Patient leaflet - Benylin dry Coughs 7.5 mg/5 ml syrup
1 What the medicine is and what it is used for
Benylin Dry Coughs 7.5mg/5ml Syrup is a medicine which is used to help relieve dry, irritating coughs. The liquid contains dextromethorphan hydrobromide which is an antitussive to help stop persistent coughing.
The medicine is for use in adults and children aged 12 years and over.
2 What you need to know before taking this medicine
This medicine is suitable for most people but a few people should not use it. If you are in any doubt, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Taking this medicine
regularly, particularly for a long time, can lead to addiction. Only use this medicine as described in the leaflet. Addiction can cause withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking this medicine. Withdrawal symptoms can include restlessness, difficulty sleeping, irritability, agitation, anxiety, feeling your heartbeat (palpitations), increased blood pressure, feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, shaking, shivering or sweating. Speak to your doctor if you experience withdrawal symptoms.
Do not use this medicine…
- If you have ever had a bad reaction to dextromethorphan or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
- If you suffer from lung disease.
- If you are taking, or have taken in the last two weeks, drugs for depression known as Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs).
- If you are taking selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (used to treat depression and anxiety such as fluoxetine, paroxetine and sertraline).
- For children under 12 years old.
If any of these apply to you, get advice from a doctor or pharmacist without using Benylin Dry Coughs 7.5mg/5ml Syrup.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist…
- If you suffer from liver problems.
- If you have chronic bronchitis, emphysema or asthma or have had a cough for a few weeks or a cough with a lot of mucus (phlegm).
- If you are taking any other cough and cold medicines.
- If your child is prone to developing certain allergic reactions (e.g. atopic reactions).
If you are or have ever been addicted to opioids, alcohol, prescription medicines, or illegal drugs.
- If you have previously suffered from withdrawal symptoms such as agitation, anxiety, shaking or sweating, when you have stopped taking alcohol or drugs.
- If you have been told by your doctor that you are a slow metabolizer of CYP2D6.
If you are taking medicines such as certain antidepressants or antipsychotics this medicine
may interact with these medicines and you may experience mental status changes (e.g. agitation, hallucinations, coma), and other effects such as body temperature above 38°C, increase in heart rate, unstable blood pressure, and exaggeration of reflexes, muscular rigidity, lack of coordination and/or gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g. nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea).
If you are taking any other medicines, including:
- Certain drugs for depression such as norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRI), which include bupropion.
- Antipsychotics (drugs used to treat mood disorders such as haloperidol, thioridazine, perphenazine).
- Anti-arrhythmic agents (drugs used to treat an irregular heartbeat such as amiodarone, propafenone, quinidine and flecainide).
- Calcimimetic agents (drugs used to treat secondary hyperparathyroidism, elevated parathyroid hormone levels such as cinacalcet).
- Antifungals (terbinafine).
- Opioid analgesics (drugs used to relieve pain e.g. codeine, tramadol, morphine, methadone).
- Antihistamines (drugs used to treat the symptoms of allergic reactions).
If you are not sure about any of the medicines you are taking, show the bottle or pack to your pharmacist. If any of these bullet points apply to you now or in the past, talk to a doctor or pharmacist.
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding
- If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Driving and using machines
This medicine can affect your ability to drive. Do not drive whilst taking this medicine until you know how this medicine affects you. It may be an offence to drive when taking this medicine if your ability to drive safely is affected.
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Product / Eurocode / Mat. ID Code
Cyan
LITHO OFFSET
2735 U
LITHO OFFSET
LN508205
8637612
REPRESENTATION:
INSTRUCTION
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Job / Version No. Date
404636223_r0
English
30-06-2026
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Leaflet
160 x 210 mm
NOTC013 2D LN508206
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18.00 pt
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Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure whether it is safe for you to drive while taking this medicine.
There is further information for patients who are intending to drive in the UK - go to
www. gov.uk/drug-driving-law.
Some of the ingredients can cause problems
- This medicine contains 1.6 g sucrose and 2.38 g liquid glucose per 5 ml. This should be taken into account in patients with diabetes mellitus. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
- This medicine contains 325 mg sorbitol in each 5 ml. Sorbitol is a source of fructose. If your doctor has told you that you (or your child) have an intolerance to some sugars or if you have been diagnosed with hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI), a rare genetic disorder in which a person cannot break down fructose, talk to your doctor before you (or your child) take or receive this medicine.
