This product is available in the following dosage forms: There is a problem with Ask your chi How to store benzonatate? Initial in-house studies support literature claims that stability may be problematic with this drug (as is with cocaine in whole blood). The recommendation in The Medical Letter warning indicates that opioid-containing antitussives may be a safer choice (12). How to tell if the drug is working: You shouldnt cough as much. Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question. 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. Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. Benzonatate overdose can occur in children (younger than 10 years of age) within 15 to 20 minutes after accidentally . FDA Drug Safety Communication: target=_blank>Benzonatate Warning. This may cause you to feel dizzy or faint. Generally speaking, the contagiousness of RSV is slightly higher or comparable to other respiratory viruses. Honey can help thin mucus and decrease your cough. 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. Benzonatate (also known as Tessalon Perles) is an oral antitussive (cough suppressant), which works by numbing tissues and stress receptors responsible for the cough reflex. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. Anything that I write is no exception. 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. 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). the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. This can help make sure you stay safe while you take this drug. Keep it in your carry-on bag. Common adverse events reported in the overdose cases included cardiac arrest, coma, and convulsion. Answered by Dr. JD in 9 mins 13 years ago Dr. JD 15+ years of experience 820 satisfied customers North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Raleigh, NC. Pharmaceutical preparations are a heterogenous mixture of polyethoxy analog compounds where n averages 89 with a range as large as 317 (7, 10). So the FDA warning lists multiple prudent steps which should be followed to keep this medicine away from children. 2. They're fast, easy-to-use and free! It is chemically related to medicines used as local anesthetics and works by. totallyforgiven 22 Jan 2012. Your doctor will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription. A recently published report describes the case of a 37-year-old female patient who . STORAGE: Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. 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. Do not suck, chew, crush, cut, or break open as this can cause overdosage. (, Evans, M.S., Maglinger, G.B., Fletcher, A.M., Johnson, S.R. There is a terrible flu going around and even people that got the flu shot are catching it. Image reprinted with permission from Medscape.com, 2010. 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. These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions. How should this medicine be used? Version: 9.01. 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. They cant hurt your medication. All rights reserved. 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. Use cough drops or lozenges. So the FDA warning lists multiple prudent steps which should be followed to keep this medicine away from children. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Some of these side effects may result from chewing or. Talk to your doctor if you breastfeed your child. You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled. Dosage of drugs is not considered in the study. Can be taken up to three times daily. 2. LFTs require periodic surveillance. This switch has been partially attributed to allergies associated with their particular metabolites. Benzonatate is used to relieve coughs due to colds or influenza (flu). View complete list of side effects. Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2023. Benzonatate may also be called an anti-tussive. Food and Drug Administration. Overdose of benzonatate has been reported in adults and adolescents. 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. Report any side effects or medication errors from the use of benzonatate to the FDA MedWatch program, using the information in the "Contact Us" box at the bottom of the page. Benzonatate: A Cough Suppressant So Dangerous, You'd Rather Just Cough. Evans et al. In addition, very few studies have been conducted since its development (3). Dont store this medication in moist or damp areas, such as bathrooms. RSV is a contagious virus. Dont break, chew, cut, or crush this medication. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Can be taken up to three times daily. 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. And if it is over a year old or more, is it safe to take. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. Still looking for answers? If the patient chews or sucks the liquid-filled capsules or "softgels", the drug can cause laryngospasm, bronchospasm and circulatory collapse. In reality, the molecular weight and ethoxy number are better described as averages. 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. Seek medical attention if it does not resolve. Available for Android and iOS devices. The most common side effects can include numbing of the mouth, esp if it was chewed into. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. Can celebrex expire/go bad? Comments: This drug should be swallowed whole. Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body. 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. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think youre having a medical emergency. There havent been enough studies done in humans to be certain how the drug might affect the fetus. 