Get Informed: Benzonatate
Active Ingredient(s)
Benzonatate
What does it do?
This product is used in the treatment of coughs. It anesthetizes the lung and respiratory muscles to reduce the cough reflex.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Mar-18 3:45 AM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-17 9:01 PM
Other Names
- Benzonatate
- Tessalon
- Tessalon Perle
- Tesalon
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- N/A
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 10 Feb 1958
- Est US Patients*
- 61,180
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Benzonatate or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Benzonatate
There have been no iGuard.org alerts regarding Benzonatate during the past year.
Benzonatate Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
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What is Benzonatate used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 400 patients that use Benzonatate (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Cough | 84% | 
|
| COPD | 11% |
|
| Nasal/Sinus Congestion | 5% | 
|
| Allergies | 5% |
|
How well does Benzonatate work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 400 users taking Benzonatate (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 89%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Benzonatate outweigh the bad things.
- 5%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Benzonatate.
Common Side Effects of Benzonatate
iGuard regularly polls our more than 400 users taking Benzonatate (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
11% of patients experience side-effects on Benzonatate
< 1% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Benzonatate
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Drowsiness
-
Dizziness
-
Headache
-
= 10%
Global Patient Feedback for Benzonatate ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
i to grew up with bronchitus and now asthma, about a month ago my doctor heard my cough and gave me a prescription, yes it was amazing the cough dimished amazingly.i felt better had one refill and she doesn't seem to want to give me another is there a time limit on how long you can take the benzonatate have really improved on it and i am sure going to miss it.(ran out for 3 days waiting for refill really noticed the difference) thanks 70 yr old female
72 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-05-20 23:37:27
Question/Comment:
This was a life-saver for me when I had bronchitis that led to (apparently?) adult-onset asthma for which I'm now on Advair, etc.
I was prescribed this (also called Tussalon pearls) in conjunction with an Albuterol inhaler. It was wonderful for being able to breathe, and the night I had these was the first I could breathe.
I think the body eventually gets used to it, and normally I might take doses closer together, but I would not mess with that w/this, as you could depress lung function. You may feel a weird, but in some ways kind of cool sensation in your upper bronchial area when you first swallow it.
Now I only take it when I really really need it (though I wish I could take it more because I miss its relief) because I think my body is used to it a little.
It is supposed to work anywhere from 3-8 hours in someone, and there's really no way to know how long it will work in you, so they can't prescribe you to take it any more frequently than 8 hours. I have had no side effects that I am aware of.
32 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-01-03 00:50:51
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Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
2
Patient Comments about
Benzonatate