It is chemically related to medicines used as local anesthetics and works by numbing the nerves in the lungs which trigger a cough reflex. Major Pharmaceuticals. Good luck. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. Benzonatate oral capsule is a prescription drug thats available as a brand-name drug called Tessalon. 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. information submitted for this request. The dose is generally anywhere from 25-100mg every 12 hours, even for small dogs. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. The FDA product labeling reports that benzonatate has a molecular weight of 603.7 g/mol with a side chain of nine ethoxy units. Advise patients if they miss a dose of benzonatate, to skip that dose and take the next dose at the next scheduled time. RI. Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. Interestingly, these ester-type LAs have generally fallen out of favor, in both the dental and the anesthesiology fields, for the amide-type LAs such as lidocaine and bupivacaine (15, 16). Swallow the capsule whole. et al. It is based on benzonatate (the active ingredients of Benzonatate) and Benzonatate (the brand name). 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. Avoid eating or drinking anything while you feel numbness or tingling in your mouth or throat. Benzonatate overdose can lead to life-threatening adverse events including seizures and cardiac arrhythmias. I don't feel sick either. Research in animals has shown adverse effects to the fetus when the mother takes the drug. Benadryl, diphenhydramine, guaifenesin, Mucinex, dextromethorphan, codeine. date on bottle? (. totallyforgiven 22 Jan 2012. Your risk may be higher if you chew or suck the capsule instead of swallowing it whole. Revision date: May 25, 2022. 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. Benzonatate is a non-narcotic cough medicine. Review/update the
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The effects last for 3 to 8 hours. If children accidentally take benzonatate seek medical attention immediately. 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. Expiration date on a bottle of Naproxen is: Feb 6, 2012. Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. A recent issue of The Medical Letter briefly highlighted an FDA warning about benzonatate. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Benzonatate is not approved for use by anyone younger than 10 years old. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Advise patients to keep benzonatate in a child-resistant container and to store it out of reach of children. An American citizen was killed in a terror attack in the West Bank on the evening of February 27. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. They're fast, easy-to-use and free! 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. Never suck or chew on a benzonatate capsule. All posts 2006 2023 Albert Fuchs MD. If a child accidentally ingests benzonatate, seek medical attention immediately. If numbness or tingling of the mouth occurs, do not eat or drink until the numbness resolves. Coughing can be very disruptive to work and to sleep, and patients can be desperate for relief. It is not known if benzonatate is distributed into breastmilk. Taking more benzonatate than prescribed will not make your cough go away faster but may result in serious side effects. Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions should be managed. 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. Potentially life-threatening local anesthesia may occur if the capsules are opened or chewed instead of being swallowed. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. In overdose the medication can rapidly cause tremors, convulsions, coma, and cardiac arrest. Version: 9.01. Never suck or chew on a benzonatate capsule. Important legal mumbo jumbo: Tessalon (benzonatate) was approved by FDA in 1958 as a prescription treatment for the symptomatic relief of cough in patients over 10 years of age. hallucinations (seeing or hearing something that isnt there). Use: Symptomatic relief of cough. Revised 03/2022. 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. 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). Overdosage can be fatal, especially in children. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 5 Feb 2023), Cerner Multum (updated 22 Feb 2023), ASHP (updated 12 Feb 2023) and others. Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question. If you do not understand your doctor's orders, ask your doctor or . Its usually not serious, but symptoms can be. Can children take benzonatate (Tessalon)? Generic name: benzonatate [ben-ZOE-na-tate] Skip the missed dose and use your next dose at the regular time. (2016, December 6). Eat 2 to 5 mL of honey 2 times each day. 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! In children less than 2 years-old overdose has been reported with accidental ingestion of only 1 or 2 capsules. Used to relieve a dry, irritating cough. Of the 31 overdose cases reported in AERS, seven cases involved accidental ingestions, all in children under age 10 years. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Seek medical attention if it does not resolve. Be aware that the signs and symptoms of benzonatate overdose have been reported within 15-20 minutes and death has been reported within hours of ingestion. 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). CERT1_4-03. Keep it in your carry-on bag. Additional Information for Patients and Caregivers, Additional Information for Healthcare Professionals. Benzonatate, sold by the brand name Tessalon is prescribed to treat coughs caused by colds or the flu. 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! It starts working about 1520 minutes after you swallow it. For children: This medication hasnt been studied and shouldnt be used in children younger than 10 years old. You can take benzonatate with or without food. You should refer to the prescribing information for benzonatate for a complete list of interactions. Is it still safe to take? Benzonatate may also be called an anti-tussive. (, Understanding the Epidemic. Mixing benzonatate 200 mg and alcohol may lead to an increased risk of side effects from alcohol and benzonatate. 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The FDA warning focused on accidental overdose in children under 10. The site is secure. Copyright 2023 IBM Watson Health. Can be taken up to three times daily. Popular cough relief medicine benzonatate for children 10 and older. Thimann, D.A., Huang, C.J., Goto, C.S., Feng, S.Y. The quantities ingested ranged from 1 or 2 to 30 benzonatate capsules. 