Benzonatate and Allergic Reaction: What Users Say

• Laa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 27, 2019

Benzonatate for Cough "I was given this prescription due to a 3-week-long virus, excessive coughing-day and night. It does stop the cough, but I was allergic to it. I thought my lip blew up from the spicy chicken wings the night before. I kept taking it. It poisoned my system. I had no idea why my virus was now nauseating my stomach and twice I would vomit because of it. The side effects are obviously different on everyone! PLEASE read the labels and medical staff-PLEASE tell your patients that things can happen and they need to react to EVERY reaction that is NOT normal or feels good. My lip blew up. It looked like Botox. I drank all kinds of cold beverages to get the swelling down. I had NO idea the path it would take was to make me sicker."

• 2 D...
• November 16, 2016

For Cough "Not impressed. Absolutely no relief. None! My cough has gotten worse. I cannot stop coughing, and I'm going crazy! I'm allergic to codeine, so my options are limited, but my next stop will be over the counter. No sense in wasting money on air when you can't breathe!"

• Can...
• December 31, 2016

For Cough "I was prescribed this for bronchitis. I have a persistent cough that keeps me awake. This medicine seems to work really well for about 3 hours max, and then it's like a light switch goes off, and I wake up coughing like a maniac. I'm supposed to take it 3 times a day as needed, but I have no idea what as needed means. I need it at night every 3 hours. I'm allergic to codeine, so I got this prescription instead. I have never heard of this medicine, so I'm a little hesitant to take more than prescribed. I miss the days when a doctor prescribed hardcore, let's get rid of this cough medicine. My entire body aches from the cough alone, and no one is getting much sleep in my house. :)"

• Liz...
• March 2, 2020

For Cough "Doctor prescribed this benzonatate for my cough/flu. They worked great for the cough, but I had an allergic reaction within two days and stopped taking them. I developed a severe rash all over my legs, almost like hives, and my joints became inflamed and sore. I could barely walk for three days due to the pain in my knees. It's been 5 days now, and my rash has not gotten better. I wouldn't recommend this medication to anyone!"

• B M...
• February 12, 2015

For Cough "I have used benzonatate for a couple of years with great success. Due to the side effects of another medication, allergies, etc., I seem to have an ongoing cough. I save the use of benzonatate for times when I am around people (church, restaurants, etc.) and have instant results with no side effects. Now my druggist tells me that they can't get shipments as 'insurance' companies say they don't work and will not pay for them. Like all medications, I'm sure they work for some and not for others, but to not be willing to get the medication and fill my subscription sounds unreasonable. I WANT MY LITTLE MAGIC PILL AND I'LL PAY FOR THEM! Has anyone else had a problem getting prescriptions filled? Yes, my insurance has paid for the medication until last week when it refused."

• You...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 1, 2019

For Cough "Had a cough for a month with no other symptoms, so went to a clinic, and they prescribed me this. After two days, I was extremely sick and had an allergic reaction to it, which made my cough even worse. Was sick for almost a week, feeling nauseous every second."

• Man...
• February 20, 2019

For Cough "Caused an emergency room visit for me. Be careful with taking this drug if it is for the first time. Everybody is different and may react differently. I had a horrible allergic reaction to benzonatate (brand name Tessalon Perles). I swallowed the pill with a full glass of liquid (per instructions). After about an hour, my throat became tingly, and that feeling went up my face to my eyebrows. Then I was eating, and food went down the wrong pipe. When you read the instructions, it says that this medication relaxes the throat area, so I started coughing. I wound up choking and was able to get my food out, but my tongue started to swell. I felt like my throat was closing up, and it was hard to breathe. I got to the emergency room immediately, and they gave me medicine to stop the allergic reaction. I am 50 and have never been allergic to any other medication. If you do decide to take this, please make sure someone else is around in case you have this reaction too."

• Hal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 18, 2016

For Cough "Side effects for me were the same as a few others with a negative result. After taking 200 mg, I felt like I was hallucinating; going crazy. Sinus areas inflamed quickly with a headache. I must be allergic to this drug."

• She...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 10, 2018

For Cough "Was prescribed this medicine for a prolonged cough due to recurrent bronchitis. I had never taken this medicine before, but had an allergic reaction to it that woke me up from a dead sleep. My throat constricted and swelled, and I was gasping for air and could not breathe. Once I was finally able to breathe, I coughed up a ton of mucus and still had smaller throat spasms the rest of the night. I did not take it again."

• sic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 19, 2023

For Cough "Benzonatate has zero positive effects, with a litany of negative effects. Disappointed in my new doctor for prescribing this to a 68-year-old man who presented with almost no sleep for the last 5 nights due to a cough and sore throat. However, she also prescribed albuterol, which helps just a little, but any relief is positive."