have you ever taken guaifenesin syrup for congestion?

[grasswire]

It's an over-the-counter expectorant to loosen and relieve chest congestion. I'm afraid to take it. (Don't like new meds; don't want side effects.)

Has anyone used it? The brand name is probably Robitussin.

[dweller]

1. it's a fairly common ingredient

of cough syrups. on edit: i think it's a generic ingredient.

how bad is the cough?
dp

[minkyboodle]

2. I have taken it in pill form

It does wonders for me when I have a bronchitis attack (former asthmatic). I can't speak to the liquid though.
Scott

[AlinPA]

3. Robitusin DM prescribed by my Dr is OTC. It really works.

No side effects. Best if taken before bedtime.

[Skip Intro]

4. yes - and it seemed to work for me

I don't think I experienced any side effects, but you can check webmd.com for that info, or google "guaifensin side effects" or something like that.

Buy the store brand if one is available, same stuff as robotussin.

Also, be sure that's all that's in there, if that's all you want. Sometimes tussin can be just one of many ingredients, some of which might raise blood pressure, etc.

[POed_Ex_Repub]

5. No, but I've used Vodka in place of cough syrup

Yes, it was in college. ;) (And it works pretty well too)

[dweller]

6. i just checked my homebased pdr

it's an expectorant, helps to break up mucous in the lower respiratory tract, eases expectoration.

the following info was given for Entex LA, a combination of guafenesin combined w/ Phenylporpanolamine hydrochloride:
use cautiously by those w/
diabetes
glaucoma or other eye problems
heart disease
high blood pressure
hyperthroidism, excessive thyroid gland activity
prostate condition

side effects may include:
difficulty urinating (prostate condition)
headache
inability or difficulty sleeping
irritated stomach
nausea
nervousness
restlessness

boy, i bet this helps....
dp

[1monster]

9. Phenylporpanolamine hydrochloride is no longer available either

in perscriptions medicines or in OTC meds. The FDA took it off the market about three or so years ago... AFTER it had been OTC for nearly 25 years.

[dweller]

12. my homie pdr

is several years old :cry:

but it does have the good stuff still listed B-)

dp

[1monster]

7. Not new, it's been around for decades and decades. I used to work in

a pharmacy and don't remember ever hearing anything bad about it. However, if you are seriously congested, I suggest you don't use the syrup... Robitussin only has 60 mgs of guaifenesin in it. The FDA has recently allowed an OTC version that has 600 mgs of guaifenesin in tablet form. This amount of guaifensin was previously only available in prescription form. The OTC name is Mucinex or something like that.

I have taken the Rx 600 mg guaifenesin for many years and have had no side effects from it. I think it is a wonderful drug for congestion.

[holeinboatoutatsea]

8. I don't take anything

I can't pronounce.

When you think about it, cough is a hard word to pronounce if you haven't seen it before. It should be sounded out c-a-g-hh.

Maybe I shouldn't cough anymore?

[1monster]

11. Pronuciation:

gwI fen e sin (long I sound in first syllable, all the rest of the vowels are short.

[Bridget Burke]

10. Yes. No side effects I've noted.

After a cold I often get bronchitis, for which a simple expectorant cough syrup is just the thing. If the bronchitis hung around, it would be worth a doctor's visit; but it doesn't.

Be sure to buy the "plain" guaifenesin syrup, just called "Robitussin". The Robitussins with other initials added ("DM", "CF") have ingredients to relieve other symptoms. If you don't need them, keep it simple.

And, of course, a generic version would be cheaper.

[grasswire]

13. thanks for all the input

Yes, it's just the guaifenesin with nothing else added. Ten days of a cold, just can't get up all the mucous. No fever, nothing that would indicate a bacterial infection or pneumonia. Just want to get rid of the chest congestion that's left. Sputum is pale colored, not any icky dark color.

Sorry for the gory details.

I'm just very wary of any kind of meds and hoping to hear the experience of others with this. Thanks.

[SarahB]

14. The only side effect I know is it makes you more fertile

Seriously, if you're trying to get pregnant, it supposedly thins out other fluids in addition to the nasal stuff making a woman's body more hospitable to spermies.

I know a zillion random tidbits on reproductive health- ask me anything LOL! :7

[davsand]

15. Thins the secretions.

Can make you dizzy, I'm told--but I've never had any problem with it and I take it whenever I need a decongestant. it is one of the few decongestants I can take and not feel "speedy" like I do with Sudafed.

Use it if you can, and I bet you will be coughing up a lot of stuff soon--maybe even a hairball! (sorry--I HAD to get a cat reference in here!)

Laura

[grasswire]

16. I know what you mean about Sudafed.

It nearly killed me once. Tachycardia for several hours, ended up in the ER. And that's why I don't like OTC meds.

[Nikia]

17. Guaifenesin is fairly safe

I did once accidently take too much of it in syrup form and felt ill(nausea). Although a couple years later, I took a higher concentrate in perscription pill form than my accidental overdose and was fine. Take the recommended dose measured out and you should be fine. Side effects are rare if you take the right dose. If you would feel ill from it, it is only a feeling that will go away in a short period of time.

[hyphenate]

18. I'm taking it right now

But nothing is happening for me. My cough is very dry, though. I've been up for two nights with it, :(

I'm also taking generic equivalent of Nyquil which tastes rather nasty to me. The guaifenesin isn't as bad tasting.

I'm feeling quite miserable, though. Hot tea seems to help a little, and I'm actually getting really hungry today. If you have any of the fruity teas, they're great. Orange-tangerine zinger is wonderful. :)

[TXlib]

19. I prefer the Muco-fen horse pills

These are prescription (don't know why it's only by prescription) pills, with about 800 mg of guaifenisin. Also comes as Muco-fen DM, with dextromethorphan, which is a cough suppressant.

Knocks the shit out of my coughs.