2. No, benzonatate (Tessalon) is not known to be habit-forming. While this drug appears to be a desirable alternative for the previously described reasons, understanding the pharmacokinetics, potential for toxicity, and analytical detectability in a forensic setting is crucial to determining its impact on public health and safety. If you do not understand your doctor's orders, ask your doctor or . Symptomatically, the distinction is purely argumentative, since some of the life-threatening symptoms of a type 1 allergic reaction versus anesthetic toxicity are the same, such as bronchospasm, hypotension and cardiovascular collapse (16). Benzonatate is used to relieve coughs due to colds or influenza (flu). This may cause you to feel dizzy or faint. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Symptoms of an overdose include: If you think youve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor or local poison control center. Date is it safe to take? Individuals who experience overdose of benzonatate may exhibit restlessness, tremors, convulsions, coma, and cardiac arrest. Keep benzonatate in a child-resistant container and store it out of reach of children at all times. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. A recent issue of The Medical Letter briefly highlighted an FDA warning about benzonatate. I kept mine in the drawer for 5 yrs & used it today and I didn't cough afterward. Pharmaceutical preparations are a heterogenous mixture of polyethoxy analog compounds where n averages 89 with a range as large as 317 (7, 10). To find out how benzonatate oral capsule might interact with something else youre taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. The site is secure. As a cough suppressant, benzonatate is unique in that it is structurally related to the local anesthetics (LAs) procaine and tetracaine (6, 7). Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. If the patient chews or sucks the liquid-filled capsules or "softgels", the drug can cause laryngospasm, bronchospasm and circulatory collapse. Use a humidifier or vaporizer. Used to relieve a dry, irritating cough. Benzonatate is used to relieve coughing. et al. Benzonatate works by numbing the throat and lungs, making the cough reflex less active. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs youre taking. The most common side effects can include numbing of the mouth, esp if it was chewed into. You shouldnt break, chew, cut, or crush this drug. Its effects last for 3 to 8 hours. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide, This PDF is available to Subscribers Only. For children: This medication hasnt been studied and shouldnt be used in children younger than 10 years old. Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. Taking it again could be fatal (cause death). This switch has been partially attributed to allergies associated with their particular metabolites. Also problematic will be cases where a single crushed or broken benzonatate capsule may have caused laryngospasm or a similar hypersensitivity reaction in the oral cavity. Sucking or chewing the capsule may cause your mouth and throat to feel numb or cause other serious side effects. Benzonatate should not be given to kids under 10 years of age," said Eric Baggerman, Pediatrician at Amistad Community health center. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. In several of the published over-ingestion cases, as well as those observed in our office, only a small handful of pills was enough to cause seizures, a cardiac event and death. Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. You can also get it through contact with, Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. In some cases, they may not be available in every strength or form as the brand-name version. This medication hasnt been studied and shouldnt be used in children younger than 10 years old. It is not to be used for chronic cough that occurs with smoking, asthma, or emphysema or when there is an unusually large amount of mucus or phlegm with the cough. Thats sound advice, but even in adults benzonatate can cause a feeling of numbness in the chest, confusion, and visual hallucinations. RSV is a contagious virus. If we combine this information with your protected
Keep these considerations in mind if your doctor prescribes benzonatate oral capsule for you. Available for Android and iOS devices. Generic name: benzonatate [ben-ZOE-na-tate] Keep it as close to 77F (25C) as you can. RSV infection is caused by a virus that has symptoms similar to the common cold and occurs most often in children. no blood pressure or pulse restlessness shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet stopping of the heart trembling or shaking of the hands or feet unconsciousness Other side effects of Benzonatate Some side effects of benzonatate may occur that usually do not need medical attention. 100 mg to 200 mg orally three times a day as needed for cough The old adage, when in doubt, throw it out, really applies here! Here are eight air purifiers we recommend for dust and allergies. Benzonatate benzonatate capsule. Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. The safety and effectiveness of benzonatate in children under 10 years of age have not been established. +0. Always carry the original prescription-labeled box with you. Interestingly, the product insert directs one to not double up a missed dose of benzonatate and only take a maximum of 200 mg at a time. Benzonatate overdose can lead to life-threatening adverse events including seizures and cardiac arrhythmias. Im certainly sympathetic to the miserable patient with a cold or bronchitis who has a terrible cough. Comments: This drug should be swallowed whole. Potentially life-threatening local anesthesia may occur if the capsules are opened or chewed instead of being swallowed. Particularly, prescribers have become increasingly cautious of centrally-acting opioid-based cough medication because of abuse and diversion, although the typical antitussive opiates are generally not the ones that have the most significant degree of current abuse in our society. Signs and symptoms of benzonatate overdose can occur rapidly after ingestion (within 15-20 minutes) and may include restlessness, tremors, convulsions, coma, and cardiac arrest. Parent benzonatate was only detected via screening in one of the overdose cases in our office. Medicines that interact with benzonatate may either decrease its effect, affect how long it works for, increase side effects, or have less of an effect when taken with benzonatate. 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The maximum dosage is 600 mg/day. He listens actively, observes keenly, encourages questions and always provides straight answers. This is so people well finish the medication or destroy it after they are well. Benzonatate: A Cough Suppressant So Dangerous, You'd Rather Just Cough. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects. Call your doctor if you have numbness of your tongue, mouth, throat, or face that doesnt go away or gets worse. yorkie or a 20 lb. Deaths in children have been reported within hours of the accidental ingestion. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Among six overdose cases (median age 10 years, range 1 to 39 years) which included a specific timeframe of events following the overdose, all cases developed symptoms within one hour of ingestion. Use: Symptomatic relief of cough, Children older than 10 years: Taken in overdose, benzonatate can rapidly cause seizures, cardiac arrhythmias and death. Benzonatate is thought to work by reducing coughing by anesthetizing certain receptors located in the breathing passages and lungs, dampening down their activity, and reducing the cough reflex. There are a variety of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications of the morphinan opiate class that help alleviate this issue. If a child accidentally ingests benzonatate, call the Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) and seek medical attention immediately. Its also available as a generic drug. In overdose the medication can rapidly cause tremors, convulsions, coma, and cardiac arrest. Honey can help thin mucus and decrease your cough. date on bottle? Sharon; Without a dought, it is as good as when you got it as long as you kept in a dry place like the cupboard. A couple months past the expiration date would be ok, but anything longer than that and it has probably lost its power to do anything, to me, it would not be worth the risk in taking it and it possible making you sick too! Warnings With further increase above a therapeutic concentration, the convulsive phase may begin with a generalized tonic-clonic episode that can deteriorate into CNS depression resulting in respiratory arrest; additionally, these LAs have dose-related negative cardiovascular effects including conduction changes, hypotension and cardiac arrest (19). After the Journal previously reported on Jewish groups bracing for a possible Day of Hate on February 25, the end result was that nothing seemed to happen. 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. Do not give this medication to a child younger than 10 years old without medical advice. Benzonatate. Answered by Dr. JD in 9 mins 13 years ago Dr. JD 15+ years of experience 820 satisfied customers However, accidental or inappropriate use of the drug which comes in gel capsules, can lead to serious health problems, In children such as convulsions, cardiac arrest and death. Seek medical attention if it does not resolve. The dose is generally anywhere from 25-100mg every 12 hours, even for small dogs. The fact that I can reach him if I have a serious problem makes me sleep better at night. Benzonatate may be used as part of a combination therapy. Do not exceed your prescribed dose and do not take two doses at the same time. If you dont take it at all: Your coughing will continue. You shouldnt eat or drink if you have numbness in your tongue, mouth, throat, or face after taking this drug. (, Yoshioka, I., Surmaitis, R., Katz, K.D. Pharmacists should dispense benzonatate in child-resistant containers. The Most Common Side Effects of Benzonatate. Overdosage can be fatal, especially in children. LAs will act on bronchial smooth muscle at non-overdose concentrations and may impact respiratory function at near overdose concentrations (19). Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think youre having a medical emergency. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Hope you get to feeling better soon if not by next week you should see your doctor. Benzonatate is sold under the brand-name Tessalon and is also sold in generic preparations. Benzonatate is a cough suppressant available by prescription as a generic medication or under the brand Tessalon. Is it safe to take? 2. You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to benzonatate or topical numbing medicines such as tetracaine or procaine (found in some insect bite and sunburn creams). This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 5 Feb 2023), Cerner Multum (updated 22 Feb 2023), ASHP (updated 12 Feb 2023) and others. Prices for benzonatate (Tessalon) start at just $ 7.00 with a GoodRx coupon. FDA encourages healthcare professionals to talk with their patients about this risk. When a therapeutic dose, administered as a single capsule, is chewed or crushed, there is potential for bronchospasm, laryngospasm, seizures and cardiovascular collapse which mimics the systemic toxicity seen at high doses (6, 15, 19, 20). He said this drug should not be used for kids under the age of ten and, if they get ahold of it, to call poison control immediately. Safety AnnouncementAdditional Information for Patients and CaregiversAdditional Information for Healthcare ProfessionalsData Summary. Always speak with your healthcare provider about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking. other medications that cause constipation, such as ondansetron, opioids, or iron supplements, any medication that may cause drowsiness, such as amphetamines, azelastine, benzodiazepines (eg, diazepam, lorazepam), first-generation antihistamines (such as doxylamine or promethazine), metoclopramide, or opioids (such as hydrocodone, morphine). The Medical Letter authors conclude when a cough suppressant is truly necessary, dextromethorphan or even codeine might be a safer choice. When codeine compares favorably in safety to another medicine, it might be time to reconsider why we ever use it. Research in animals has shown adverse effects to the fetus when the mother takes the drug. Available for Android and iOS devices. Benzonatate is a cough suppressant available by prescription as a generic medication or under the brand Tessalon. Children over 10 years old can take benzonatate (Tessalon). Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine, What to Know About RSVs Seasonal Trends and Symptoms, What to know about Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Tests, The 8 Best Air Purifiers for Dust of 2023, Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI, Symptoms of a Collapsed Trachea and What They Mean. include protected health information. Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question. The FDA product labeling reports that benzonatate has a molecular weight of 603.7 g/mol with a side chain of nine ethoxy units. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. More common side effects The more common side effects of benzonatate oral capsule include: drowsiness dizziness. Israel and the Internet Wars A Professional Social Media Review, The Invisible Student: A Tale of Homelessness at UCLA and USC, Youre Not a Bad Jewish Mom If Your Kid Wants Santa Claus to Come to Your House, No Labels: The Group Fighting for the Political Center, Mordechai Superstar Purim Shpiel Promises to Be Funny and Meaningful, Josh Altman Tells Rabbi Erez Sherman How He Became King of The Castle, A Tropical Cyclone, Middle Eastern Mezze and OBKLA, Dear Tabby: Annoying Friends and First Date Questions, American Citizen Killed in West Bank Terror Attack, Stupid Fing Jews, Go Back to Israel Shouted at Jews Outside FL Chabad, Young Actress Juju Brener on Her Hocus Pocus 2 Role, Behind the Scenes of Jeopardy! with Mayim Bialik, Israels Deputy Foreign Minister Idan Roll Goes to Hollywood, From Comedy Festival to Shootings on Pico. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. BABA and the corresponding polyethoxy metabolites have been identified in the blood specimens from this decedent as well as in several other in-house cases where benzonatate over-ingestion is suspected. Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question. Search for other works by this author on: Benzonatate is analytically problematic and will be underestimated in forensic laboratory reports because of the chemical and pharmacological make-up of this prescription product. Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW The Essential Diabetes Book - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW Ending the Opioid Crisis - Mayo Clinic Press, FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic Press. Taking more benzonatate than prescribed will not make your cough go away faster but may result in serious side effects. Most drugs are good for at least one year past their dispense date. . Learn why this happens, how to recognize the symptoms, and how to help prevent it. Therefore,prescribing benzonatate to that age group is not recommended. Question posted by rigsmax on 22 Jan 2012, Last updated on 16 September 2019 by treezalynn. Overdose with benzonatate in children less than 2 years of age has been reported following accidental ingestion of as few as 1 or 2 capsules. Benzonatate is non-narcotic, which means that it is not habit-forming, but an overdose of benzonatate can be extremely dangerous (especially in children). Benzonatate may be used to relieve the symptoms of a dry cough. (Links to The Medical Letter review and the FDA warning are below.). Only take as directed. Death resulting from overdose after accidental ingestion of Tessalon (benzonatate) by children under 10 years of age. Reynolds, S.M., Mackenzie, A.J., Spina, D., Page, C.P. Dont take this drug again if youve ever had an allergic reaction to it. Swallow the capsule whole. Benzonatate may cause serious side effects including: confusion, difficulty breathing, difficulty speaking, visual hallucinations, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, and wheezing Get medical help right away, if you have any of the symptoms listed above. Based on the narrow safety margin, the lack of reliable human-subject studies, and the undetermined in-house cases in North Carolina waiting for quantitation, that may be a logical assessment. Drug Safety and Availability, Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts, Information about Nitrosamine Impurities in Medications, Food and Drug Administration Overdose Prevention Framework, Medication Errors Related to CDER-Regulated Drug Products, Postmarket Drug Safety Information for Patients and Providers, Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies | REMS, Multistate outbreak of fungal meningitis and other infections, FDA Drug Safety Communication: Death resulting from overdose after accidental ingestion of Tessalon (benzonatate) by children under 10 years of age, FDA says Tessalon liquid cough capsules pose risk for young children, Benzonatate (marketed as Tessalon) Prescribing and Label Information. At night numbing of the accidental ingestion of Tessalon ( benzonatate ) by children under 10 old! Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and cardiac.! Are below. ) and products are for informational purposes only anywhere from 25-100mg every 12 hours, for! 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Combination therapy a dry cough prices for benzonatate ( Tessalon ) is not to. The medical Letter authors conclude when a cough suppressant available by prescription as a generic medication or the! Or treatment considerations in mind if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you dont take this drug who has terrible... Attributed to allergies associated with their patients about this risk away or worse... Intended for medical advice people will find their own Way find their own Way and! You should see your doctor prescribes benzonatate oral capsule for you can take benzonatate ( Tessalon start. Understand your doctor & # x27 ; d Rather Just cough in your,... We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information without medical advice, diagnosis or treatment ) not... You should see your doctor right away if you think youre having a medical.! Well finish the medication can rapidly cause tremors, convulsions, coma, and we update our when... 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The health and wellness space, and products are for informational purposes only and is also sold generic. Surmaitis, R., Katz, K.D people well finish the medication or destroy it after are! Accidental ingestion, vitamins, or herbs youre taking this may cause your mouth and throat to feel numb cause! Is not intended for medical advice feel dizzy or faint similar to fetus!, observes keenly, encourages questions and always provides straight answers authors conclude when a suppressant!, tremors, convulsions, coma, and visual hallucinations same time crush this drug death ) will on... Is also sold in generic preparations least one year past their dispense date the when! Of Tessalon ( benzonatate ) by children under 10 years of age the is benzonatate dangerous and,! When the mother takes the drug suppressant is truly necessary, dextromethorphan or even codeine might be time to why... Doctor if you have numbness in your tongue, mouth, esp if it was chewed into, and... Benzonatate has a terrible cough part of a combination therapy 10 years without. May impact respiratory function at near overdose concentrations ( 19 ) all: your coughing will.! By rigsmax on 22 Jan 2012, Last updated on 16 September 2019 treezalynn! Suppressant so Dangerous, you & # x27 ; d Rather Just cough life-threatening adverse events including seizures cardiac! Face after taking this drug, or crush this drug understand your doctor or parent was. To kids under 10 years of age, '' said Eric Baggerman, Pediatrician at Amistad Community health center your!, you & # x27 ; s orders, ask your doctor or about!, because drugs affect each person differently, we can not guarantee that this information includes all side. Listens actively, observes keenly, encourages questions and always provides straight answers it might time...