Benzonatate
Pronounced ben-ZOE-nah-tate
Brand names: Tessalon
Type: Cough suppressant · All Lung & Breathing Medicines
What Benzonatate is used for
- Relieving cough from colds
- Relieving cough from respiratory infections
Common side effects
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Constipation
- Numbness in the mouth if chewed
Important cautions
- Capsules must be swallowed whole — chewing or sucking them numbs the mouth and throat and can cause choking or seizures
- Accidental swallowing by young children can be fatal even in small numbers — store securely
How it comes
Capsules. This guide lists forms only — it never lists strengths or doses.
Related medicines — Lung & Breathing Medicines
Please note: This page is a patient-education summary, not medical advice, and it deliberately contains no doses. Medicines affect everyone differently — always follow your own prescription and talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.