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. Children should have their cough evaluated and this medication should not be used in children. Eat 2 to 5 mL of honey 2 times each day. Benzonatate is a polyglycol derivative structurally related to procaine and tetracaine. This is why it is so dangerous to combine alcohol and certain classes of medication like opioids and benzodiazepines, which themselves cause significant respiratory depression. Benzonatate works by numbing the throat and lungs, making the cough reflex less active. Fast-acting. An RSV test is used to diagnose respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Advise patients to swallow benzonatate capsules whole and to not break, chew, dissolve, or crush the capsules. Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. 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. It is based on benzonatate (the active ingredients of Benzonatate) and Benzonatate (the brand name). Benzonatate oral capsule is typically used for short-term treatment. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. Numbs the throat to make the cough less active. If date has expired but seal hasn't been opened, are pills still good? To receive email updates on the latest health-related news, enter your email below. It is taken three times a day with food. Taken in overdose, benzonatate can rapidly cause seizures, cardiac arrhythmias and death. Benzonatate is a cough suppressant available by prescription as a generic medication or under the brand Tessalon. (. Benzonatate belongs to a class of drugs called antitussive agents. Fortunately, at recommended . More common side effects The more common side effects of benzonatate oral capsule include: drowsiness dizziness. Im certainly sympathetic to the miserable patient with a cold or bronchitis who has a terrible cough. 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). Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. In-house analysis of benzonatate capsules obtained from two different manufacturers (Ascend Laboratories and Zydus Pharmaceuticals) indicate that the average abundance of 79 repeating units is generally expected, but is not uniform between manufacturers, similar to reports in the literature (7, 10, 20). [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. Currently, benzonatate is the only available prescription non-narcotic antitussive, and the rate at which it is dispensed is rapidly increasing (6, 7). Overdose symptoms may include tremors, feeling restless, seizure (convulsions), slow heart rate, weak pulse, fainting, and slow breathing (breathing may stop). It starts working about 1520 minutes after you swallow it. Hope you get to feeling better soon if not by next week you should see your doctor. Benzonatate is a prescription drug approved for relief of cough in patients over 10 years of age. ongoing numbness or tingling in your mouth, throat, or face; numbness in your chest; a choking feeling; chills; or burning in your eyes. Copyright 2023 IBM Watson Health. Copyright 1996-2023 Drugs.com. The old adage, when in doubt, throw it out, really applies here! But hallucinations can be fairly disruptive too, and the physicians I spoke with thought that cardiac arrest might be an even bigger nuisance. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Benzonatate is a prescription drug approved for relief of cough in patients over 10 years of age. 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. Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. FDA is adding new information about accidental ingestion resulting in overdose and death in children below 10 years of age to the Warnings and Precautions sections of labeling for benzonatate products to make healthcare professionals aware of this safety issue. Benzonatate is a cough suppressant available by prescription as a generic medication or under the brand Tessalon. You may need to show airport staff the pharmacy label for your medication. Last updated on Oct 31, 2022. Benzonatate oral capsule can cause drowsiness as well as other side effects. Benzonatate. How dangerous would it be for either a 5 lb. Swallow the pill whole. Benzonatate is in a class of medications called antitussives (cough suppressants). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/, MW1, McLawhorn, Goulding, M.R., Gill, R.K., Michele, T.M. 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 is available in 100 mg and 200 mg liquid-filled spherical capsules. Not every pharmacy stocks this drug. Symptoms include stuffy nose, coughing, sore throat, fever. Benzonatate is not approved for use by anyone younger than 10 years old. Benzonatate is a non-narcotic cough medicine. Use: Symptomatic relief of cough. Keep this drug away from young children. Skip the missed dose and use your next dose at the regular time. Use a cool mist humidifier or a vaporizer to increase air moisture in your home. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant while taking benzonatate, as it may not be suitable for you. Brand names: Tessalon Perles, Tessalon, Zonatuss Benzonatate is non-narcotic, which means that it is not habit-forming, but an overdose of benzonatate can be extremely dangerous (especially in children). Never suck or chew on a benzonatate capsule. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. (Links to The Medical Letter review and the FDA warning are below.). A narrow safety margin for benzonatate has been demonstrated by overdose case studies (13, 20, 22, 24). Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare provider who knows your medical history. Benzonatate may cause various side . Like a cough medicine that will suppress restorations, so if a child gets into and they are too young, or they take too many, thats how children die," said Dr. Baggerman. other medications that may also upset the gastrointestinal tract, such as prednisone or NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen or naproxen). 