The client complains of numbness of the throat and tongue after taking benzonatate (Tessalon). What instruction should the nurse provide for the client?

Question

1. Take one-half the prescribed dose.
2. Swallow the medication whole.
3. Stop taking benzonatate immediately, because this is a life-threatening emergency.
4. Take benzonatate with an antihistamine.

Answer 1

2

Rationale 1: The client needs to swallow the medication whole. Chewing this medication causes numbness of the tongue and throat.
Rationale 2: The client needs to swallow the medication whole. Chewing this medication causes numbness of the tongue and throat.
Rationale 3: The client needs to swallow the medication whole. Chewing this medication causes numbness of the tongue and throat.
Rationale 4: The client needs to swallow the medication whole. Chewing this medication causes numbness of the tongue and throat.

Global Rationale: Benzonatate is a nonopioid antitussive which has a local anesthetic-like effect on stretch receptors in the lung. The client needs to swallow the medication whole. Chewing this medication causes numbness of the tongue and throat. It is outside the nurse's scope of practice to change the medication order. This is not a life-threatening emergency and the benzonatate does not need to be stopped immediately. Taking benzonatate with an antihistamine will not stop the numbness of the throat and tongue.