- This medicine contains 25 mg sodium benzoate (E211) in each 5 ml.
- This medicine contains 2.72 mg propylene glycol in each 5 ml.
- This medicine contains 236 mg of alcohol (ethanol) in each 5 ml. The amount in 5 ml of this medicine is equivalent to less than 6 ml beer or 3 ml wine. The small amount of alcohol in this medicine will not have any noticeable effects.
3 How to take this medicine
Check the table that follows to see how much medicine to take.
- For oral use only.
Do not take more medicine than the label tells you to.
Children under 12 years
Do not give to children under 12 years old.
Adults and children aged 12 years and over
Age Dose
- Do not take more than 4 doses in 24 hours.
- If symptoms persist or worsen, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Adults and children aged 12 years and over
Take two 5 ml spoonfuls four times a day
If anyone has too much
If anyone has too much contact a doctor or your nearest Accident and Emergency Department (Casualty) taking this leaflet and pack with you. If you take more of this medicine than you should, you may experience the following symptoms: nausea and vomiting, involuntary muscle contractions, agitation, confusion, somnolence, disturbances in consciousness, involuntary and rapid eye movements, cardiac disorders (rapid heart beating), coordination disorders, psychosis with visual hallucinations, and hyperexcitability. Also, other types of hallucinations, psychotic disorders, seizures, clumsiness, dizziness, speech problems, lack of energy, high blood pressure, tremor, or constricted or dilated pupils.
Other symptoms in case of massive overdose may be: coma, severe breathing problems, and convulsions.
Contact your doctor or hospital straight away if you experience any of the above symptoms.
If you forget to take the medicine
If you forget to take a dose, take the next dose when needed provided that the last dose was taken at least 4 hours ago. Do not take a double dose.
Drug Withdrawal
When you stop taking this medicine, you may experience drug withdrawal symptoms, which include restlessness, difficulty sleeping, irritability, anxiety, feeling your heartbeat (palpitations), increased blood pressure, feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, shaking, shivering or sweating.
How do I know if I am addicted?
If you notice any of the following signs whilst taking this medicine, it could be a sign that you have become addicted.
- You need to take the medicine for longer than advised
- You feel you need to use more than the recommended dose
- You are using the medicine for reasons other than those indicated
- When you stop taking the medicine you feel unwell, and you feel better once taking the medicine again.
If you notice any of these signs, it is important you talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
4 Possible side-effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side-effects, although not everybody gets them.
If you experience any of the following stop using this medicine and seek immediate medical help:
- Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing.
- Fits.
If you experience any of the following stop using the medicine and talk to your doctor:
Itching, rash, hives.
turn over
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Other effects which may occur but it is not known how often, include:
- Dependence and addiction (see section “How do I know if I am addicted?”).
- Dizziness or drowsiness.
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea.
- Upset stomach or stomach pain.
- Difficulty sleeping or feeling agitated, jittery, restless or confused.
- Shallow breathing.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects in the UK directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5 How to store this
medicine
Do not store above 30ºC.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6 Contents of the pack
and other further information
What’s in this medicine?
The active ingredient in 5 ml of Benylin Dry Coughs 7.5mg/5ml Syrup is: 7.5 mg Dextromethorphan hydrobromide.
Other ingredients are: sorbitol solution, glycerol, sucrose, liquid glucose, citric acid monohydrate, sodium benzoate (E211), caramel, saccharin sodium, imitation peach flavour (ethanol, propylene glycol), levomenthol, ethanol, carbomer and purified water.
What the medicine looks like
Benylin Dry Coughs 7.5mg/5ml Syrup is a pale brown coloured, peach flavoured syrup, available in 150 ml glass bottles.
Marketing Authorisation Holder: McNeil Products Ltd, Reading, RG1 1LN, UK
Manufacturer: Delpharm Orléans, 5 avenue de Concyr, 45071 Orleans, Cedex 2, France. This leaflet was revised May 2026.
Benylin is a registered trade mark.
McNeil Products Limited 2026 ©
LN508206