Guaifenesin
Guaifenesin
Mucinex, Robitussin, Tussin
Experience
No personal reports yet
No clinical reports yet
Log in to add your own experience.
Problems
No problems yet. Be the first to suggest one.
+ Add a problemTitration strategies
No titration strategies yet. Be the first to suggest one.
Effects
No effects listed yet. Be the first to suggest one.
Relevant anecdote
No anecdotes yet. Share a relevant one.
Relevant Literature
No literature entries yet.
Log in to submit relevant literature.
Summary
Classes
Common uses
Productive cough with thick secretions0, Symptomatic relief of upper respiratory infection0
Pharmacy
Starting dose
200-400 mg PO q4h (IR); 600-1200 mg PO q12h (Mucinex 12-Hour ER)
Preparations
100, 200, 400 mg IR tablets; 600 mg, 1200 mg Mucinex ER tablets; many liquid formulations and combination products with dextromethorphan, pseudoephedrine, antihistamines
US FDA Max
2.4 g/d
Pharmacology
Routes
Oral
Onset
30 minutes
Duration
4 hours (IR); 12 hours (ER)
Half-life
~1 hour[1]
Bioavailability
High (oral)[1]
Pregnancy
Generally considered acceptable.[citation needed]
Legal status
OTC in US
Purported mechanism
Guaifenesin is thought to act as an expectorant by triggering vagal gastric reflexes that increase respiratory tract secretions, reducing mucus viscosity and easing expulsion of mucus; the high-quality evidence for this effect is limited, but the agent is generally well tolerated.0 Adequate hydration is at least as important as the drug in producing the expectorant effect clinically. Used in combination with dextromethorphan, decongestants, or antihistamines in many proprietary OTC cold preparations.