What is benzonatate?
Benzonatate (generic Tessalon) is a prescription drug used to relieve coughing. It is often prescribed to alleviate coughing caused by asthma, bronchitis, and the common cold.
Tired of endlessly coughing and wheezing? Talk to your doctor about whether benzonatate is right for you.
What are common side effects of benzonatate?
While adverse reactions to benzonatate are rare, some patients taking the drug may experience mild side effects, including nausea, headaches, drowsiness, constipation, and congestion. If you are concerned that benzonatate may be causing side effects, check back in with your doctor.
Rare, more serious adverse events have been known to occur, including rash or hives, itching, tightening of the throat, difficulty breathing, chest numbness, and confusion.
This is not a complete list of side effects. For more information on adverse effects you may experience while taking benzonatate, please visit the National Institutes of Health’s DailyMed webpage.
Benzonatate is a prescription medication used to relieve coughing. Benzonatate helps numb the throat and lungs, reducing the reflex to cough.
Doctors prescribe benzonatate to alleviate coughs caused by the common cold, asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory conditions. It is a non-narcotic cough medication, meaning that it is not generally habit-forming. While benzonatate can help quickly suppress your cough, it does not treat the underlying condition causing the cough.
Benzonatate is used to relieve coughing caused by the common cold or other respiratory conditions like pneumonia or asthma.
While there are some common side effects associated with benzonatate, it is important to remember that your doctor prescribed this medication because its effectiveness as a cough suppressor outweighs the adverse effects it may cause.
Common side effects of benzonatate may include:
Rare but serious side effects may include:
If these symptoms persist - or if you are experiencing any severe symptoms - contact your doctor immediately.
This is not a complete list of benzonatate side effects. To learn more about adverse reactions you may experience while taking this drug, visit the National Institutes of Health’s DailyMed webpage.
Benzonatate is a fast-acting cough suppressant. After ingesting the small gel-filled capsule, you will start to feel benzonatate work within 30 minutes. You may start feeling results as early as 15-20 minutes after ingestion. Benzonatate works by numbing the air passages and lungs, which leads to a reduced cough reflex and cough relief. These effects will normally last anywhere between 3-8 hours.
To relieve symptoms of cough, doctors can prescribe adults 100-200 mg of benzonatate to be taken three times daily. Benzonatate capsules are meant to be swallowed whole, and should not be chopped, cut, or chewed into smaller pieces. You do not need to take benzonatate with food, but you should stick to the dosing instructions ordered by your doctor.
Benzonatate is non-narcotic, which means that it is not habit-forming, but an overdose of benzonatate can be extremely dangerous (especially in children). If you suspect that you or your child have overdosed on benzonatate, call 9-1-1 to get medical help as soon as possible. If you do not understand your doctor’s orders, ask your doctor or pharmacist for clarification.
Benzonatate is currently only available via prescription. This means the use of this drug must be authorized by a licensed health care provider.
Providers on Sesame can write a prescription – or refill an existing one – during a virtual or in-person visit. Depending on the medication, you can arrange for same-day pickup at a pharmacy near you. Book an online consultation with a real, licensed provider on Sesame today to determine whether or not benzonatate is right for you.
Note that all prescriptions are at the discretion of your health care provider. Providers on Sesame cannot prescribe controlled substances.
Yes! Talk to a provider on Sesame and get your online doctor prescription or refill ordered right away for fast and convenient pickup from a pharmacy of your choice.
Note that all prescriptions are at the discretion of your clinician.
