From the Research
Benzonatate is typically dosed at 100-200 mg orally three times daily as needed for cough suppression, with a maximum daily dose of 600 mg. The provided evidence does not directly address the dosing of benzonatate, as it primarily focuses on the treatment of Parkinson's disease and related conditions with various medications such as amantadine, trihexyphenidyl, and levodopa 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. However, based on general medical knowledge, for adults and children over 10 years old, the standard starting dose is 100 mg three times daily, which can be increased to 200 mg three times daily if needed for adequate cough control. Some key points to consider when prescribing benzonatate include:
- The medication should be swallowed whole without chewing or crushing, as this can release the medication rapidly and potentially cause numbness of the mouth, throat, or serious adverse effects.
- Benzonatate works by anesthetizing stretch receptors in the lungs, thereby reducing the cough reflex.
- It begins working within 15-20 minutes and its effects last for 3-8 hours.
- This medication should be used cautiously in patients with known hypersensitivity to benzonatate or related compounds, and it should be kept away from children under 10 years of age due to risk of accidental ingestion and potential fatal overdose.
- Side effects may include drowsiness, headache, dizziness, constipation, nausea, and skin rash.