[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Pharmacology](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/) › [Cough and cold medicines](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/cough-and-cold-medicines/) › Benzonatate

# Benzonatate

## Cough and cold medicines?

Cough and cold medicines

A peripheral cough suppressant related to local anaesthetics; capsules are swallowed whole and kept away from children.

Updated Nov 1, 2026

## Quick facts

**Group**
[Cough and cold medicines](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/cough-and-cold-medicines/)

**Target**
Stretch receptors of the airways, lungs and pleura

**Used for**
Symptomatic relief of cough

**Key effects**
Drowsiness and dizziness · Headache · Nasal congestion

**Monitor**
Cough relief · Swallowing problems or throat numbness

**ATC**
R05DB01

No doses: the clinician sets them by the current guideline.

On this page

- The basics Mechanism of action
- Indications
- Adverse effects
- Pharmacokinetics
- Memory aid

- Safety Contraindications
- Key interactions
- What is monitored
- Administration and safety
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Nursing care

- Study Test yourself

- Connections Connections

## Mechanism of action

Benzonatate is chemically related to ester local anaesthetics such as tetracaine. It acts peripherally, numbing the stretch receptors in the airways, lungs and pleura and so reducing the cough reflex at its source. If the capsule is chewed or sucked, it numbs the mouth and throat and can cause choking, laryngospasm and bronchospasm.

- Benzonatate reaches the airways and lungs
- It numbs the stretch receptors like a local anaesthetic
- Fewer signals reach the cough centre
- The cough reflex is damped at its source

## Indications

- Symptomatic relief of cough [Acute bronchitis →](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/acute-bronchitis/)

## Adverse effects

### Common

- Drowsiness and dizziness
- Headache
- Nausea and constipation
- Nasal congestion, chills, skin rash

### Serious (rare, important)

- Choking, laryngospasm, bronchospasm and circulatory collapse if chewed or sucked
- Accidental ingestion has caused death in children under 10
- Overdose: restlessness, tremor, seizures, cardiac arrest
- Confusion and hallucinations, especially with other drugs

## Contraindications

- Hypersensitivity to benzonatate or to para-aminobenzoic acid local anaesthetics (procaine, tetracaine)
- Young children (accidental ingestion risk)

## Key interactions

**Other CNS depressants and psychoactive drugs**
Reports of confusion and visual hallucinations in combination

## What is monitored

- Cough relief
- Swallowing problems or throat numbness

## Administration and safety

- Capsules are swallowed whole: never chewed, sucked, crushed or broken
- Stored where children cannot reach them; the capsules look like candy

## Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Human data are limited; it is used in pregnancy only if clearly needed.

## Nursing care

- Teach to swallow capsules whole
- Warn about the danger to children and safe storage
- If the mouth or throat feels numb, the patient does not eat or drink until feeling returns

## Pharmacokinetics

**Absorption**
Oral capsules

**Metabolism**
Hydrolysed by plasma esterases

**Onset and duration**
Within 15 to 20 minutes, lasting 3 to 8 hours

## Memory aid

BENZOnatate: like BENZOcaine for the lungs: swallow, never chew.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## Where does benzonatate act?

Peripherally, on stretch receptors in the airways, lungs and pleura.

## Why must benzonatate capsules never be chewed?

Local anaesthesia of the mouth and throat can cause choking, laryngospasm and bronchospasm.

## Which drug group is benzonatate chemically related to?

Ester local anaesthetics derived from para-aminobenzoic acid (procaine, tetracaine).

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[More Pharmacology questions →](https://durgical.com/en/practice/?f=pharmacology)

## Connections

## Related drugs 2

- [Dextromethorphan](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/dextromethorphan/)
- [Guaifenesin](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/guaifenesin/)

## Related conditions 1

- [Acute bronchitis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/acute-bronchitis/)

[← Back to the class: Cough and cold medicines](https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/classes/cough-and-cold-medicines/)

Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.

Sources: [DailyMed - BENZONATATE capsule](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=55b64aee-d4c4-4aad-9016-0dd879e979e6) (DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); [Benzonatate: MedlinePlus Drug Information](https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682640.html) (MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2017); [ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index](https://atcddd.fhi.no/atc_ddd_index/?code=R05DB01) (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/benzonatate/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/pharmacology/benzonatate/