Benzonate as cough suppressor

Posted by pa 111 @pagechapman, Jul 3 8:21am

A local doctor (not connected with Mayo nor a pulmonologist) suggested trying the drug Benzonate to help suppress my cough, the latter being caused by chronic bronchiectasis as well as MAC. Given that I have a chronic condition, is it a good idea to take this drug ?? Various internet articles suggest "maybe not" . Any other experiences???? PC

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Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jul 3 8:47am

@pagechapman
You are correct, here is what Mayo Clinic has to say about benzonatate:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/benzonatate-oral-route/
You should definitely run this past the pulmonologist before trying it.

scoop | @scoop | Jul 3 9:27am

For a recent wedding, I asked my pulmonologist for some tessalon pereles (Benzonate). I took it twice for which I thought was an essential situation. That along with lung clearance helped keep my cough at bay. This is something I have in my arsenal for very infrequent use only.

@sueinmn link appears broken

lvnl | @lvnl | Jul 4 8:39am

My pulmonologist at the NYU bronchiectasis program prescribed Benzonate to have on hand for those situations like a wedding, going to a play or similar, where you need a few hours without a cough. Keep it very infrequent.

pacathy | @pacathy | Jul 4 9:16am

Maybe this link?
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/benzonatate-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20062223?p=1
FWIW…I had prescriptions for it several times before I was diagnosed with asthma, allergies and bronchiectasis. When my PMD offered it last fall during a virus, I told her it was totally useless and had never helped. She laughed and commented that about half of people love it and half hate it. For me, peppermint had candy worked MUCH better.

AZ | @equanimous | Jul 4 10:48am

I, too, use Tessalon pearls only when I have an important function where I don't want to cough. It works well. I start it the day before the event and finish my last dose the evening of the event and then discontinue it. Also, I have found sipping lukewarm lemon ginger tea with a dollop of manuka honey can be quite helpful. And yummy, too!