What is Guaifenesin?

An example of Guaifenesin

Guaifenesin is an expectorant drug used to thin mucus in the airways to make it easier to cough. It is also a mildly uricosuric medication that some researchers believe may help manage symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Reported Purpose & Perceived Effectiveness

Reasons and Perceived effectiveness
Perceived Effectiveness
Purpose # of patients # of patients with evaluations
Major
Moderate
Slight
None
Can’t tell
68 22 Efficacy_major Efficacy_moderate Efficacy_slight Efficacy_none Efficacy_cant_tell
35 10 Efficacy_major Efficacy_moderate Efficacy_slight
18 2 Efficacy_major
11 3 Efficacy_major Efficacy_moderate
9 0
9 0

See all 184 patients currently taking Guaifenesin

Mouse over the table for more information

Reported Side Effects

Side effects as an overall problem

Severe
2
Moderate
2
Mild
6
None
43

Commonly reported side effects, conditions, and hospitalizations associated with Guaifenesin

2
1
1
1
1
1
See all 13 reported side effects See top 6 reported side effects

Reported Dosages

Frequently reported dosages based on patients currently taking Guaifenesin. See all 48 dosages

  600mg as needed 400mg as needed daily 200 mg daily 400 mg daily 600 mg daily 800 mg daily 1,200 mg daily 1,800 mg daily 2,400 mg daily
  14 Number of Patients: 14 6 Number of Patients: 6 7 Number of Patients: 7 4 Number of Patients: 4 10 Number of Patients: 10 33 Number of Patients: 33 11 Number of Patients: 11 45 Number of Patients: 45 10 Number of Patients: 10 13 Number of Patients: 13  

Reported Stop Reasons

Why Patients Stopped Taking Guaifenesin (multiple reasons could be selected)
Reason # Patients Percentage of patients
Other 18   Other: 32%
Did not seem to work 17   Did not seem to work: 30%
Course of treatment ended 11   Course of treatment ended: 20%
Expense 7   Expense: 13%
Doctor's advice 4   Doctor's advice: 7%
Side effects too severe 3   Side effects too severe: 5%
Personal research 3   Personal research: 5%
Change in health plan coverage 2   Change in health plan coverage: 4%
Not indicated 1   Not indicated: 2%

See all 54 patients who’ve stopped taking Guaifenesin

Currently Taking Guaifenesin

A bar graph

0-1 month 1-3 months 3-6 months 6 months-1year 1-2 years 2 years or more
0

Stopped Taking Guaifenesin

A bar graph

0-1 month 1-3 months 3-6 months 6 months-1year 1-2 years 2 years or more

Reported Adherence, Burden & Cost See details from patient evaluations

Adherence

Taking treatment as prescribed

Adherence of Guaifenesin

Always
37 70%
Usually
13 25%
Sometimes
2 4%
Never
1 2%

Burden

Difficulty being on treatment

Burden of Guaifenesin

Very
3 6%
Somewhat
4 8%
A little
15 28%
Not at all
31 58%

Cost

Paid out of pocket

Cost of Guaifenesin

$200+
0 0%
$100-199
0 0%
$50-99
4 11%
$25-49
12 32%
< $25
21 57%

Sort by: Helpfulness | Most Recent

11 patient evaluations for Guaifenesin

Purpose: Excess mucus (Started Oct 03, 2010)
Date Dosage Perceived effectiveness Side Effects Adherence Burden
Mar 05, 2011 600 mg Daily Led_efficacy_2Led_efficacy_2Led_defaultLed_defaultSlight NoneNoneNoneNoneNone AlwaysAlwaysAlwaysAlwaysAlways SomewhatSomewhatSomewhatSomewhatSomewhat
  • Icon_thumb_off 0 helpful marks
Purpose: Thick saliva (Started Jan 24, 2011)
Date Dosage Perceived effectiveness Side Effects Adherence Burden
Feb 24, 2011 8 x 50 mg/5 mL Daily Led_efficacy_4Led_efficacy_4Led_efficacy_4Led_efficacy_4Major NoneNoneNoneNoneNone UsuallyUsuallyUsuallyUsuallyUsually A littleA littleA littleA littleA little
Date
Feb 24, 2011
Advice & Tips
This was very effective at thinning my saliva, but can be a little pricey if you use a lot. Your doctor can give a prescription for this so it's covered under insurance.
Cost
< $25 monthly
  • Icon_thumb_off 0 helpful marks
Purpose: Fibromyalgia (Started Aug 23, 2010)
Date Dosage Perceived effectiveness Side Effects Adherence Burden
Sep 04, 2010 1200 mg Daily ?Can't tell MildMildMildMildMild AlwaysAlwaysAlwaysAlwaysAlways Not at allNot at allNot at allNot at allNot at all
Side effects:
Bloating, Weight gain, Muscle and joint pain
Date
Sep 04, 2010
Advice & Tips
I just started Mucinex 400mg, 2x per day on 8/23/10~ I didn't notice any change in my Fibro symptoms so as prescribed I up'd my dosage to 600mg, 2 x per day. Within the first 48 hours my Fibro skyrocketed! Pain levels went from a 5-6 to an unbearable 9+ and it was a pain that seemed to travel thruout my body from one day to the next. I am also experience severe dry mouth and skin and have noticed that I am start to bloat up (as in water retention) and I'm not sure if this is a side effect or not. I will continue to take Mucinex and hope for a reprieve from the Fibro...
Cost
< $25 monthly
  • Icon_thumb_off 0 helpful marks
1 2 3 4    You are at the first page First There is no previous page Prev | Next Go to the next page Last Go to the last page 

