phenylephrine-DM-guaifenesin 1.25 mg-2.5 mg-25 mg/mL oral drops (2023)

FAQs

What is phenylephrine guaifenesin used for? ›

GUAIFENESIN; PHENYLEPHRINE (gwye FEN e sin; fen il EF rin) is an expectorant and decongestant combination. It is used to provide relief from cough and congestion. This medicine will not treat an infection. This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

DEXTROMETHORPHAN, GUAIFENESIN, and PHENYLEPHRINE (dex troe meth OR fan, gwye FEN e sin, fen il EF rin) is a combination of a cough suppressant, an expectorant, and a decongestant. It is used to treat cough and congestion. This medicine will not treat an infection.

You should not use guaifenesin and phenylephrine if you are allergic to it. Do not use guaifenesin and phenylephrine if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.

Guaifenesin is an expectorant. It works by thinning and loosening mucus in the airways, clearing congestion, and making breathing easier. Phenylephrine is a decongestant (sympathomimetic). It reduces nasal congestion by narrowing the blood vessels in the nose.

Managing Cough and Shortness of Breath

Over-the-counter medications used for upper respiratory infections may help alleviate symptoms. Those medications include guaifenesin (Mucinex), pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), and dextromethorphan (Robitussin, Delsym).

Guaifenesin will not cause severe and frequent coughing but can cause your cough to be productive (cough with phlegm or mucus). The drug helps to thin the secretion from your lungs and loosen the mucus. This effect can result in a productive cough that aims to clear excessive secretions from the airways.

Abstract. Guaifenesin, a mucoactive drug, acts by loosening mucus in the airways and making coughs more productive. It is used for relief of wet cough and chest congestion due to the common cold, and remains the only legally marketed expectorant in the US (per OTC Monograph).

Guaifenesin may help control symptoms but does not treat the cause of symptoms or speed recovery. Guaifenesin is in a class of medications called expectorants. It works by thinning the mucus in the air passages to make it easier to cough up the mucus and clear the airways.

Guaifenesin and other expectorants work best during the daytime. An expectorant will cause you to cough more to clear congestion from the respiratory tract. While you can take it at night, it will not help you sleep and may keep you awake.

Avoid taking MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, linezolid, metaxalone, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline, tranylcypromine) during treatment with this medication. Most MAO inhibitors should also not be taken for two weeks before treatment with this medication.

Who should not receive phenylephrine? ›

do not take phenylephrine if you are taking a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor, such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate), or if you have stopped taking one of these medications within the past 2 weeks.

Guaifenesin, a mucoactive drug, acts by loosening mucus in the airways and making coughs more productive. It is used for relief of wet cough and chest congestion due to the common cold, and remains the only legally marketed expectorant in the US (per OTC Monograph).

It thins and loosens mucus that's stuck in your lungs, making it easier to cough it up. Phenylephrine is a decongestant that clears your sinuses to relieve sinus pressure.

Some products that may interact with this drug include: cimetidine, naltrexone, samidorphan. Guaifenesin is available in both prescription and nonprescription products. Check the labels on all your medications carefully to make sure you are not taking more than one product that contains guaifenesin.

Try using a medicine that thins mucus and improves sinus drainage (mucolytic). Guaifenesin is a commonly used mucolytic. Mucolytics are often combined with other medicines such as cough suppressants. Acetaminophen can be found in many forms and comes in different doses.

Take OTC antihistamines

Nasal decongestant sprays, such as oxymetazoline (Afrin, Vick's Sinex) and phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine), can also be helpful.

Try cough medicine.

If you have a wet cough with lots of mucus, you want to take an expectorant to help get the mucus out. If you have a dry cough, a cough suppressant is what you want.

Use medications containing guaifenesin, such as Robitussin, Mucinex, and Vicks 44E. keeping you from getting rest. Coughing is useful because it brings up mucus from the lungs and helps prevent bacterial infections.

[coughing] Breathe in slowly and gently through your nose, and repeat the coughing if you need to. So when it's hard to breathe because of mucus in your lungs, you have three things you can do to help move the mucus out: postural drainage, chest percussion, and controlled coughing.

How do you get rid of mucus in your throat fast? ›

Dizziness, drowsiness, headache, upset stomach, nausea, constipation, nervousness, or trouble sleeping may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, contact your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

6. Response and effectiveness. Some effects of guaifenesin should be noticed within 30 minutes of taking it orally; however, up to two days of regular dosing may be needed before the full effects are seen. Liquid guaifenesin lasts for approximately four to six hours.

Guaifenesin is used to help clear chest congestion from a cold or flu by thinning out the mucus or phlegm in the lungs. You can take guaifenesin in the form of a solution, syrup, liquid, tablet, or packet.

You should not use guaifenesin if you are allergic to it. Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to use this medicine if you have other medical conditions. Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are pregnant. You should not breast-feed while using guaifenesin.

The guaifenesin in Mucinex helps loosen and thin mucus in your airways. If you have a “wet” cough, this can make the mucus easier to cough up. Guafenesin kicks in fast — usually within 30 minutes of taking it.

