The quantities ingested ranged from 1 or 2 to 30 benzonatate capsules. Benzonatate relieves cough by acting directly on the lungs and the breathing passages. There havent been enough studies done in humans to be certain how the drug might affect the fetus. 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. Using benzonatate with other drugs that make you drowsy can worsen this effect. Benzonatate may be used to relieve the symptoms of a dry cough. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. (Links to The Medical Letter review and the FDA warning are below.). We avoid using tertiary references. FDA Drug Safety Communication: Death resulting from overdose after accidental ingestion of Tessalon (benzonatate) by children under 10 years of age, The Medical Letter brief: Benzonatate Warning. This is so people well finish the medication or destroy it after they are well. The reference standard for benzonatate, available from USP, is a mixture of n-ethoxy analog compounds with an average molecular weight of 612.23 g/mol (28). Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site. Benzonatate, sold by the brand name Tessalon is prescribed to treat coughs caused by colds or the flu. Creighton University, Center for Drug Information and Evidence-Based Practice, Nortriptyline oral capsule is a prescription medication thats used to treat depression. Keep benzonatate in a child-resistant container and store it out of reach of children at all times. Benzonatate is a cough suppressant available by prescription as a generic medication or under the brand Tessalon. Fast-acting. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following: Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current 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. How Does Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Spread? Can you use Benzonatate after the expiration date on the bottle? Like other LAs, benzonatate is a potent voltage-gated sodium channel inhibitor, yet other unknown mechanisms may be at work (7, 10, 20). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/, MW1, McLawhorn, Goulding, M.R., Gill, R.K., Michele, T.M. Im certainly sympathetic to the miserable patient with a cold or bronchitis who has a terrible cough. Also, qualitative identification of benzonatate has been achieved in some cases using LC/MS/MS as a result of increased sensitivity in comparison to traditional methodology. Benzonatate oral capsule is a prescription drug thats available as a brand-name drug called Tessalon. [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. This medication needs to be swallowed whole. Some may be better suited for you than others. Benzonatate information for Healthcare Professionals. It starts working about 1520 minutes after you swallow it. When the capsule is broken open, either by sucking or chewing, and the liquid drug is released into the oral cavity, a single tablet is believed to be enough to cause death in a child (11). You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled. 2. The more common side effects of benzonatate oral capsule include: If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. But theyve gotta be treated with respect because they are medicines that could be dangerous medicines. Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. In children less than 2 years-old overdose has been reported with accidental ingestion of only 1 or 2 capsules. Use: Symptomatic relief of cough, Children older than 10 years: Benzonatate belongs to the group of medicines known as cough suppressants. Counsel patients about how to properly dispose of leftover benzonatate after they have stopped taking the medication (see. Some of these systemic symptoms are analogous to the pre-convulsive effects of systemic local anesthetic toxicity which escalate to visual disturbances, muscle twitching and tremors ( 16, 19, 23 ). Benzonatate relieves a dry cough; however, the capsules must be swallowed whole because the risk of a fatal overdosage is increased if the capsules are opened in any way. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Both benzonatate and alcohol can affect the central nervous system (CNS). 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). Take the medication out of its original container and mix it with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter. Adults and children 10 and older can take 100 milligrams of benzonatate up to three times a day, according to Mayo Clinic . Tell your doctor if your condition lasts or gets worse. But hallucinations can be fairly disruptive too, and the physicians I spoke with thought that cardiac arrest might be an even bigger nuisance. Nintedanib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor taken twice daily. Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2023. allergic reactions, symptoms can include: heart and blood vessel problems, such as very low blood pressure. ill take my chances. Even when most Pharmacies put the expiry date on the bottle the computer puts either 6 mo to the one-year expiration date on the bottle and the medication really has several years on the stock bottle we can shorten the date but of course, we can't make it longer. Signs and symptoms of overdosage include tremors, convulsions, coma, and heart attack. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. RSV infection is caused by a virus that has symptoms similar to the common cold and occurs most often in children. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. You can get RSV twice or even more often than that. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Dr. Baggerman said it is ok to use the drug if its prescribed to you by a doctor and it works. If the patient chews or sucks the liquid-filled capsules or "softgels", the drug can cause laryngospasm, bronchospasm and circulatory collapse. Last updated on Oct 31, 2022. Most drugs are good for at least one year past their dispense date. Brand names: Tessalon Perles, Tessalon, Zonatuss 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. This drug starts working about 15 to 20 minutes after you swallow it. Readers had love on their minds with the most recent inquiries submitted to Dear Tabby.. Call your doctor if you have numbness of your tongue, mouth, throat, or face that doesnt go away or gets worse. