What is benzonatate?
Benzonatate is a generic drug, whose active ingredient is of the same name, has a mechanism of antitussive action, that is, it acts in the medullary center to control cough reflexes, especially drycough.
As for its presentation, benzonatate comes in a box with pearls or compressed capsules (benzonatate 100 mg), also in suppositories of 50 mg.A dose of 200 mg of capsule is recommended in adults every 8 hours, so as not to alter thecentral nervous system (CNS).
Note: One study mentions that: “Benzonatateis considered an effective alternative to opioid antitussives, such as codeine. It appears to have a more sustained cough-suppressing effectthan many of the other cough suppressants.” (1)
What is benzonatato for?
This medicationis generally recommended to relieve symptomssuch as irritative cough, which can be caused by some type of acute or chronic respiratory damage, but its more specific uses are the following:
1. Cough
Coughing can be generated by many causes such as conditions and alterations of the respiratory tract or allergies, being a voluntary and involuntary reflex that occurs due to a contraction in the diaphragm to expel foreign bodies abroad.
In this sense, this drug is recommended to relieve dry and irritating cough caused by bronchitis , bronchial asthma, acute pneumonia, common cold or obstructing tumors in the respiratory tubes.
To highlight: Thanks to several studies, the following information is known: “Benzonatatehas a suppression of the cough reflex by Direct action on the bulbar cough centerand the bronchi of the lungs. It has no inhibitory effects on the respiratory nerve centers (two)
2. Refractory hiccups
You should know: Benzonatate is recommended for cases of refractory hiccups, which is a chronic state that has lasted for more than a month or even a year , something that can make life and normal health of a person difficult.
Benzonatate Side Effects
Certain side reactions have been reported to benzonatate that occur during its consumption, therefore it is recommended to use it with extreme caution , taking into account that it can cause the following:
- Nausea and dizziness.
- Headache (migraine or recurring migraine).
- Abdominal pain.
- Urticaria (skin rashes) and sedation (blocking of anesthetic-type pain).
Important: When side reactions occur frequently, it is necessary to see a specialist doctor to obtain recommendations for the proper use and dosage of the drug.
Contraindications of benzonatate
Benzonatate is contraindicated for a certain number of patients, since in certain cases there are no safe levels of its consumption for some people, such as the following:
- Patients with hypersensitivity to the active principle.
- Children under 10 years.
- Patients being treated with other medications.
- People consuming alcoholic beverages.
To highlight: Although there is no information that determines it, it is advisable to take general precautions with the use of the drug benzonatate during the lactation stage and during pregnancy.
Key Findings
- Benzonatate is a medication with antitussive actions, recommended for the treatment of dry cough.
- It comes in the form of compressed capsules and suppositories.
- Benzonatate may cause side effects such as pain in the abdominal area or severe dizziness.
- It is mainly contraindicated for people who are allergic to the active compound .
- Consult a specialist doctor for recommendations on the proper use of the drug .
University Professional in the area of Human Resources, Postgraduate in Occupational Health and Hygiene of the Work Environment, 14 years of experience in the area of health. Interested in topics of Psychology, Occupational Health, and General Medicine.