What Benalet is all about and how to use it

Benalet is a tablet indicated for the treatment against cough and throat irritation that has anti-allergic and expectorant action. It can be bought in pharmacies and drugstores, in the flavors of lemon, raspberry or mint.

Benalet tablets contain 5 mg of diphenhydramine hydrochloride, 50 mg of ammonium chloride and 10 mg of sodium citrate.

Indications

Benalet is indicated as an adjunctive treatment in cases of upper airway inflammation such as dry cough, throat irritation and pharyngitis which usually accompanies colds and flu or is associated with smoke inhalation, for example.

Price

The price of Benalet tablets can range from 8.50 reais to 10.50 reais and the syrup version can range from 15.00 reais to 18.00 reais.

How to use Benalet

Tablet

Allow a Benalet tablet to slowly dissolve in the mouth, without exceeding a maximum of 2 tablets per hour. The maximum daily dose is 8 tablets per day.

Syrup

• Adults and children over 12 years: 10 ml every 6-8 hours.
• Children 6 to 12 years: 5 ml every 6-8 hours.
• Children 2 to 5 years: 2.5 ml every 6-8 hours. (1 teaspoon = 5 ml)

Main side effects

Drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, sedation, decreased secretion of mucus, constipation and urinary retention. In elderly patients may cause dizziness, excessive sedation due to antihistamines.

The use of Benalet should be discontinued at least 72 hours prior to the allergy test as it may interfere with the actual test result.

When not to use

Benalet tablets should not be used during pregnancy and during breastfeeding.

Benalet syrup or lozenges is contraindicated for patients who have impaired hepatic or renal function; patients with acute angle glaucoma; prostatic hypertrophy with formation of residual urine; epilepsy; congenital long QT syndrome; bradycardia; hypomagnesemia; hypokalemia; cardiac arrhythmias; acute asthmatic attack and for diabetic patients due to the presence of sugar between the excipients. Patients who are hypersensitive to any component of the formula or to other antihistamines should not use Benalet.

Benalet syrup in pregnancy and lactation should only be used under medical prescription in case of respiratory insufficiency.

The use of Benalet with tranquillizers and hypnotic sedatives is contraindicated. As well as in situations that require great mental attention, such as the driving of vehicles or the operation of heavy machinery.