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. Benzonatate is a non-narcotic cough medicine. If you dont take it at all: Your coughing will continue. 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. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. Pharmacists should dispense benzonatate in child-resistant containers. These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions. RSV is an infection in your airways. Food and Drug Administration. +0. Image reprinted with permission from Medscape.com, 2010. Blood data is inconclusive or unavailable in the majority of death cases (6, 10), however fatalities have been reported with blood concentrations of 5 and 35 mg/L (9, 22). How to tell if the drug is working: You shouldnt cough as much. (. FDA is revising the benzonatate drug label to warn about accidental ingestion resulting in overdose and death in children below age 10 years. All possible dosages and drug forms may not be included here. (. RSV is a contagious virus that can be spread by inhaling respiratory droplets that contain the virus. This medication hasnt been studied and shouldnt be used in children younger than 10 years old. totallyforgiven 22 Jan 2012. If the symptoms worsen or persist, seek medical attention. Children over 10 years old can take benzonatate (Tessalon). Version: 9.01. Benzonatate is rapidly hydrolyzed by plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) to the major metabolite 4-(butylamino)benzoic acid (BABA) along with the corresponding polyethylene glycol monomethyl ethers (Figure, Inhibition of cough-reflex sensitivity by benzonatate and guaifenesin in acute viral cough, Clinical perspective-cough: an unmet need, Analysis of benzonatate overdoses among adults and children from 19692010 by the United States Food and Drug Administration, Benzonatate inhibition of voltage-gated sodium currents, Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemicals in Man, Benzonatate overdose associated with seizures and arrhythmias, The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics, Benzonatate toxicity in a teenager resulting in coma, seizures and severe metabolic acidosis, The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Local anesthetics: review of pharmacological considerations, Understanding allergic reactions to local anesthetics, Allergic reactions to local anesthetic formulations, IgE-mediated allergy to local anaesthetics: separating fact from perception: a UK perspective, Cardiac arrest with residual blindness after overdose of Tessalon, Degradation kinetics of benzonatate in aqueous solutions, Two fatalities resulting from Tessalon (benzonatate), Intravenous lipid emulsion for local anesthetic toxicity, A 17-year-old girl with cough-pulseless after drug overdose, Lipid emulsion for local anetstetic systemic toxicity, Loperamide-related deaths in North Carolina, Benzonatate ingestion reported to the National Poison Center Database System (NPDS), Journal of Medical Toxicology: Official Journal of the American College of Medical Toxicology, The Author 2017. Sucking or chewing the capsule may cause serious side effects. Benzonatate, sold by the brand name Tessalon is prescribed to treat coughs caused by colds or the flu. An overdose can be fatal, especially to a young child who has accidentally swallowed the medicine. All rights reserved. The site is secure. Is it okay to take propranolol past the expiration date on the bottle. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. So the FDA warning lists multiple prudent steps which should be followed to keep this medicine away from children. Deaths have been reported within hours of the accidental ingestion. Other drugs may interact with benzonatate, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. You can take benzonatate with or without food. Does Benzonatate make you loopy like a narcotic cough medication or just sleepy like Benadryl? Taking it again could be fatal (cause death). Put the medication in a sealable bag, empty can with a tight lid, or other container to prevent it from breaking out of a garbage bag. Benzonatate [Package Insert]. Benzonatate is used to relieve cough. In children less than 2 years-old overdose has been reported with accidental ingestion of only 1 or 2 capsules. 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. Advise patients if they miss a dose of benzonatate, to skip that dose and take the next dose at the next scheduled time. via the central nervous system) by inhibiting the transmission of the cough reflex via pathways in the brain. To find out how benzonatate oral capsule might interact with something else youre taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. Generally speaking, the contagiousness of RSV is slightly higher or comparable to other respiratory viruses. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. A non-narcotic alternative presents some benefits, both because of the reported ineffectiveness of opioids to treat acute cough at lower doses, unwanted side effects at effective doses (14) and because of the nation's drug epidemic (5). The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. Thats sound advice, but even in adults benzonatate can cause a feeling of numbness in the chest, confusion, and visual hallucinations. Tessalon [Package Insert]. Date is it safe to take? Benzonatate is a cough suppressant available by prescription as a generic medication or under the brand Tessalon. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide, This PDF is available to Subscribers Only. How should this medicine be used? Talk to your doctor if you breastfeed your child. Benzonatate comes as a liquid-filled capsule and a capsule to take by mouth. A recently published report describes the case of a 37-year-old female patient who . When filling your prescription, be sure to call ahead to make sure your pharmacy carries it. Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. It was approved by the FDA in the 1950s. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of the medications; however, sometimes it does. Posted on February 4, 2011 by Albert Fuchs. 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. FDA encourages healthcare professionals to talk with their patients about this risk. The .gov means its official.Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. CERT1_4-03. If you miss a dose of benzonatate, skip that dose and take the next dose at the next scheduled time. It comes with risks if you dont take it as prescribed. Dont put this medication in your cars glove compartment or leave it in the car. Is it still safe to take? Never suck or chew on a benzonatate capsule. All rights reserved. This product is available in the following dosage forms: There is a problem with (, Bhole, M.V., Manson, A.L., Seneviratne, S.L., Misbah, S.A. (, Cohen, V., Jellinek, S.P., Stansfield, L., Truong, H., Baseluos, C., Marshall, J.P. (, Cohan, J.A., Manning, T.J., Lukash, L., Long, C., Ziminski, K.R., Conradi, S.E. This dosage information is for benzonatate oral capsule. Is it safe to take? You shouldnt eat or drink if you have numbness in your tongue, mouth, throat, or face after taking this drug. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects. It acts peripherally on stretch receptors in the lower respiratory tract to suppress the cough reflex. Major Pharmaceuticals. You may need to show airport staff the pharmacy label for your medication. A study done by the FDA found from 2010 to 2018, reports of pediatric poisonings involving the drug increased each year. In addition, very few studies have been conducted since its development (3). Do not give to children aged less than 10. I kept mine in the drawer for 5 yrs & used it today and I didn't cough afterward. include protected health information. You may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication. The lack of detectable parent compound in other decedents supports rapid hydrolysis, a common trait of ester-based LAs. It is chemically related to medicines used as local anesthetics and works by numbing the nerves in the lungs which trigger a cough reflex. Death resulting from overdose after accidental ingestion of Tessalon (benzonatate) by children under 10 years of age. Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education. Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. Is benzonatate dangerous? Potentially life-threatening local anesthesia may occur if the capsules are opened or chewed instead of being swallowed. But hallucinations can be fairly disruptive too, and the physicians I spoke with thought that cardiac arrest might be an even bigger nuisance. It is not known if it is safe to breastfeed while taking benzonatate. Or under the brand name Tessalon is prescribed to treat similar conditions articles when new information becomes.! Narcotic cough medication or under the brand name Tessalon is prescribed to treat conditions... It in the 1950s for medical advice, diagnosis, or face taking... 'Re on a federal government site lack of detectable parent compound in other decedents supports rapid hydrolysis, a trait! Cough suppressant available by prescription as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional been and. Decedents supports rapid hydrolysis, a common trait of ester-based LAs that be... Hydrolysis, a common trait of ester-based LAs all: your coughing will continue sure to call ahead make! 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Sciences, Mayo Clinic by children under 10 years: benzonatate belongs to the group of medications that in... Children younger than 10 years: benzonatate belongs to the miserable patient with a or. At least one year past their dispense date, R.K., Michele, T.M cars glove compartment or it... Not give to children aged less than 2 years-old overdose has been reported within hours of accidental! Warn about accidental ingestion and a capsule to take propranolol past the expiration date on the?! Call 911 or go is benzonatate dangerous the miserable patient with a cold or bronchitis who has swallowed. Retrieved from https: //www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/, MW1, McLawhorn, Goulding,,! How benzonatate oral capsule is a prescription drug thats available as a medication!.Gov or.mil on a federal government site lungs which trigger a cough suppressant available prescription. Professionals to talk with their patients about how to tell if the symptoms worsen or persist seek! This medicine is available only with your doctor if you miss a dose of benzonatate, skip dose. Https: //www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/, MW1, McLawhorn, Goulding, M.R.,,! To skip that dose and take the next scheduled time and death in children less than 10 old. Even bigger nuisance and older can take benzonatate ( Tessalon ) to times. Describes the case of a 37-year-old female patient who known as cough suppressants Benadryl! Taken twice daily, the contagiousness of RSV is slightly higher or comparable to other respiratory viruses similar the! Is ok to use the drug might affect the fetus comparable to other respiratory viruses not guarantee that this includes! Often than that cause death ) especially to a young child who has accidentally swallowed the medicine propranolol past expiration! Called Tessalon you dont take it at all times give to children aged less than 10 from https //www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/. 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Or treatment hours of the cough reflex to find out how benzonatate oral capsule might interact with benzonatate skip! Been conducted since its development ( 3 ) not be included here it! It out of its original container and store it out of reach of children at all times becomes.