Can You Take Tylenol With Benzonatate?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses whether or not Tylenol is safe to take with benzonatate.
I was just prescribed a few things for bronchitis. I got an antibiotic, amoxicillin, and benzonatate to help with my cough. The cough has made my throat raw and I want a pain reliever. Is Tylenol safe?
Jul 20, 2022- Tylenol and benzonatate are safe to take together with no known interaction between them. Benzonatate may cause mild drowsiness or sedation in some people, so be aware of this possible side effect. Tylenol is a pain reliever and fever reducer while benzonatate is a cough suppressant that works in a different way in your body.
Answer
Thanks for your question. We can certainly help answer this for you.
Tylenol (acetaminophen) is a safe pain-reliever to take with benzonatate. There is no known interaction between them.
Interestingly enough, benzonatate has very few drug interactions. Most drug references don't list it having any. Nevertheless, benzonatate can cause mild drowsiness and sedation in some individuals, so there certainly could be some additive effects if you were to take it with other drugs that also cause sedation.
You can feel safe combining Tylenol with benzonatate as they don't interfere with each other or don't have similar side effects.
About Tylenol
Acetaminophen is used to relieve mild to moderate pain from headaches, muscle aches, menstrual periods, colds and sore throats, toothaches, backaches, and reactions to vaccinations (shots), and to reduce fever. Acetaminophen may also be used to relieve the pain of osteoarthritis (arthritis caused by the breakdown of the lining of the joints). Acetaminophen is in a class of medications called analgesics (pain relievers) and antipyretics (fever reducers). It works by changing the way the body senses pain and by cooling the body.
About Benzonatate
Benzonatate is used to relieve cough. Benzonatate is in a class of medications called antitussives (cough suppressants). It works by reducing the cough reflex in the lungs and air passages.
References & sources
- Acetaminophen Monograph — PubChem
- Benzonatate Monograph — PubChem
- Benzonatate Drug Monograph — ClinicalKey (Subscription Required)
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Acetaminophen
- An active ingredient in Tylenol that relieves pain and reduces fever.
- Benzonatate
- A medication that suppresses coughs by reducing the cough reflex in the lungs and air passages.
- Drug interactions
- When two medications interfere with each other or change how each other works in the body.
- Sedation
- A state of drowsiness or reduced alertness caused by medication.
- Analgesics
- Medications that relieve pain.
- Antipyretics
- Medications that reduce fever.
- Antitussives
- Medications that suppress coughs.
- Osteoarthritis
- A type of arthritis caused by the breakdown of the protective lining in joints.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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