Benzonatate 100 mg Dosing in Adults
The recommended dosage of benzonatate for adults is one 100 mg capsule three times a day as needed for cough, with the option to increase up to 600 mg daily (200 mg three times daily) if necessary for cough control. 1
Standard Dosing Regimen
- The usual adult dose is 100 mg three times daily as needed for cough 1
- If cough is not adequately controlled, the dose can be increased to 200 mg three times daily (maximum 600 mg/day) 1
- Benzonatate capsules should always be swallowed whole and never broken, chewed, dissolved, cut, or crushed 1
Administration Considerations
- Benzonatate works as a peripheral oral antitussive that dampens the activity of cough stretch receptors 2
- The medication has a local anesthetic-like effect on voltage-gated sodium channels, which may be the mechanism for cough suppression 3
- Effects can be detected at concentrations as low as 0.3 μM, which has been reported in humans 3
Special Populations
- Benzonatate is approved for use in adults and children over 10 years of age 1
- No specific dosage adjustments are mentioned in the FDA labeling for elderly patients or those with renal or hepatic impairment 1
Safety Considerations
- Benzonatate has been shown to inhibit cough-reflex sensitivity in patients with acute viral cough 4
- When combined with guaifenesin, benzonatate demonstrates a potentiated antitussive effect compared to either agent alone 4
Important Warnings
- Overdose can lead to serious and potentially fatal adverse events including cardiac arrest 5
- Cases of torsades de pointes have been reported with benzonatate overdose 6
- Patient education about proper dosing is critical due to the narrow therapeutic window and potential for rapid development of life-threatening adverse events in overdose settings 5
- Capsules should never be chewed or crushed as this can lead to rapid absorption and potential toxicity 1