may also increase the risk of sedation when combined with benzonatate.
It is crucial to take benzonatate as prescribed and not to exceed the recommended dosage to prevent overdose and potential adverse effects. Always consult a healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about the medication.
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Benzonatate should not be combined with alcohol, sleep aids, or opioids
Benzonatate is a prescription medication that helps suppress a cough. It is not a steroid or a narcotic. It is available as Tessalon and generic benzonatate. Benzonatate should only be taken as prescribed by a healthcare provider. It is not approved for use by anyone younger than 10 years old and can be fatal if ingested by children under 10.
Benzonatate may cause sleepiness and combining it with other medications that make you drowsy can worsen this side effect. These include over-the-counter cold medications that contain an antihistamine, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine), chlorphenamine, and Unisom (doxylamine). Benzonatate should not be combined with alcohol, sleep aids, or opioids. Alcohol and benzonatate have similar side effects, such as sleepiness and dizziness. Taking them together may make these side effects more likely or intense.
Combining benzonatate with drugs that cause sleepiness, medications used for mental health conditions, anesthetics, and alcohol can increase the risk of side effects. Benzonatate may also cause rare but serious psychiatric side effects such as hallucinations, confusion, and unusual behavior. These side effects may be more likely to occur in people who took benzonatate with another prescription medication for mental health conditions.
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Overdosage can be fatal, especially in children
Benzonatate is a prescription medication that helps suppress a cough. It is not approved for use by anyone younger than 10 years old. An overdose of benzonatate can be fatal, especially to a child. Accidental death has occurred in children under 10 years old. Overdose symptoms can occur within 15 to 20 minutes of a young child taking benzonatate. Death may occur within 1 hour of accidentally taking benzonatate, especially in children.
If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, contact a poison control center or emergency room at once. If you or someone else has taken too much benzonatate, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.
Benzonatate should not be given to children younger than 10 due to the risk of accidental overdose. In children under 2 years of age, ingestion of even 1 or 2 capsules has resulted in overdose. Signs and symptoms of overdose may include convulsions (seizures), loss of consciousness, restlessness, or trembling or shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet.
It is very important that your doctor check your progress while you or your child are using this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. Benzonatate should not be combined with alcohol, sleep aids, or opioids. Take benzonatate exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.
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Frequently asked questions
Benzonatate is a prescription medication that helps suppress a cough. It is a non-narcotic and non-steroidal medication.
The most common side effects of benzonatate are sedation, headache, constipation, nausea, itchiness, skin rash, nasal congestion, and a burning sensation in the eyes. Benzonatate may also cause sleepiness and affect alertness or coordination.
While benzonatate may cause sleepiness, it is not recommended to take it for sleep. Benzonatate is a prescription medication that should only be taken to relieve coughing as prescribed by a healthcare provider.
Benzonatate may interact with other medications that cause sleepiness, such as cold medications containing antihistamines, sleep aids, opioids, and medications for mental health conditions. Alcohol should also be avoided when taking benzonatate as it can increase the risk of side effects.
If you miss a dose of benzonatate, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the regular time. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.
