Tessalon Perles and Drowsiness: What Users Say

• pea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 2, 2020

For Cough "I was prescribed Tessalon on 6/2 for cough. I took my first dose on 6/3 at 8 AM. At 9 AM, I began to become sleepy and dizzy. My mouth, tongue, and throat felt cold. I was still coughing. I slept until 10:30 AM. I was still coughing. It is now 3 PM, I just got up again. I am still coughing and somewhat disoriented. I will never take this medication again. This is a dangerous drug."

• Sun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 6, 2015

For Cough "I've had a horrible cough for two weeks, and for the past two days, I have had a dry, persistent cough that sounds horrific. I was prescribed Tessalon Perles 100mg twice a day, and immediately stopped coughing. This medicine is wonderful and suppresses the urge to cough. I highly recommend this medicine. It does make you drowsy."

• kir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 6, 2014

For Cough "For me, these are wonderful - IF I don't have to drive anywhere, or work. I've been on every other cough suppression & this definitely works the best for coughing fits! They also give me a 'sedated' feeling, but not to the point where I need to go to sleep."

• kir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 6, 2014

For Cough "For me, these are wonderful - IF I don't have to drive anywhere, or work. I've been on every other cough suppression & this definitely works the best for coughing fits! They also give me a 'sedated' feeling, but not to the point where I need to go to sleep."

• Sim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 27, 2016

For Cough "I've had asthma since I was a baby. All colds since I was a baby have ended up turning into bronchitis or pneumonia. I am 29 now, and asthma only flares up once or twice a year from a bad cold. The only thing that has ever helped my cough was codeine cough syrup... It's a miracle drug. (Aside from inhalers, but that never stops the cough.) However, after 2 weeks of horrible bronchitis with coughing fits so bad I am dry heaving, I went back to the doc and told him I needed something that didn't make me drowsy so I could actually function during the day without coughing. He gave me Tessalon Perles. I just took one dose, 100 mg, an hour ago, and my coughing has virtually stopped even laying down. Thank goodness for a non-narcotic med that works!"

• LeF...
• November 14, 2016

For Cough "Made the cough completely vanish, but had a pretty bad headache coupled with constant drowsiness and light dizziness. Definitely worth it, but awful when I have to get a lot done at night (which I often do). Overall: They get the job done, but ultimately you must weigh the cough vs. the side effects."

• Guy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2016

For Cough "I had asthma as a child and can tell you getting sick in the winter always leads to bronchitis, horrible coughing fits, so much to dry heaving being unbearable. I'm 30, so now experienced in having that winter cold. No longer do I need antibiotics as the respiratory infections become less and less. I've found running, jogging, or swimming, staying in cardiovascular health is the best way to avoid this disaster, but these Tessalon Perles, that first time I've had them this year, work miracles for me. They almost instantly subdue the coughs, two pills at a time. I experience no side effects other than drowsiness, and they are perfect for night when your body is slowing down, the cough is coming back, and it's impossible to sleep when you need that rest."

• A...
• October 28, 2015

For Cough "Was prescribed for cough from bronchitis. At first, I was reluctant to take it as it said it caused drowsiness, as I am hypersensitive to meds. I finally got desperate enough to take one and was actually able to sleep in my bed after 4 nights in a recliner. It has now been 6 weeks, and I still have coughing fits if I don't take the Tessalon. I am hoping this will eventually go away. The only thing you might consider a side effect that I have had is that I have these crazy dreams. Not nightmares, but just craziness. Thank goodness for my doc! :)"

• Meg...
• December 1, 2018

For Cough "I was up all night coughing, my airways were raw. I was afraid to throw a rib out. Took one gel capsule at 11:30 am, am almost cough-free still at 2:30 pm. No side effects, maybe a bit drowsy, but I slept so poorly that I don't know if the pill caused the sleepiness. I am very pleased with this prescription. I still feel miserable, but at least am not racked with a dry cough, which is exhausting. I can breathe. I'm sure it does not cure the cough, but it allows the body to heal. The constant hacking is dreadful and irritating to the airways."

• Bri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 13, 2022

For Cough "I took some under the name of benzonatate. It reduced my coughing enough to help me sleep. On the other hand, I took one after a shot of whiskey, and it caused severe drowsiness."