What is guaifenesin?

Guaifenesin is an expectorant. It helps loosen congestion in your chest and throat, making it easier to cough out through your mouth.

Guaifenesin is used to reduce chest congestion caused by the common cold, infections, or allergies.

Guaifenesin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.


Precautions

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to guaifenesin.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether guaifenesin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

This medication can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Back to top

Instructions

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

An overdose of guaifenesin is not likely to cause life-threatening symptoms.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Back to top

Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Less serious side effects may include:

  • dizziness or headache,
  • a rash, or
  • nausea, vomiting, or stomach upset.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Back to top

Interactions

There may be other drugs that can interact with guaifenesin. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Other Names

Actifed CC Chesty Cough, Altarussin, Altorant, Anti-Tuss, Aquamist, Balminil Expect Edulcore Au Sucrose, Beechams Veno's Expectorant, Beechams Veno's for Kids Chesty Cough, Benadryl Chesty Forte, Benylin Chesty Coughs, Benylin Children's Chesty Coughs, Benylin E, Benylin E Extra Strength, Benylin E Extra Strength with Menthactin, Bidex, Breonesin, Calmylin Expectorant, Diabetic Expectorant, Diabetic Tuss, Dristan Chesty Cough, Dristan Chesty Cough Guaiphenesin, Drituss G, Family Meltus Chesty Coughs, Fenesin, Fenex-LA, G Bid, GG 200 NR, GG-Cen, Ganidin NR, Genatuss, Glytuss, Gua-SR, Guaiatussin, Guaibid-LA, Guaifenex G, Guaifenex LA, Guiacough, Guiadrine G-1200, Guiatuss, Halotussin, Hill's Balsam Chesty Cough, Humavent LA, Humibid, Humibid Pediatric, Humibid e, Humigen LA, Hytuss, Iodrol NR, Iofen, Iofen-NF, Iophen NR, Jackson's Extra Strength All Fours, Jackson's The Original All Fours, Junior Meltus Chesty Coughs with Catarrh, Junior Meltus Colour and Sugar Free Expectorant, Kenkay Chesty Cough Eexpectorant, Lemsip Cough Chesty, Liqufruta Garlic Cough Medicine, Liquibid, Liquidbid 1200, Liquidbid LA, Lloydspharmacy Expectorant Adult Cough, Lloydspharmacy Expectorant Junior Cough, Lotussin, Mastussin, Mucinex, Mucinex Childrens, Mucinex Childrens Mini-Melts, Mucinex Junior Strength Mini-Melts, Muco-Fen, Muco-Fen 1200, Muco-Fen 800, Muco-Fen LA, Mucobid-L.A., MucusRelief, Mytussin, Naldecon-EX Senior, Nirolex Chesty Cough, Nyal Chesty Cough, Organidin NR, Phanasin, Pharmacist Expectorant, Pneumomist, Q-Bid LA, Q-Tussin, Respa-GF, Ri-Tussin, Robafen, Robichem, Robitussin, Robitussin Chesty Cough, Robitussin EX Colour Free, Robitussin EX Paediatric Drops, Robitussin-EX, Scot Tussin Expectorant, Scot-Tussin, Siltuss DAS, Sinumist, Sorbutuss, Strepsils Chesty Cough, T-Tussin, Tixylix Chesty Cough, Touro EX, Triaminic Chest Congestion, Tusscidin, Tussin, Tussin Expectorant, Vicks Cough Syrup for Chesty Coughs, Vicks Formula 44 for Chesty Coughs, Xpect, guaifenesin, Allfen, Amibid LA, Bidex-400, Buckley's Chest Congestion, Duratuss G, Fenesin IR, Guaifenesin LA, Guaifen NR, Mucinex Kids' Mini-Melts, Mucinex Max Strength, Organ-1 NR, Robitussin Chest Congestion, Siltussin, and Siltussin DAS-NA

Back to top

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version 2.05. Revision date 8/23/04

Last updated: