This article is not medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or use the medication guide.

Benzonatate Information

What is Benzonatate?

Benzonatate is a common non-narcotic medicine used to suppress and treat coughs caused by the cold and other conditions, including asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and emphysema

Benzonatate has an anesthetic (numbing) effect on the cough receptors in the lungs and along the throat. By numbing these receptors, Benzonatate decreases their sensitivity to cough reflex.

Benzonatate is a generic drug, and it’s available under other brand names, such as Tessalon Perles and Zonatuss. This medication got FDA approval for use in the USA in 1958. Benzonatate is a prescription drug and can’t be bought over the counter (OTC).

Proper use of Benzonatate

Benzonatate comes in the form of a capsule and different strengths:

• 100 mg
• 150 mg
• 200 mg

This drug should be taken as directed by the doctor. You should never under-dose, overdose, or take the medication longer than the prescribed time. Under-dosing could result in the medication not working as expected while overdosing and prolonged treatment could increase the risk of adverse side effects.

Benzonatate pills are prescribed to adults and children 10 years of age and above. Only the doctor can prescribe Benzonatate for cough in children below 10 years after assessing the potential risks and benefits.

Note that similar to other cold medicines, misuse of Benzonatate in young children can cause unintentional overdose, which could be fatal sometimes.

A Benzonatate capsule should be swallowed whole with lots of water before or after a meal. It should never be sucked, dissolved, chewed, or crushed in the mouth. Doing this may lead to numbness in the mouth and along the throat, and this can easily cause choking.

If you experience loss of feeling in the mouth or a tingling sensation, you should avoid food until the numbness subsides. If the symptoms get worse, see a doctor immediately.

The doctor will determine the proper Benzonatate dosage, depending on the severity of your symptoms. All in all, both adults and children should never exceed 200 mg of Benzonatate per dose. The maximum dosage that you can take per day is 600 mg on as-needed-basis. To illustrate, if you’re using the Benzonatate 200 mg capsule, you can only take a maximum of 3 pills per day evenly distributed.

Benzonatate Dosage for Adults and Children

Benzonatate dose for adults and children varies between individuals depending on symptoms and the strength of each pill. You should always follow the doctor’s instructions on the dosage per intake and the time between the doses to avoid Benzonatate overdose and adverse side effects.

Benzonatate dosage for adults when treating cold:

Swallow 100 mg or 200 mg pill three times every day on an as-needed basis. You should take the drug only when the symptoms occur unless stated otherwise by your doctor. Daily Benzonatate intake among adults should not exceed 600 mg.

Benzonatate dosage for children above 10 years when treating cold:

Give one Benzonatate cap 100mg or 200mg three times every day when needed. The maximum daily dosage per day for children is 600 mg.

Benzonatate dosage for children below 10 years:

The US Federal Drugs Administration does not approve the use of Benzonatate (Tessalon generic) in children below 10 years. In a 2010 press release, FDA said that overdose in Benzonatate among young children has led to deaths after accidentally ingesting 1-2 capsules. See warnings section below on this issue.

What to do if you missed a Benzonatate dose

If you miss a dose of Benzonatate Tessalon, take it as soon as you remember. However, note that Benzonatate begins to work 15-20 minutes after ingestion, but it stays in your system for up to 8 hours. Again, Benzonatate is usually administered on as-needed basis. So, if your next dosage is near, skip the missed dosage and carry on with your schedule. Never take a double dose of Benzonatate to make up for a missed dose as overdose can be fatal.

What should you do if you overdosed on Benzonatate?

In case of Benzonatate overdose, you should get emergency medical care as soon as possible or get expert advice by calling your local poison control center (USA 1-800-222-1222, Canada 1 800 268 9017, UK 0344 892 0111). Overdosing on Benzonatate (Tessalon generic) is especially fatal among children. If a child has accidentally taken this drug, you should call 911 right away.

Benzonatate Overdose Symptoms

• Seizure
• Sudden Cardiac Arrest
• Trembling
• Restlessness
• Losing consciousness
• No pulse

What is Benzonatate for?

Benzonatate is a cough medicine used to suppress coughs that result from the cold. Doctors may also recommend it for coughs caused by breathing difficulties, such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and emphysema. Does Benzonatate make you sleepy? Yes, this drug makes some people drowsy. See other side effects of Benzonatate in the section below.

Before using Benzonatate (Tessalon generic)

Here are a few things to understand about Benzonatate before taking it:

Allergies: some people may have an allergic response to this drug. Tell your doctor if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to Benzonatate or other numbing medications, including Tetracaine.

Benzonatate drug interactions- Benzonatate is known to interact with Tizanidine. You should tell your doctor if you’re taking other drugs that may cause drowsiness. If you’re not sure, make a list of all the medications that you’re taking and present it to your doctor for guidance.

Special conditions

Benzonatate and pregnancy- is Benzonatate safe during pregnancy? The FDA classifies Benzonatate under category C. This means that it’s not yet proven whether it may affect a fetus. Tell your doctor if you’re pregnant or are planning to conceive before taking this drug.

Benzonatate during breastfeeding- the jury is stil out on this, but the consensus is that Benzonatate does make it through breastmilk. If you’re breastfeeding, consult your doctor as you may have to either stop breastfeeding or stop taking the drug altogether.

Benzonatate warnings

• Benzonatate comes in a liquid-filled gelatin capsule that appears so attractive to young children. If you’re taking this medication, you should always store it in a child-proof container away from their reach to avoid the risk of accidental Benzonatate abuse and overdose.
• Tell your doctor if you’re pregnant or are planning to conceive.
• Tell your doctor if you’ve had allergic reactions to this drug or other anesthetic medications before taking Benzonatate.
• Benzonatate will make you drowsy. Avoid driving or operating machinery if this happens.
• It’s not yet clear whether or not Benzonatate gets into breastmilk during breastfeeding. Consult your doctor further guidance.
• Benzonatate is not approved for children below 10 years of age.

What are the side effects of taking Benzonatate?

You may experience some of these side effect. If any of them persists, consult your doctor for a checkup;

• Dizzine
• Drowsine
• Headache
• Nausea
• Stuffy nose
• Constipation
• Stomach upset

Proper Storage of Benzonatate

Store Benzonatate capsules in a child-proof container and away from children’s reach. The drug should be stored in a cool and dry place away from direct sunlight or heat. Any unused drug needs to be thrown away. If you’re not sure how to dispose of Benzonatate capsules, consider adding them to pet litter or used coffee grounds.

Benzonatate Price/Cost

This medication is generally expensive if you don’t have a Benzonatate coupon. The best price for Benzonatate 100 mg (30 count) without discount is around $19. This cost can get as high as $78 in some stores. With the best coupon for Benzonatate, it’s possible to get the same dosage for between $9 and $20 depending on the store closer to you.

Benzonatate mechanism of action

Benzonatate belongs to a class of medications called antitussives or cough suppressants. This drug works by anesthetizing (numbing) the cough receptors in the lungs and along the throat. These are the tissues that are responsible for triggering coughs.