What is Benzonatate?
Benzonatate is a widely used drug among patients suffering from a cough caused by either cold or bronchitis. It is considered a non-narcotic medicine used for cough relief. The medicine is used to numb the lungs and throat which becomes excessively active during cough. The purpose of the medicine is to make the reflex of the cough inactive or less active so that the patient gets some relief.
What is the Dosage of Benzonatate?
Benzonatate is available in 100mg tablet forms in 90, 120, and 180 tabs packs.
The usual adult dosages for Benzonatate are 100mg -200mg every day, divided 3 times, as required for cough. The amount helps in the systematic relief of cough. The same dosage is continued for children till 10 years. However, it is better to consult the doctor in case children are suffering from cough.
How Should Benzonatate Be Taken?
Benzonatate needs to be swallowed whole, not crushed or chewed in any way. Taking the medicine by crushing or chewing can lead to some dangerous side effects. For each dose, remember to take plenty of water. In case you accidentally chew or crush the medicine, you may feel a numbing or tingling feeling in your mouth and throat. Refrain yourself from drinking or eating anything until the time the sensation goes away completely.
Before Taking Benzonatate
One needs to take some precautions before starting to take the medicine.
- You need to consider talking to
your healthcare provider about any other health condition you are
suffering from or taking medicine for or not.
- You have to do the same if you
are pregnant or breastfeeding because you may not be allowed to take the
medicine under such health conditions.
- The medicine can prove to be
quite fatal for children under 10 years. So, never try to use it for
children below that age limit.
- Benzonatate can leave an impact
on your alertness and focus for some time. So, don’t involve yourself in
any kind of activities that require 100% attention like driving or working
with heavy machinery.
- It is important to talk to your
doctor before adjusting the dosage of the medicine as only they can assess
your health condition at that time and advise accordingly.
- In case you don’t recover from persistent coughing even after 7 days, you need to get yourself checked with a healthcare provider.
Talk to your healthcare provider before taking Benzonatate if you are
undergoing certain health conditions such as -
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Asthma
- Allergy
Can Benzonatate Interact with Other Drugs?
Benzonatate should not be combined with some other medicines and drugs
to make sure that it can work properly to your needs and also you stay out of
certain side effects.
The medications and substances you must
avoid are -
- Cold and cough medications
- Anti-seizure drugs
- Narcotics
- Muscle-relaxants
- Sleeping Pills
- Anxiety medicines
- Antihistamines
- Alcohol
- Psychiatric medicines
Storage
A standard room temperature that is between 20C to 25C is perfect for
storing Benzonatate. During transportation, it can sustain up to 15C to 30C,
but not more or less than that. And, the temperature difference is okay for a
short period. Keep it in a dry, cool place, preferably in an airtight box,
keeping it away from direct light exposure.
Overdose
In the case of Benzonatate overdose, it is important to go for emergency
services as fast as you can. Especially, if it has happened with children, you
must not waste a single minute. Some of the Benzonatate overdose symptoms
include - seizures, weak pulse, irregular heart rate, tremors, excessive
restlessness, fainting, and slow breathing.
Missed Dose
If it happens that you have missed a dose, you can simply skip it and
get ready for the next dose. Taking two doses back to back can lead to some
unexpected problems. So, you should always try to maintain the time gap between
two dosages.
What are the Side Effects of Benzonatate have?
There are some common as well as rare side
effects of Benzonatate that one needs to learn about before starting to take
the medicine. However, if it is something like an allergy breakout and you
develop symptoms like hives, face swelling, breathing difficulty, or any
abnormality in your tongue, throat, or lips, consider those as severe side
effects and call the emergency services.
Common Side Effects
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Stomach Upset
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Itching
- Rash
- Stuffy Nose
Serious Side Effects
- Severe Dizziness
- Chest numbness
- Hallucinations
- Choking feeling
- Chills
- Eyes burning
- Tingling effect in your throat,
mouth, and face
- Drowsiness