benzonatate
Brand names: Tessalon Perles
Benzonatate is a medicine that can help relieve your cough. It is not a narcotic.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.06/unit
Generic Available
Yes (8 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Benzonatate capsules are used to help with coughs.
Common side effects
Sedation, Headache, Dizziness
Key warnings
Accidental overdose, especially in children, can cause death.
How It Works
Benzonatate works by numbing the nerves in your lungs and throat. This reduces the urge to cough. It helps to calm your cough reflex.
How to Take It
Take one 100 mg or 200 mg capsule three times a day as needed for your cough. You can take up to 600 mg per day, divided into three doses. Swallow the capsules whole. Do not break, chew, dissolve, cut, or crush them.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before taking this medicine. It is not known if benzonatate will harm your unborn baby or pass into breast milk.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store at room temperature, away from light.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 10,321 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 15,513 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
15,513
Death-Related Reports
1,897
Hospitalization Reports
5,329
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE | 1,229 |
| 2 | FATIGUE | 1,182 |
| 3 | COUGH | 1,123 |
| 4 | DYSPNOEA | 1,096 |
| 5 | PNEUMONIA | 1,071 |
| 6 | DIARRHOEA | 1,034 |
| 7 | NAUSEA | 1,012 |
| 8 | PAIN | 890 |
| 9 | RENAL FAILURE | 871 |
| 10 | DEATH | 811 |
| 11 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 792 |
| 12 | HEADACHE | 773 |
| 13 | OFF LABEL USE | 610 |
| 14 | DIZZINESS | 605 |
| 15 | ANXIETY | 566 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Accidental overdose, especially in children, can cause death. Do not let children take this medicine without supervision.
Common Questions
What should I avoid while taking benzonatate?
Can I drink alcohol while taking benzonatate?
How long does it take for benzonatate to work?
Can I give benzonatate to my child?
What if I accidentally chew a capsule?
Can I take benzonatate with other medicines?
What if my cough doesn't get better?
Is benzonatate addictive?
Can I open the capsule and sprinkle it on food?
What are the ingredients in benzonatate capsules?
What are the common side effects of benzonatate?
What drug class is benzonatate?
Is benzonatate safe during pregnancy?
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What the FDA Data Shows for benzonatate
The FDA label for benzonatate (sold under brand names such as Tessalon Perles) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Antitussive (Non-Narcotic) class. Benzonatate capsules are used to help with coughs. Official labeling lists 7 commonly reported side effects, including Sedation, Headache, Dizziness.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 10,321 voluntary reports. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.06.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: February 2, 2026
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages