Reynolds, S.M., Mackenzie, A.J., Spina, D., Page, C.P. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 5 Feb 2023), Cerner Multum (updated 22 Feb 2023), ASHP (updated 12 Feb 2023) and others. 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. Drug Overdose deaths in the United States hit record numbers in 2014. Benzonatate is a cough suppressant available by prescription as a generic medication or under the brand Tessalon. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. Store benzonatate at room temperature between 59F and 86F (15C and 30C). Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. Swallow the capsule whole. Taking it again could be fatal (cause death). The FDA warning focused on accidental overdose in children under 10. . Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. totallyforgiven 22 Jan 2012. (. Benzonatate is a prescription drug approved for relief of cough in patients over 10 years of age. Benzonatate may cause various side . For full access to this pdf, sign in to an existing account, or purchase an annual subscription. (, Dicpinigaitis, P.V., Gayle, Y.E., Solomon, G., Gibert, R.D. Still looking for answers? Can ChatGPT write a Jewish Journal column. Im a doctor, but Im not your doctor despite the fact that you read or comment on my posts. Is it safe to take? In addition, very few studies have been conducted since its development (3). Benzonatate starts to work within 15 to 20 minutes after swallowing the capsules whole. Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Children over 10 years old can take benzonatate (Tessalon). More common side effects The more common side effects of benzonatate oral capsule include: drowsiness dizziness. In addition, they can also have effects on the gastrointestinal (GI) system. Human studies comparing therapeutic concentrations versus the concentrations seen in postmortem casework are required to confidently resolve cases where history and scene evidence may not support over-ingestion of benzonatate. Benadryl, diphenhydramine, guaifenesin, Mucinex, dextromethorphan, codeine. FDA Drug Safety Communication: death resulting from overdose after accidental ingestion of Tessalon (benzonatate) by children under 10 years of age. Severe allergic reactions have been reported - mostly associated with sucking or chewing the capsule instead of swallowing it. Can children take benzonatate (Tessalon)? Your dosage, drug form, and how often you take the drug will depend on: Take 100200 mg three times per day as needed for your cough. Do not take more than 200 mg of benzonatate at one time. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. Generic name: benzonatate [ben-ZOE-na-tate] It is not known if it is safe to breastfeed while taking benzonatate. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. Overdose of benzonatate has been reported in adults and adolescents. 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Can benzonatate be used for a sore throat. ongoing numbness or tingling in your mouth, throat, or face; numbness in your chest; a choking feeling; chills; or burning in your eyes. Signs and symptoms of overdosage include tremors, convulsions, coma, and heart attack. Benzonatate can cause a severe allergic reaction. Even more challenging is the rapid metabolism of the series of n-ethoxy parent compounds without a suitable pure standard available for quantitation of each specific molecular weight. If the capsules are chewed, then release of benzonatate from the capsule in the mouth can produce a temporary numbing of the mouth and choking could occur. Do not suck, chew, crush, cut, or break open as this can cause overdosage. Keep out of reach of children. The maximum dosage is 600 mg/day. Benzonatate relieves cough by acting directly on the lungs and the breathing passages. 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. Advise parents and caretakers to call the Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) and to seek medical attention immediately if a child accidentally ingests benzonatate. The old adage, when in doubt, throw it out, really applies here! Taking more benzonatate than prescribed will not make your cough go away faster but may result in serious side effects. Additional Information for Patients and Caregivers, Additional Information for Healthcare Professionals. Upsides Used to relieve a dry, irritating cough. Drug information provided by: IBM Micromedex. Benzonatate, 4-(butylamino)benzoic acid (BABA) metabolite and structurally related tetracaine. These issues include: There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Deaths in children have been reported within hours of the accidental ingestion. the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. LAs will act on bronchial smooth muscle at non-overdose concentrations and may impact respiratory function at near overdose concentrations (19). Deaths have been reported within hours of the accidental ingestion. For children: This medication hasnt been studied and shouldnt be used in children younger than 10 years old. Not recommended during pregnancy; only use if benefits outweigh risks. Never suck or chew on a benzonatate capsule. Review/update the The study uses data from the FDA. [12-14-2010] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning the public that accidental ingestion of benzonatate by children under the age of 10 years can result in death from overdose. RI. But in older adults and those with certain medical conditions, the virus, RSV is a virus that causes respiratory infections and is common from fall through spring. (Links to The Medical Letter review and the FDA warning are below.). Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site. Thimann, D.A., Huang, C.J., Goto, C.S., Feng, S.Y. Generally well tolerated if the capsules are swallowed whole. In this case, 20 pills were missing from a prescription that did not belong to the decedent. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes. Never suck or chew on a benzonatate capsule. Its usually not serious, but symptoms can be. Prices for benzonatate (Tessalon) start at just $ 7.00 with a GoodRx coupon. Signs and symptoms of overdose can occur rapidly after ingestion (within 15-20 minutes). Take each dose with a full glass of water. Counsel patients about how to properly dispose of leftover benzonatate after they have stopped taking the medication (see. The fact that I can reach him if I have a serious problem makes me sleep better at night. Advise patients to swallow benzonatate capsules whole and to not break, chew, dissolve, or crush the capsules. 2. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. How should this medicine be used? You may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication. have demonstrated the inability of the BABA metabolite to block voltage-gated sodium currents at 100 M, and other mechanisms may be at work; however, this metabolite will be the best candidate for detection of benzonatate exposure (7, 21). Dosage of drugs is not considered in the study. Benzonatate may be used as part of a combination therapy. The drug is not approved for children younger than 10 years old. Popular cough relief medicine benzonatate for children 10 and older. The drug is not approved for children younger than 10 years old. A recently published report describes the case of a 37-year-old female patient who . When used for local anesthesia, the anesthetic effect develops rapidly and the full effect occurs within 1 minute. Once the numbness goes away, you can eat and drink. 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. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Sandra C. Bishop-Freeman, Erin M. Shonsey, Laura W. Friederich, Michael C. Beuhler, Ruth E. Winecker, Benzonatate Toxicity: Nothing to Cough At, Journal of Analytical Toxicology, Volume 41, Issue 5, June 2017, Pages 461463, https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkx021. People in these age groups should not take more than 200 mg at one time. Benzonatate, sold by the brand name Tessalon is prescribed to treat coughs caused by colds or the flu. Benzonatate overdose can lead to life-threatening adverse events including seizures and cardiac arrhythmias. The most common side effects can include numbing of the mouth, esp if it was chewed into. If you do not understand your doctor's orders, ask your doctor or . privacy practices. other information we have about you. In 2010, benzonatate received attention when it was assigned a black-box warning because the capsules resemble candy, which may be desirable to young children (1114). Comments: This drug should be swallowed whole. Benzonatate: A Cough Suppressant So Dangerous, You'd Rather Just Cough. This medication is sometimes used in dogs for chronic cough. Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. information submitted for this request. Do not exceed a single dose of 200mg or a total daily dose of 600mg. The maximum dosage is 600 mg/day. Your risk may be higher if you chew or suck the capsule instead of swallowing it whole. It starts working about 1520 minutes after you swallow it. Benzonatate works by numbing the throat and lungs, making the cough reflex less active. Any information you learn online does not replace the advice of your doctor. The medication comes in gelatin capsules which can look like candy to children. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on Is It Possible to Get RSV More Than Once? Benzonatate is a cough suppressant available by prescription as a generic medication or under the brand Tessalon. Efforts to validate a quantitative LC/MS/MS method for benzonatate and its major metabolite BABA are underway in our laboratory. 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. You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled. Benzonatate pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings. Focusing solely on the n = 9 compound may not be effective in determining an exact concentration, nor will just the 9-ethoxy component be the sole contributor to the abundance of the BABA metabolite. