Health Centres - Benylin dry coughs non-drowsy
How does it work?
Benylin dry coughs non-drowsy syrup contains the active ingredient dextromethorphan, which is a type of medicine called a cough suppressant. It is used to suppress a dry, tickly, unproductive cough.
Coughing is a reflex response to irritation of the airways. It is useful for clearing mucus, dust and other particles from the throat and lungs. It is important because it reduces the amount of mucus, dust and bacteria in the airways that would otherwise make breathing difficult. However, sometimes, coughing can become overstimulated even when there is no mucus to clear from the lungs or throat. In this situation coughing serves no purpose and can become painful and frustrating.
Dextromethorphan can be used to block the cough reflex in situations where the cough serves no purpose, ie when no plegm is being coughed up. It works by reducing the nerve signals sent from a part of the brain called the coughing centre to the muscles that produce coughing.
What is it used for?
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Dry, irritating, unproductive coughs.
Warning!
- Do not exceed the recommended dose.
- If you have any of the following symptoms you should not take this medicine and consult your doctor so that your cough can be investigated further: coughing up phlegm that is green, rusty brown, yellow, blood-stained or foul smelling; shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; chest pain; pain and swelling in your calf; sudden weight loss; recurrent night-time cough; or a long-term persistent cough.
Use with caution in
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Asthma
- Decreased liver function.
Not to be used in
- Children under six years of age
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Chronic bronchitis
- Condition called bronchiectasis, in which there is persistent widening of the airways as a result of lung disease, eg infection, inflammation, tumours or cystic fibrosis
- People who have taken a monoamine-oxidase inhibitor antidepressant (MAOI) in the last 14 days.
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
- The safety of this medicine for use during pregnancy has not been fully established, although it has been in widespread use for many years without apparant ill consequence. As with all medicines, it should only be used during pregnancy if the expected benefit to the mother outweighs any potential risk to the developing baby. You should seek medical advice from your doctor, pharmacist or midwife before using this medicine if you are pregnant.
Side effects
- Dizziness
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
- It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk. It should only be used during breastfeeding if the expected benefit to the mother outweighs any potential risk to the nursing infant. Seek medical advice from your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine if you are breastfeeding.
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
- Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
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