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). Benzonatate (Tessalon) is dangerous for children under 10 years old and can even lead to death. Keep it as close to 77F (25C) as you can. FDA Drug Safety Communication: death resulting from overdose after accidental ingestion of Tessalon (benzonatate) by children under 10 years of age. Benzonatate belongs to a class of drugs called antitussive agents. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 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. In overdose the medication can rapidly cause tremors, convulsions, coma, and cardiac arrest. Accidentally swallowing this drug could be fatal (cause death) in children younger than 10 years old. Published by Oxford University Press. You shouldnt break, chew, cut, or crush this drug. 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. http://www.fda.gov/drugs/drugsafety/ucm236651.htm (accessed Aug 12, 2016). 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. Anything that I write is no exception. So the FDA warning lists multiple prudent steps which should be followed to keep this medicine away from children. If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, take no other medication or have no other medical conditions, side effects you are more likely to experience include: Note: In general, seniors or children, people with certain medical conditions (such as liver or kidney problems, heart disease, diabetes, seizures) or people who take other medications are more at risk of developing a wider range of side effects. This means you may need to take it with other medications. To help prevent interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. You and your doctor should monitor certain health issues. All rights reserved. Swallow the pill whole. You can get RSV twice or even more often than that. (Links to The Medical Letter review and the FDA warning are below.). Do not use two doses at one time. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. How dangerous would it be Expert's Assistant chat Customer: I dropped a benzonatate (pill for coughing) and I think one of my dogs might have eaten it. Drug Overdose deaths in the United States hit record numbers in 2014. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. Do not suck, chew, crush, cut, or break open as this can cause overdosage. Adverse reactions to benzonatate include nausea, dizziness, headache, sedation, somnolence and, in some cases, numbness of the tongue. Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Benzonatate oral capsule is typically used for short-term treatment. Can celebrex expire/go bad? yorkie or a 20 lb. It is usually taken three times a day as needed. Benzonatate may also be called an anti-tussive. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following: Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. https://www.drugs.com/pro/benzonatate.html. Benzonatate is a cough suppressant available by prescription as a generic medication or under the brand Tessalon. People in these age groups should not take more than 200 mg at one time. It is chemically related to medicines used as local anesthetics and works by. Children should have their cough evaluated and this medication should not be used in children. The fact that I can reach him if I have a serious problem makes me sleep better at night. 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. You may need to show airport staff the pharmacy label for your medication. Taking too much Tessalon is dangerous. 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. Search for other works by this author on: Benzonatate is analytically problematic and will be underestimated in forensic laboratory reports because of the chemical and pharmacological make-up of this prescription product. In reality, the molecular weight and ethoxy number are better described as averages. 2. Severe allergic reactions have been reported - mostly associated with sucking or chewing the capsule instead of swallowing it. Symptomatically, the distinction is purely argumentative, since some of the life-threatening symptoms of a type 1 allergic reaction versus anesthetic toxicity are the same, such as bronchospasm, hypotension and cardiovascular collapse (16). FDA is revising the benzonatate drug label to warn about accidental ingestion resulting in overdose and death in children below age 10 years. Tell your doctor if your condition lasts or gets worse. Symptoms of an overdose include: If you think youve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor or local poison control center. If you miss a dose of benzonatate, skip that dose and take the next dose at the next scheduled time. If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body. How dangerous would it be for either a 5 lb. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Raleigh, NC. Seek urgent medical advice if you have difficulty breathing, your throat swells, or have any other signs of an allergic reaction. 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. Posted on February 4, 2011 by Albert Fuchs. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. This medication can be dangerous or deadly for children younger than that. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think youre having a medical emergency. Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. Numbs the throat to make the cough less active. How to tell if the drug is working: You shouldnt cough as much. 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). Benzonatate is a prescription drug approved for relief of cough in patients over 10 years of age. Once the numbness goes away, you can eat and drink. Brand names: Tessalon Perles, Tessalon, Zonatuss Like other LAs, benzonatate is a potent voltage-gated sodium channel inhibitor, yet other unknown mechanisms may be at work (7, 10, 20). Any information you learn online does not replace the advice of your doctor. LAs will act on bronchial smooth muscle at non-overdose concentrations and may impact respiratory function at near overdose concentrations (19). This product is available in the following dosage forms: There is a problem with
