Benzonatate and Nausea: What Users Say

• Sno...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2024

Benzonatate for Cough "On day 7 of experiencing COVID symptoms, my non-productive cough became increasingly worse to the point of nausea. My anterior trachea felt this constant sensation of burning and itching. I was having shallow, labored breathing, trying not to take in too large of a breath as to further irritate my airway and induce coughing. Up to this point, I had not gotten a full night's sleep nor could I sleep laying down. My prescribing provider (200mg po x 3/day) cautioned me that this medication could take a full 2 days before seeing the effects. It took 8 hours for a single dose of the medication to work for me, but once it kicked in, I finally fell asleep and slept a full night, laying flat! This medication is not an opioid cough suppressant, so I can still take an expectorant such as Mucinex and have a normal, healthy deep cough to expel any accumulated mucus from post-nasal drip to clear my trachea and not have that triggering catalyst coughing effect!"

• EGP...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 12, 2025

Benzonatate for Cough "I have been sick with a nasty cold for over a week. Worst symptom is a deep cough that has made my chest very sore. Urgent care prescribed Tessalon Perles. I used this medication several years ago, and it did nothing for my cough, and I had bad side effects (nausea). But I was desperate for relief, so I filled the prescription... I am so glad I did. I am finally getting some relief from the cough and no side effects this time!"

• 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."

• beg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 25, 2015

For Cough "It definitely helped with my cough. But for some reason, this medication makes me extremely nauseous. Had to stop taking it for a few days. Hope I can finish taking it because it does help with the cough."

• Cgi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 24, 2019

For Cough "This med did nothing at all except make me nauseous. I was diagnosed with pneumonia, have been taking med for 3 days with no relief whatsoever from the coughing. I cough so hard I have dislocated a rib! I have excruciating pain from the coughing in my chest, abdomen, and back. It took 3 days before I was able to cough anything up, and it all contained blood! Laying down makes it worse, the longest I sleep is 2 hrs at a time. I am so tired and worn out. I realize that docs are concerned about addiction, but when someone is really sick, prescribing a med that actually works is needed. They just have to use good judgment with the quantity prescribed."

• Anonymous
• April 9, 2019

For Cough "The first time I took benzonatate for my cough, I woke with a severe headache, cold sweats, and vomiting. I didn’t realize it was from the medication, so I took it again 5 days later and had chest pain, epigastric pain, nausea, dizziness, and insomnia. I will never take this med again!!!"

• det...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 22, 2019

For Cough "I got this prescribed at urgent care the other day. I took one this morning, and the side effects are too much. Been nauseous on and off today. Also, didn't help my cough at all! Only took one dose and never taking this stuff ever again!"

• 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."

• Bob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 6, 2018

For Cough "Was diagnosed with bronchitis. Usually get a Z pack and cough syrup with codeine. Was given Tessalon instead. My Dr. said I would be better in 3 days. It's been 9 days now, the perles didn't help at all. I'm still coughing up yellow sputum and still feel horrible. I am not happy, and my Dr. is going to hear about it."

• Mad...
• July 10, 2018

For Cough "I was prescribed this medication after I was coughing for about a month. I'm one of those people who react badly to drugs, so I normally check what side effects to expect and then decide whether or not to take the drug. The side effects listed for this drug were discouraging, but because I'd been coughing so long, I decided it was worth a try. But I wasn't going to use the inhaler, which had its own list of terrible side effects, and I chose instead to use a humidifier to help my breathing. About five minutes after I took the first capsule, I could feel the drug coursing through my system, and after a short while, I was cocooned in an altered state. I felt like I was living in my own dream, and I've been taking the drug for four days, and I'm not sure if it's me doing the things I'm doing or I'm just dreaming. I also get nauseous, and I've developed an on-and-off headache. It took care of my cough, though, and I'm happy with that, so I'll try and see if I can stick with it to the end."

• Cou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2018

For Cough "I have taken this a few times. Shortly after taking it tonight and another night, my coughing fit has been so bad that I start shaking and trying to throw up. I read that it works for 1 in 3 people. Just not me."

• Wha...
• February 12, 2018

For Cough "I was prescribed this medication (100 mg) for a terrible cough I have with flu A, and it hasn’t helped at all! Took my first pill as soon as I got the prescription, hoping for some relief and didn’t get any. I actually think it made it worse because I had a coughing fit that was so bad I threw up! Just took my second pill, hoping to be able to get some sleep tonight, but the horrible coughing fits are still happening. Literally just makes it worse, and it leaves a terrible taste in my mouth."

• pat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 23, 2023

For Cough "01/29/23 diagnosed with COVID after symptoms. I was prescribed Paxlovid for a 5-day TX. A week later, I started having intermittent heavy coughing. 02/21/23 I went to urgent care. The doctor prescribed this as 1 out of 3 treatments. 02/22/23 19:00 I took the first capsule. 02/23 05:00 diarrhea, which continued. 02/23 06:00 I started feeling sick. 02/23 06:15 nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. 02/23 07:00 I started back fierce coughing. I took only 1 out of 20 capsules and got sick, as indicated above. I am not taking any more. I will confer with the doctor's office to alert them. 07:30 I still feel sick with no desire to take a second dose."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 10, 2022

For Cough "These were expensive and did absolutely zero for my cough. I took one in the morning (on an empty stomach - the label did not specify to take with or without food). I got totally nauseated. They did nothing for my cough as well."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2018

For Cough "Horrible experience with this medication. I was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection and was prescribed amoxicillin. Within an hour of taking the medicine, it made me extremely nauseous, and I've thrown up at least two times from it."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 12, 2024

For Cough "Benzonatate worked for me during coughing fits, but the side effects make it not worth it for me. Extreme fatigue and nausea were worse than coughing."

• Mjr...
• January 29, 2020

For Cough "First time I ever used this benzonatate for a cough. I experienced nausea last night and this a.m. after taking it. I'm going to not use it and go back to Mucinex that does work."

• Anonymous
• November 14, 2021

For Cough "Makes you nauseous, drowsy, and stomach ache. Do not recommend for your cough."