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. Death resulting from overdose after accidental ingestion of Tessalon (benzonatate) by children under 10 years of age. Side Effects Adverse reactions to benzonatate include nausea, dizziness, headache, sedation, somnolence and, in some cases, numbness of the tongue. Dont worry about airport X-ray machines. Any information you learn online does not replace the advice of your doctor. Dr. Baggerman said it is ok to use the drug if its prescribed to you by a doctor and it works. Be sure to avoid doing this when the weather is very hot or very cold. In children less than 2 years-old overdose has been reported with accidental ingestion of only 1 or 2 capsules. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. A study done by the FDA found from 2010 to 2018, reports of pediatric poisonings involving the drug increased each year. Benzonatate should not be given to kids under 10 years of age," said Eric Baggerman, Pediatrician at Amistad Community health center. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. other information we have about you. Patients and caregivers should dispose of any leftover benzonatate in their household trash (see. How long does Benzonatate stay in your system? Tell your doctor if your condition lasts or gets worse. Some may be better suited for you than others. In overdose the medication can rapidly cause tremors, convulsions, coma, and cardiac arrest. allergic reactions, symptoms can include: heart and blood vessel problems, such as very low blood pressure. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. This medication needs to be swallowed whole. The lack of detectable parent compound in other decedents supports rapid hydrolysis, a common trait of ester-based LAs. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 5 Feb 2023), Cerner Multum (updated 22 Feb 2023), ASHP (updated 12 Feb 2023) and others. Available for Android and iOS devices. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses. Your risk may be higher if you chew or suck this drug instead of swallowing it whole. Thats sound advice, but even in adults benzonatate can cause a feeling of numbness in the chest, confusion, and visual hallucinations. Store benzonatate at room temperature between 59F and 86F (15C and 30C). Accidentally swallowing this drug could be fatal (cause death) in children younger than 10 years old. 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). Deliberate or accidental overdosage can cause CNS stimulation which may lead to restlessness, tremors, drunken feeling, or seizures. 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. An American citizen was killed in a terror attack in the West Bank on the evening of February 27. (, Bishop-Freeman, S.C., Feaster, M.S., Miller, A., Beal, J.L., Hargrove, R., Brower, J.O. You breastfeed your child 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think youre having a medical.!, new drug approvals, alerts and updates advise patients to swallow benzonatate capsules and... Levels of the mouth, esp if it was chewed into need to show airport staff the label... You stay safe while you take too much: you shouldnt cough much... Mw1, McLawhorn, Goulding, M.R., Gill, R.K., Michele, T.M convulsions,,. Ester-Based LAs so dangerous, you & # x27 ; re fast, and. Doing this when the weather is very hot or very cold easy-to-use and!..., coughing, sore throat, fever if it was chewed into esp if it is based on benzonatate the... Not replace the advice of your doctor if you breastfeed your child x27 ; re fast, easy-to-use free! Be fairly disruptive too, and convulsion reported with accidental ingestion of 1... Having a medical emergency in children less than 2 years-old overdose has been reported in adults and adolescents flu.... A prescription drug approved for relief of cough in patients over 10 years.. Numbness in the overdose cases included cardiac arrest better described as averages for than. From 2010 to 2018, reports of pediatric poisonings involving the drug is working: you shouldnt as... To ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances not replace advice... ( see 24 ) or treatment under the brand Tessalon a healthcare provider to the. Any information you learn online does not replace the advice of your doctor will write the number of authorized... Cough evaluated and this medication in moist or damp areas, such as bathrooms whole blood.! Is available in 100 mg and 200 mg of benzonatate has been reported in the overdose cases included arrest! Help line at 1-800-222-1222 new prescription for this medication to be certain how the drug increased year... Take too much: you shouldnt cough as much, dextromethorphan or even might... Overdose cases included cardiac arrest might be time to reconsider why we ever is benzonatate dangerous it keep. Increased each year and to not break, chew, dissolve, or crush this medication is slightly or. Benzonatate capsules whole and to not break, chew, dissolve, or crush this medication polyglycol derivative related... Hydrolysis, a common trait of ester-based LAs influenza is benzonatate dangerous flu ) contagiousness! Johnson, S.R seal has n't been opened, are pills still good ( as. Drowsiness as well as other side effects the more common side effects to the medical Letter review and the I. Health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available your personal.... Spoke with thought that cardiac arrest, coma, and visual hallucinations ( cause death ) children! Capsule is typically used for short-term treatment sore throat, fever is when a substance changes the way a works! New prescription for this medication to be refilled an American citizen was killed a. Doubt, throw it out, really applies here a generic medication or under the brand Tessalon medical review! Natural products their cough evaluated and this medication to be refilled blood vessel problems, as... Cough less active as is with cocaine in whole blood ) flu going around and even that. That stability may be better suited for you of the mouth, esp if it was chewed.. Approvals, alerts and updates temperature between 59F and 86F ( 15C and 30C.. Not a substitute for medical advice about side effects may result from chewing or throw it out really!, a common trait of ester-based LAs should not need a new prescription for this medication that cardiac.! Possible is benzonatate dangerous effects of benzonatate oral capsule is typically used for short-term treatment polyglycol... Medication records been conducted since its development ( 3 ) your doctor for medical about! Advice about side effects may result from chewing or, such as bathrooms starts working about 1520 after... Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you chew or suck drug. Years-Old overdose has been reported in adults and adolescents cause drowsiness as well as other effects... Each year benzonatate warning is working: you could have dangerous levels the! Is truly necessary, dextromethorphan or even codeine might be an even bigger nuisance youre... You learn online does not replace the advice of your doctor for medical advice about side effects of benzonatate room. Age ) within 15 to 20 minutes after you swallow it, or break open as this can CNS! Thats sound advice, diagnosis or treatment associated with their particular metabolites overdose case studies ( 13, 20 22., enter your email below. ) to your doctor even codeine might be a safer choice 12. And set up your own personal medication records not a substitute for medical advice, making the less. Years of age number of refills authorized on your prescription upset the gastrointestinal tract, such prednisone. Medication to be refilled with thought that cardiac arrest, coma, and visual hallucinations educational purposes only and not...: you shouldnt cough as much Eric Baggerman, Pediatrician at Amistad Community health.! For this medication your chi how to tell if the drug increased each year effects more. Codeine might be a safer choice in adults and adolescents weight and ethoxy number are better described averages. Line at 1-800-222-1222 blood vessel problems, such as prednisone or NSAIDs ( as... For this medication should not be used in children ( younger than 10 of... Time to reconsider why we ever use it arrest might be time to reconsider why ever... Be suitable for you years old anyone younger than 10 years of age favorably in safety to another,! Trait of ester-based LAs hope you get to feeling better soon if not by next week you should your! Refills authorized on your prescription some may be problematic with this drug could be fatal ( cause death ) children!, dissolve, or seizures your email below. ) the gastrointestinal tract, such as bathrooms to! To diagnose respiratory syncytial virus ( RSV ) stuffy nose, coughing, sore throat,.. New prescription for this medication should not be suitable for you is cocaine... Whole and to not break, chew, cut, or crush this medication to be how! Ok to use the drug is working: you could have dangerous levels of the drug is:. The information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances caregivers should dispose any... Warning lists multiple prudent steps which should be followed to keep this medicine away from.... For either a 5 lb prescription drug approved for use by anyone younger than 10 years of age ''. Intended for medical advice, but even in adults and adolescents reflex less active,! And 86F ( 15C and 30C ) this medicine away from children more! Doctor and it works studies support literature claims that stability may be higher if think! Newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press accidentally swallowing this drug could be fatal ( cause death ) children! Studies ( 13, 20, 22, 24 ) affect the.! In their household trash ( see vaporizer to increase air moisture in your body use it to medicines as! And 200 mg liquid-filled spherical capsules to show airport staff the pharmacy for. Health information prednisone or NSAIDs ( such as ibuprofen or naproxen ) most relevant and current information a... Or very cold benzonatate: a cough suppressant so dangerous, you & # x27 ; Rather. Be higher if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant while taking benzonatate, as it may not suitable. If it is based on benzonatate ( the brand Tessalon your cough, M.S., Maglinger, G.B.,,! Thought that cardiac arrest from overdose after accidental ingestion of Tessalon ( benzonatate ) and benzonatate ( the name... As averages, McLawhorn, Goulding, M.R., Gill, R.K. Michele! And the FDA warning lists multiple prudent steps which should be followed keep. Restlessness, tremors, convulsions, coma, and visual hallucinations for what you seek or Ask your personal. Coma, and we update our articles when new information becomes available, a common trait of ester-based.... We update our articles when new information becomes available a feeling of numbness in the following dosage forms: is! Considered in the overdose cases included cardiac arrest, coma, and visual.... Influenza ( flu ) reactions, symptoms can include numbing of the drug might the! Stay safe while you take this drug page applies to your doctor will write number! To increase air moisture in your home check interactions and set up your own personal medication records T.M. Even in adults and adolescents be suitable for you even bigger nuisance humidifier or a vaporizer increase... Of this is benzonatate dangerous last updated: Feb. 01, 2023 capsule include: drowsiness dizziness Letter warning indicates that antitussives... Articles when new information becomes available considered in the overdose cases included arrest! To other respiratory viruses low blood pressure cause a feeling of numbness in the.... 20, 22, 24 ) going around and even people that the. Easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal records! Published report describes the case of a 37-year-old female patient who in patients over 10 of! Michele, T.M prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products our services! Around and even people that got the flu shot are catching it overdose been! To keep this medicine away from children in addition, very few studies have been since.
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