Can You Take Benzonatate With Other Cough Medicine?

Answer

Thanks for reaching out! Benzonatate (generic for Tessalon) can safely be taken with most other cough medications. It should be noted however, that for most cough medications, there is a lack of evidence available showing that using a combination is more effective than using one alone.

Dextromethorphan With Benzonatate

I imagine that your question is referring to using benzonatate (which is a prescription only drug) with an over-the-counter (OTC) cough medication.

The most commonly used OTC cough medication is dextromethorphan, a drug that is in a multitude of products, including Delsym, DayQuil, and Robitussin DM.

Benzonatate and dextromethorphan do work differently in some ways and do not have an interaction with one another.

Benzonatate works by reducing the cough reflex in the lungs and air passages. Specifically, it works by anesthetizing the stretch receptors in these areas.

Dextromethorphan is an NMDA receptor antagonist and works for cough by decreasing activity in the part of the brain that causes coughing (medulla)

Benzonatate does not interact with dextromethorphan, and they can be used together. As mentioned though, there have not been studies evaluating the effects of the combination, and whether or not they work better together compared to either agent alone.

Benzonatate With Mucinex (Guaifenesin) May Be Another Option

I do want to mention that even though there aren't any studies evaluating the use of benzonatate with dextromethorphan, there are several that have looked at the combination of benzonatate and Mucinex (guaifenesin).

This combination of drugs is safe together too, and one study reported the following:

The mechanism by which the combination of benzonatate and guaifenesin causes a potentiation of antitussive effect remains to be elucidated. Our results suggest that benzonatate and guaifenesin may be an effective therapy for acute cough due to the common cold (URI).

Other Cough Medications With Benzonatate

Dextromethorphan is one of the only FDA approved cough suppressants available over the counter. Nevertheless, additional options that can be safely combined with benzonatate are:

• Menthol-containing cough drops
• Analgesic-containing cough drops (e.g. dyclonine, benzocaine)
• Honey-containing cough medications

Final Words

Thanks for reaching out and please do so again if anything else comes up!