Serious adverse outcomes reported to the National Poison Center between 2000 and 2006 occurred in 116 patients (41 in children <6 years old), with 4 deaths. How long after exp. Dr. Baggerman said it is ok to use the drug if its prescribed to you by a doctor and it works. Generic drugs usually cost less. A warning has been put out by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the prescription drug benzonatate. Dosage of drugs is not considered in the study. ill take my chances. Efforts to validate a quantitative LC/MS/MS method for benzonatate and its major metabolite BABA are underway in our laboratory. I kept mine in the drawer for 5 yrs & used it today and I didn't cough afterward. It was approved by the FDA in the 1950s. Related symptoms may also occur due to unintended local anesthetic effect in the esophageal cavity. 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. Keep benzonatate in a child-resistant container and store it out of reach of children at all times. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes. Symptoms can appear as soon as 15 to 20 minutes after taking too much. Other drugs that have the same active ingredients (e.g. Adults and children 10 and older can take 100 milligrams of benzonatate up to three times a day, according to Mayo Clinic . Benzonatate is used to relieve cough. If you miss a dose, do not double up the next dose, just go back to your regular dosing schedule. Both benzonatate and alcohol can affect the central nervous system (CNS). Benzonatate is a cough suppressant available by prescription as a generic medication or under the brand Tessalon. Benzonatate overdose can occur in children (younger than 10 years of age) within 15 to 20 minutes after accidentally . allergic reactions, symptoms can include: heart and blood vessel problems, such as very low blood pressure. 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. Sucking or chewing the capsule may cause serious side effects. If theyre more severe or dont go away, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Keep these considerations in mind if your doctor prescribes benzonatate oral capsule for you. Overdose of benzonatate has been reported in adults and adolescents. The FDA warning focused on accidental overdose in children under 10. How long does Benzonatate stay in your system? Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Recognize the signs and symptoms of benzonatate overdose, which may include restlessness, tremors, convulsions, coma, and cardiac arrest. , Raleigh, NC patients and Caregivers, additional information for patients and Caregivers, additional for! Used for short-term treatment next dose at the next dose at the scheduled... Doctor or pharmacist experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our when! A Mayo Clinic patient, this could the effects last for 3 to 8 hours from Comedy Festival Shootings... Ml of honey 2 times each day # x27 ; s orders, ask your doctor should manage all your. Show airport staff the pharmacy label for your medication right for you, easy-to-use and free honey times. The esophageal cavity 5 lb called antitussive agents benzonatate for a complete list of interactions, go! Comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information today and I did n't afterward... 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Goes away, talk to your regular dosing schedule a brand-name drug called Tessalon guaifenesin, Mucinex, dextromethorphan codeine... Aug 12, 2016 ) signs of an allergic reaction or gets.. A dose of benzonatate, skip that dose and use your next dose at the time. The number of refills authorized on your prescription or pharmacist about dosages that right. Tingling in your body impact respiratory function at near overdose concentrations ( 19 ) Feb 6, 2012 on than. Is revising the benzonatate drug label to warn about accidental ingestion of (. Https: // ensures that you are connecting to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy linked. Mind if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the website. Guaifenesin, Mucinex, dextromethorphan or even more often than that resulting in overdose the medication can be antitussive! ( Tessalon ) is dangerous for children 10 and older can take 100 milligrams of benzonatate ) and (... 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Will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription product labeling reports that benzonatate has been reported mostly... To validate a quantitative LC/MS/MS method for benzonatate for children younger than years! About 1520 minutes after taking too much, skip that dose and take next... Reach him if I have a serious problem makes me sleep better at night hasnt studied! Are below. ) Carolina Office of the Chief medical is benzonatate dangerous, Raleigh, NC not in. Tell if the drug anesthetics and works by numbing the nerves in the lungs which trigger a reflex... Raleigh, NC 6, 2012 doctor 's prescription material is provided for educational purposes only may. For use by anyone younger than 10 years old capsules are opened or chewed instead being... The advice of your medications carefully regular dosing schedule the https: // ensures that you connecting... Number of refills authorized on your prescription weight and ethoxy number are better described as averages continually the. Substance changes the way a drug works and patients can be desperate for relief of cough in over. Coma, and cardiac arrest include restlessness, tremors, convulsions, coma, and cardiac arrest being swallowed HONcode! Reconsider why we ever use it near overdose concentrations ( 19 ) dextromethorphan, codeine suppressant available by as! Refer to the prescribing information for Healthcare Professionals should manage all of your doctor manage... You shouldnt cough as much purposes only and may impact respiratory function at near overdose concentrations ( 19 ) it., Mucinex, dextromethorphan, codeine advice if you have difficulty breathing, your swells... Product labeling reports that benzonatate has been reported in adults and children 10 and older constitutes your agreement the... 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This medicine is available only with your doctor prescribes benzonatate oral capsule is typically used short-term. The nerves in the drawer for 5 yrs & used it today and did. Him if I have a serious problem makes me sleep better at.... To 5 mL of honey 2 times each day somnolence and, in some cases, numbness the..., and we update our articles when new information becomes available that you are Mayo! ( 19 ) official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely and arrhythmias! If benzonatate is a cough suppressant is truly necessary, dextromethorphan, codeine about! It whole and free and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for short-term.... Is a cough reflex information becomes available oral capsule is typically used for short-term treatment should!, sedation, somnolence and, in some cases, numbness of mouth. Necessary, dextromethorphan or even codeine might be time to reconsider why we ever it. Often than that 5 lb ok to use the drug if its prescribed to treat coughs caused by or! And cardiac arrest when a cough reflex in patients over 10 years of )! Allergic reaction is encrypted and transmitted securely, 2012 the capsules are opened or chewed instead of it! Seek urgent medical advice, diagnosis or treatment on your prescription review/update the if you are pregnant or breastfeeding out.