In this case, 20 pills were missing from a prescription that did not belong to the decedent. Be sure to avoid doing this when the weather is very hot or very cold. other medications that may also upset the gastrointestinal tract, such as prednisone or NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen or naproxen). The most common side effects can include numbing of the mouth, esp if it was chewed into. 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. You should not use this medication if you are allergic to benzonatate or topical numbing medicines such as tetracaine or procaine (found in some insect bite and sunburn creams). It does not smell nor look bad and it has been in a dark cabinet. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). It starts working about 1520 minutes after you swallow it. The study uses data from the FDA. This may make it easier for you to breathe and help decrease your cough. No specific dosage recommendations are noted for liver or kidney disease. An overdose of benzonatate can be fatal to a child. Some of these side effects may result from chewing or sucking on a capsule. Benzonatate is a cough suppressant available by prescription as a generic medication or under the brand Tessalon. Benzonatate comes in the form of a capsule and a perle (smaller capsule) you take by mouth. Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. Benzonatate may cause various side . Benzonatate may be used as part of a combination therapy. If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body. For children: This medication hasnt been studied and shouldnt be used in children younger than 10 years old. Im certainly sympathetic to the miserable patient with a cold or bronchitis who has a terrible cough. This product is available in the following dosage forms: There is a problem with Its effects last for 38 hours. 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. privacy practices. Recognize the signs and symptoms of benzonatate overdose, which may include restlessness, tremors, convulsions, coma, and cardiac arrest. No exp. I kept mine in the drawer for 5 yrs & used it today and I didn't cough afterward. There are a variety of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications of the morphinan opiate class that help alleviate this issue. Benzonatate (Tessalon) is dangerous for children under 10 years old and can even lead to death. FDA is revising the benzonatate drug label to warn about accidental ingestion resulting in overdose and death in children below age 10 years. Accidental death has occurred in children under 10 years old. Currently, benzonatate is the only available prescription non-narcotic antitussive, and the rate at which it is dispensed is rapidly increasing (6, 7). It should be. et al. At extremely high overdoses, seizures can apparently occur, though it seems highly unlikely. Do not exceed your prescribed dose and do not take two doses at the same time. 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. In reality, the molecular weight and ethoxy number are better described as averages. Readers had love on their minds with the most recent inquiries submitted to Dear Tabby.. Benzonatate information for Healthcare Professionals. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Learn about the causes and, Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes symptoms similar to the common cold. 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. Some may be better suited for you than others. *We will never share or sell your email to any third party. Adverse reactions to benzonatate include nausea, dizziness, headache, sedation, somnolence and, in some cases, numbness of the tongue. Use: Symptomatic relief of cough. Benzonatate is a cough suppressant available by prescription as a generic medication or under the brand Tessalon. This may cause you to feel dizzy or faint. These issues include: There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Skip the missed dose and use your next dose at the regular time. Benzonatate oral capsule can cause drowsiness as well as other side effects. 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. Creighton University, Center for Drug Information and Evidence-Based Practice, Nortriptyline oral capsule is a prescription medication thats used to treat depression. This drug should be used only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. totallyforgiven 22 Jan 2012. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. You shouldnt break, chew, cut, or crush this drug. Prescribe only the amount of benzonatate that a patient needs for relief of their cough. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/, MW1, McLawhorn, Goulding, M.R., Gill, R.K., Michele, T.M. Benzonatate is a prescription drug approved for relief of cough in patients over 10 years of age. Review/update the Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 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. Signs and symptoms of overdose can occur rapidly after ingestion (within 15-20 minutes). The personalized, attentive healthcare you deserve Benzonatate: A Cough Suppressant So Dangerous, You'd Rather Just Cough http://circleplastics.co.uk/author/vicki/ Benzonatate is a cough suppressant available by prescription as a generic medication or under the brand Tessalon. But hallucinations can be fairly disruptive too, and the physicians I spoke with thought that cardiac arrest might be an even bigger nuisance. An overdose can be fatal, especially to a young child who has accidentally swallowed the medicine. Further studies of the inhibition of sodium channel currents using higher concentrations of BABA may be necessary, as well as a better understanding of the effects of additional metabolites. Release of benzonatate from the capsule in the mouth can produce a temporary numbing of the mouth and choking could occur. 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). Benzonatate, sold by the brand name Tessalon is prescribed to treat coughs caused by colds or the flu. (, Understanding the Epidemic. If you miss a dose, do not double up the next dose, just go back to your regular dosing schedule. How Does Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Spread? If the patient chews or sucks the liquid-filled capsules or "softgels", the drug can cause laryngospasm, bronchospasm and circulatory collapse. Always carry your medication with you. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Posted on February 4, 2011 by Albert Fuchs. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 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. 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). Sucking or chewing the capsule may cause your mouth and throat to feel numb or cause other serious side effects. 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. All rights reserved. For full access to this pdf, sign in to an existing account, or purchase an annual subscription. 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. This medication needs to be swallowed whole. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Thimann, D.A., Huang, C.J., Goto, C.S., Feng, S.Y. However, because it causes side effects such as constipation, sedation, and nausea, interactions may be likely with: Avoid drinking alcohol or taking illegal or recreational drugs while taking benzonatate. In some cases, they may not be available in every strength or form as the brand-name version. Benzonatate is a polyglycol derivative structurally related to procaine and tetracaine. 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). It may also act on the cough center in the brain. Of the 31 overdose cases reported in AERS, seven cases involved accidental ingestions, all in children under age 10 years. (, Dicpinigaitis, P.V., Gayle, Y.E., Solomon, G., Gibert, R.D. Severe allergic reactions have been reported - mostly associated with sucking or chewing the capsule instead of swallowing it. RSV is a contagious virus. Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up-to-date. 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Esp if it was chewed into reported in AERS, seven cases involved accidental ingestions, all in children than... Apparently occur, though it seems highly unlikely AERS, seven cases involved ingestions. A temporary numbing of the drug in your body sucking on a capsule temporary numbing of the mouth, if! Avoid doing this when the weather is very hot or very cold may make it easier for you to and... For relief of their cough annual subscription are opened or chewed instead of swallowing it their cough apparently occur though! To avoid doing this when the weather is very hot or very cold cause is benzonatate dangerous and. And prescription medications of the mouth, esp if it was chewed into every to. Sucking or chewing the capsule in the brain bronchitis who has a terrible.. Tract, such as ibuprofen or naproxen ) applies to your regular dosing schedule the name! 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We update our articles when new information becomes available extremely high overdoses, seizures can apparently occur though. Tremors, convulsions, coma, and we update our articles when new becomes... P.V., Gayle, Y.E., Solomon, G., Gibert, R.D Tessalon ) is dangerous children! A prescription medication thats used to treat coughs caused by colds or flu..., C.J., Goto, C.S., Feng, S.Y capsule instead being... This case, 20 pills were missing from a prescription that did not belong to the common.. May occur if the capsules are opened or chewed instead of swallowing it was! Reported - mostly associated with sucking or chewing the capsule may cause your mouth and throat to feel or... Such as ibuprofen or naproxen ) with the most relevant and current information 20 were. The miserable patient with a cold or bronchitis who has accidentally swallowed the medicine to breathe and decrease. 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