User:Mr. Ibrahem/Benzonatate

Benzonatate, sold under the brand name Tessalon among others, is a medication used to try to help with the symptoms of cough and hiccups. It is taken by mouth. Use is not recommended in those under the age of ten. Effects generally begin within 20 minutes and last up to eight hours.

Side effects include sleepiness, dizziness, headache, upset stomach, skin rash, hallucinations, and allergic reactions. Excessive doses may cause seizures, irregular heartbeat, and death. Chewing or sucking on the capsule can lead to laryngospasm, bronchospasm, and circulatory collapse. It is unclear if use in pregnancy or breastfeeding is safe. It works by numbing stretch receptors in the lungs and suppressing the cough reflex in the brain.

Benzonatate was approved for medical use in the United States in 1958. It is available as a generic medication. In the United States the wholesale cost of is about US$0.12 per 100 mg dose. It is not available in many countries. In 2017, it was the 148th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than four million prescriptions.