Two fatalities resulting from Tessalon (benzonatate).

Two fatal cases involving Tessalon (benzonatate) were quantitated by ultraviolet (UV) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The first case involved an infant found choking; Tessalon perles were found with the child. The second case involved a successful suicide of an 18-year-old that consumed a "handful" of phenytoin and benzonatate and expired within 1 hr of the ingestion. Blood, brain and kidney concentrations are reported. These are believed to be the first two reported cases involving this compound.