Tessalon Perles

There are no known drug interactions with benzonatate.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of benzonatate, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Take benzonatate exactly as prescribed.

Benzonatate comes in capsule form and is given up to 3 times a day.

Swallow the capsules whole. Do not crush, dissolve, or chew benzonatate capsules.

If numbness or tingling of the tongue, mouth, throat, or face occurs, do not eat or drink until the numbness has resolved. If the symptoms worsen or persist, seek medical attention.

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of benzonatate at the same time.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to benzonatate or topical numbing medicines such as tetracaine or procaine (found in some insect bite and sunburn creams).

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether benzonatate will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

It is not known whether benzonatate passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give this medication to a child younger than 10 years old without medical advice. An overdose of benzonatate can be fatal, especially to a child.

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while you are using benzonatate

It is very important that your doctor check your progress while you or your child are using this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it.

If your cough has not become better after 7 days or if you have a high fever, skin rash, or continuing headache with the cough, check with your doctor. These signs may mean that you have other medical problems.

Benzonatate overdose can occur in children (younger than 10 years of age) within 15 to 20 minutes after accidentally taking this medicine. In children under 2 years of age, ingestion of even 1 or 2 capsules has resulted in overdose. Signs and symptoms may include: convulsions (seizures), loss of consciousness, restlessness, or trembling or shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet. If your child took this medicine by accident, call the poison control center (1-800-222-1222) and go to the hospital immediately.

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take this medicine (Tessalon Perles). This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects you.
• Keep this medicine (Tessalon Perles) away from children. Children who take this medicine on accident may have very bad side effects, like seizures, passing out, or heart attack. Death has also happened in children younger than 10 years old. If a child takes this medicine (Tessalon Perles) on accident, get medical help right away.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using this medicine while you are pregnant.
• Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about any risks to your baby.

Applies to benzonatate: oral capsule, oral capsule liquid filled

Along with its needed effects, benzonatate (the active ingredient contained in Tessalon Perles) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking benzonatate:

• Confusion
• difficult breathing
• difficulty with speaking
• seeing things that are not there
• shortness of breath
• tightness in the chest
• wheezing

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking benzonatate:

• Change in consciousness
• convulsions (seizures)
• loss of consciousness
• no blood pressure or pulse
• restlessness
• shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
• stopping of the heart
• trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
• unconsciousness

Some side effects of benzonatate may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

• Burning sensation in the eyes
• constipation
• dizziness (mild)
• drowsiness (mild)
• headache
• itching
• nausea or vomiting
• skin rash
• stuffy nose

Applies to benzonatate: oral capsule

General

The most serious side effects reported were bronchospasm, laryngospasm, and cardiovascular collapse.[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Frequency not reported: Bronchospasm, laryngospasm, cardiovascular collapse, hypersensitivity[Ref]

Nervous system

Frequency not reported: Sedation, headache, dizziness, mental confusion, visual hallucinations.[Ref]

Respiratory

Frequency not reported: Nasal congestion, numbness of the chest[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Frequency not reported: Constipation, nausea, GI upset[Ref]

Dermatologic

Frequency not reported: Pruritus, skin eruptions[Ref]

Ocular

Frequency not reported: Sensation of burning in the eyes[Ref]

Other

Frequency not reported: Vague "chilly" sensation[Ref]

Some side effects of Tessalon Perles may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.