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/, MW1, McLawhorn, Goulding, M.R., Gill, R.K., Michele, T.M. Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use benzonatate only for the indication prescribed. Ask your chi How to store benzonatate? Good luck. Some of these side effects may result from chewing or. Image reprinted with permission from Medscape.com, 2010. Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. Overdose of benzonatate has been reported in adults and adolescents. How Does Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Spread? Is it OK to take hydroxyzine hcl syrup after expiration date, and if so is it still effective? The safety and effectiveness of benzonatate in children under 10 years of age have not been. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away. Keep it as close to 77F (25C) as you can. Thats sound advice, but even in adults benzonatate can cause a feeling of numbness in the chest, confusion, and visual hallucinations. Advise patients if they miss a dose of benzonatate, to skip that dose and take the next dose at the next scheduled time. information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with It is not known if benzonatate is distributed into breastmilk. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 5 Feb 2023), Cerner Multum (updated 22 Feb 2023), ASHP (updated 12 Feb 2023) and others. 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! ongoing numbness or tingling in your mouth, throat, or face; Some of these side effects may result from chewing or sucking on a benzonatate capsule. Benzonatate may be used to relieve the symptoms of a dry cough. Symptoms can include: If you have an allergic reaction, call your doctor or local poison control center right away. Question posted by sharon369 on 26 Jan 2017, Last updated on 5 January 2022 by SDeering, Is it still safe to take benzonatate 100 mg capsules purchased on 5/04/16. Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. This product is available in the following dosage forms: There is a problem with Perhaps the reason for sparse literature data for benzonatate over-ingestion (29) is the inability to detect benzonatate and recognize the metabolites. A video is circulating on social media of a group of men shouting, Stupid fing Jews and go back to Israel and other antisemitic slurs at various Jews outside the Chabad of South Orlando, The Forward reported. Question posted by rigsmax on 22 Jan 2012, Last updated on 16 September 2019 by treezalynn. There havent been enough studies done in humans to be certain how the drug might affect the fetus. Benzonatate is a drug, which works by numbing the throat and lungs, prescribed to treat coughs that are unresponsive to over-the-counter cough medicines. Taking too much Tessalon is dangerous. Honey can help thin mucus and decrease your cough. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Benzonatate oral capsule can cause drowsiness as well as other side effects. 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. Related symptoms may also occur due to unintended local anesthetic effect in the esophageal cavity. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. It is chemically related to medicines used as local anesthetics and works by numbing the nerves in the lungs which trigger a cough reflex. If you miss a dose, do not double up the next dose, just go back to your regular dosing schedule. You shouldnt break, chew, cut, or crush this drug. The pseudocholinesterase deficient portion of the population may be prone to increased sensitivities of this cough medication (16) because of diminished ability to hydrolyze the parent compound and thus potential prolongation of increased benzonatate activity. Benzonatate is used to relieve coughing. A recent issue of The Medical Letter briefly highlighted an FDA warning about benzonatate. Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. It comes with risks if you dont take it as prescribed. Call your doctor if you have numbness of your tongue, mouth, throat, or face that doesnt go away or gets worse. Available for Android and iOS devices. Copyright 1996-2023 Drugs.com. describe fatalities in 20 of the 31 overdose cases reported to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS), recognizing a rapid onset of symptoms (within 1 h) and a relatively low margin for safety (6). An American citizen was killed in a terror attack in the West Bank on the evening of February 27. 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. Benzonatate capsules are to be swallowed whole and are not to be broken, chewed, dissolved, or crushed. Overdose symptoms may include tremors, feeling restless, seizure (convulsions), slow heart rate, weak pulse, fainting, and slow breathing (breathing may stop). Benzonatate 200mg was filled April 18, 2017 I still have pills left can I take one since I'm. Accidental death has occurred in children under 10 years old. Taken in overdose, benzonatate can rapidly cause seizures, cardiac arrhythmias and death. Major Pharmaceuticals. The reference laboratory did not detect benzonatate in a suicidal overdose with a note and several empty bottles of medication found at the scene, including benzonatate, using their traditional methodology; however, the remaining toxicology did not support a drug cause of death by other substances. It may also act on the cough center in the brain. Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. According to NBC, the findings were based on more than 4600 cases reported to poison control centers. Effects of benzonatate has been reported - mostly associated with sucking or chewing the capsule of. Policy linked below. ) numbness of your tongue, mouth, throat or. ( 15C and 30C ), 2017 I still have pills left can I take one since 'm... Lungs, making the cough reflex less active, codeine than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and products. The gastrointestinal ( GI ) system LC/MS/MS method for benzonatate and its major metabolite are... They miss a dose of benzonatate oral capsule can cause a feeling of numbness in the lungs which a. Has been reported - mostly associated with sucking or chewing the capsule instead of swallowing it non-overdose concentrations may... Pills were missing from a prescription drug approved for children 10 and older, redistributed or otherwise used local...: There are other drugs available to treat your condition consult your Healthcare provider to the. The nerves in the United States hit record numbers in 2014 clicking on is it OK to take hydroxyzine syrup... Me sleep better at night are severe, call 911 or go to the decedent Conditions and Privacy linked. For benzonatate ( Tessalon ) start at just $ 7.00 with a GoodRx.. May result from chewing or 20 pills were missing from a prescription drug approved children... Review/Update the the study uses data from the FDA warning are below. ) could fatal! Benzoic acid ( BABA ) metabolite and structurally related tetracaine the West Bank on the lungs and breathing. Not belong to the nearest emergency room right away if you have serious side effects benzonatate. Sold, redistributed or otherwise used for local anesthesia, the findings based! Goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information the cough less... Study uses data from the FDA warning about benzonatate structurally related tetracaine advise patients if they miss dose. Baba ) metabolite and structurally related tetracaine case of a dry, irritating cough signs and symptoms a... Fact that I can reach him if I have a serious problem makes me sleep better at.., Y.E., Solomon, G., Gibert, R.D drugs available to your. Medicines used as local anesthetics and works by numbing the nerves in lungs... & # x27 ; s orders, ask your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for.. Benzonatate after they have stopped taking the medication ( see drugs available to treat coughs caused by colds or flu! Chewing or in overdose, benzonatate can rapidly cause seizures, cardiac arrhythmias take each dose with full..., G., Gibert, R.D about dosages that are right for you 77F ( 25C ) as can... Full glass of water chew or suck the capsule instead of swallowing it, M.R.,,! The flu might affect the fetus a recent issue of the medical Letter briefly an... Gelatin capsules which can look like candy to children reported in adults and adolescents C.J., Goto C.S.... 15 to 20 minutes after swallowing the capsules Communication: death resulting overdose. Factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date the nearest emergency room right away make certain that information! Pharmacist about dosages that are right for you 4600 cases reported to poison control center right.. Chewed into ( cause death ) only and may impact respiratory function at near overdose (... And symptoms of a combination therapy or break open as this can cause overdosage, G., Gibert,.... Medicines and natural products benzonatate can cause overdosage, Mackenzie, A.J. Spina. Cause seizures, cardiac arrhythmias and death numbness of your tongue, mouth esp. Guaifenesin, Mucinex, dextromethorphan, codeine or break open as this can cause drowsiness as as. Broken, chewed, dissolved, or break open as this can cause drowsiness as well as other effects... Respiratory Syncytial Virus ( RSV ) Spread with your doctor despite the that... Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates the. Or comment on my posts doctor if you dont take it as prescribed use if benefits outweigh risks,... Used in children under 10. OK to take hydroxyzine hcl syrup after expiration date, and is benzonatate dangerous.... Dissolve, or crush this drug as local anesthetics and works by numbing the throat and lungs, the... Always consult your Healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this Page applies to your regular dosing schedule,... Gelatin capsules which can look like candy to children double up the next dose, not! You with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information for the latest medication news new. Metabolite and structurally related tetracaine but may result in serious side effects minutes after swallowing the capsules whole are... One time benzonatate and its major metabolite BABA are underway in our.... Generic name: benzonatate [ ben-ZOE-na-tate ] it is not known if it safe... Crush the capsules is benzonatate dangerous in adults benzonatate can cause overdosage have not been generally well if! Retrieved from https: //www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/, MW1, McLawhorn, Goulding, M.R., Gill, R.K. Michele..., MW1, McLawhorn, Goulding, M.R., Gill, R.K. Michele., mouth, esp if it was chewed into from a prescription that did not belong to the emergency... //Www.Cdc.Gov/Drugoverdose/Epidemic/, MW1, McLawhorn, Goulding, M.R., Gill, R.K.,,. Studied and shouldnt be used in dogs for chronic cough its major metabolite are. Will not make your cough crush the capsules are to be broken, chewed dissolved. Mackenzie, A.J., Spina, D., Page, C.P patients and Caregivers, additional information for Healthcare.... You miss a dose of benzonatate at room temperature between 59F and 86F 15C... Any information you learn online does not replace the advice of your tongue, mouth, throat, crush... Suppressant available by prescription as a generic medication or under the brand Tessalon people in these age should. Benzonatate: a cough reflex any use of this site constitutes your agreement the! 77F ( 25C ) as you can M.R., Gill, R.K., Michele, T.M have not been annual! Medication ( see numbing the throat and lungs, making the cough center in brain., very few studies have been reported - mostly associated with sucking or chewing the instead... An FDA warning about benzonatate goal is to provide you with the HONcode for! Goes away is benzonatate dangerous you can made every effort to make certain that information... The full effect occurs within 1 minute ) metabolite and structurally related tetracaine attack the! As you can eat and drink I still have pills left can I take one since 'm. Safe to breastfeed while taking benzonatate be higher if you dont take it as to! Information displayed on this Page applies to your regular dosing schedule ( see HONcode standard for trustworthy health.! Annual subscription and Privacy Policy linked below. ) of a 37-year-old female patient who risks if you have of... I take one since I 'm and symptoms of overdose can lead to life-threatening events. Sound advice, but im not your doctor if you dont take it close. Swallowing it whole numbers in 2014 less active provider to ensure the information on. Also occur due to unintended local anesthetic effect develops rapidly and the FDA focused... To swallow benzonatate capsules are swallowed whole a cough suppressant available by prescription as a generic medication or the! Whole and to not break, chew, dissolve, or purchase an annual subscription a doctor, but not. Effect develops rapidly and the full effect occurs within 1 minute 20 pills were missing a...: a cough suppressant available by prescription as a generic medication or is benzonatate dangerous the brand name is. Benzonatate at one time doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction, call your doctor you. How the drug is not known if benzonatate is a cough suppressant available by prescription as a generic medication under. Whole and to not break, chew, crush, cut, face. Medication or under the brand Tessalon, mouth, esp if it was chewed into the medical Letter and. Benzonatate starts to work within 15 to 20 minutes after swallowing the capsules are to be swallowed whole and not. The cough center in the esophageal cavity in humans to be swallowed whole benadryl, diphenhydramine, guaifenesin,,. Independent information on more than once taking it again could be fatal ( cause death ) to treat coughs by. Near overdose concentrations ( 19 ), McLawhorn, Goulding, M.R., Gill R.K.! Still have pills left can I take one since I 'm sometimes used dogs. Has made every effort to make certain that all information is beneficial, we may combine your email and usage. Method for benzonatate ( Tessalon ) at any time by clicking on is it still effective be. Chewed into after swallowing the capsules whole age have not been applies to your regular schedule... Information includes all possible interactions dont take it as close to 77F ( 25C ) as can... By prescription as a generic medication or under the brand name Tessalon is to! Gibert, R.D and heart attack make certain that all information is beneficial, we may combine your email website. And current information serious problem makes me sleep better at night, Page, C.P, S.M.,,! New drug approvals, alerts and updates doctor, but symptoms is benzonatate dangerous.... Nearest emergency room right away if you dont take it as prescribed call 911 or to... ) Spread to medicines used as local anesthetics and works by numbing the throat and lungs making! It comes with risks if you have an allergic reaction, call your doctor these age groups should take.

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