Mucinex D is (guaifenesin and pseudoephedrine) is an expectorant/nasal decongestant combination, and Mucinex DM (guaifenesin and dextromethorphan) is an expectorant/cough suppressant combination. Mucinex D and Mucinex DM both contain the expectorant guaifenesin (which is contained as a single ingredient in Mucinex).

If your cough seems to worsen once you lie flat, try propping up your head and neck. Use a wedge pillow or multiple bed pillows to make yourself comfortable while lying in a position that keeps your head elevated above the rest of your body.

Coughing often worsens at night because a person is lying flat in bed. Mucus can pool in the back of the throat and cause coughing. Sleeping with the head elevated can reduce the symptoms of postnasal drip and GERD. Both can cause coughing at night.

How do I stop coughing in my sleep? ›

Decongestant. Phenylephrine is used as an alternative to pseudoephedrine as a decongestant, whose availability has been restricted due to a potential for use in the illicit synthesis of methamphetamine.

Oral phenylephrine has a minimal direct effect on heart rate or cardiac output but, as a vasoconstrictor, can increase systolic and diastolic blood pressure at high doses, and thus cause reflex bradycardia.

The "DM" refers to the cough suppressant ingredient, dextromethorphan. In other medications that have just "D" in the name, it refers to the decongestant pseudoephedrine, which isn't in this medication.

Increases in blood pressure and decreases in heart rate have been reported with doses over 15 mg. It has been estimated that a 20-mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure would occur with an oral dose of 45 mg phenylephrine in normotensive healthy people.

Phenylephrine can cause a decrease in cardiac output, and extreme caution should be used when administering the drug parenterally or orally to patients with arteriosclerosis, to elderly individuals, and/or to patients with initially poor cerebral or coronary circulation.

Minimize the use of decongestants

While they dry secretions and can alleviate a runny nose, decongestants may make it harder to get rid of phlegm and mucus.

Bottom Line. Phenylephrine relieves congestion of the nasal passages and is found in many cold and flu remedies. There is some controversy over whether it works at the dosages usually found in over-the-counter products. Sleeplessness is a common side effect.

Can phenylephrine make congestion worse? ›

Which nasal sprays cause rebound congestion? Nasal sprays containing either oxymetazoline or phenylephrine are the rebound congestion-inducing nasal sprays to use with caution. If a nasal spray contains either of these active ingredients, be sure to use only as directed on the label — three days or less.

Decongestants, including phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine, work by constricting blood vessels. This allows more air to pass freely through your nose and leads to drier nasal tissues and less mucus draining down the back of your throat.

Robitussin and Mucinex are two over-the-counter remedies for chest congestion. The active ingredient in Robitussin is dextromethorphan, while the active ingredient in Mucinex is guaifenesin.

Guaifenesin is generally safe for heart patients. This drug is not known to elevate blood pressure. If an overdose of Guaifenesin is taken, it may cause severe effects on the heart and increase heart rate. For heart patients or any previous history of cardiac illness, take the drug under medical supervision.

Guaifenesin is an expectorant. It works by thinning and loosening mucus in the airways, clearing congestion, and making breathing easier. Phenylephrine is a decongestant (sympathomimetic). It reduces nasal congestion by narrowing the blood vessels in the nose.

This product also contains a decongestant, which helps relieve stuffy nose symptoms. This medication is usually not used for ongoing coughs from smoking, asthma, other long-term breathing problems (such as emphysema), or coughs with a lot of mucus, unless directed by your doctor.

Some products that may interact with this drug include: cimetidine, naltrexone, samidorphan. Guaifenesin is available in both prescription and nonprescription products. Check the labels on all your medications carefully to make sure you are not taking more than one product that contains guaifenesin.

It is also used to relieve sinus congestion and pressure. Phenylephrine will relieve symptoms but will not treat the cause of the symptoms or speed recovery. Phenylephrine is in a class of medications called nasal decongestants.

Mild upset stomach, trouble sleeping, dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, nervousness, shaking, or fast heartbeat may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. This product may reduce blood flow to your hands or feet, causing them to feel cold.

You can try products like guaifenesin (Mucinex) that thin mucus so it won't sit in the back of your throat or your chest. This type of medication is called an expectorant, which means it helps you to expel mucus by thinning and loosening it.

What is best for mucus congestion? ›

Typically, postnasal drip can be alleviated at home. Elevate your head at night to help mucus drain. You can also gargle saltwater, inhale steam, use a humidifier, and drink warm fluids. These remedies will thin mucus and moisturize your nasal passages.

Does Guaifenesin make you cough more? Guaifenesin will not cause severe and frequent coughing but can cause your cough to be productive (cough with phlegm or mucus). The drug helps to thin the secretion from your lungs and loosen the mucus.

Guaifenesin, a mucoactive drug, acts by loosening mucus in the airways and making coughs more productive. It is used for relief of wet cough and chest congestion due to the common cold, and remains the only legally marketed expectorant in the US (per OTC Monograph).

Guaifenesin is an expectorant. It helps loosen congestion in your chest and throat, making it easier to cough out through your mouth. Phenylephrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages. Dilated blood vessels can cause nasal congestion (stuffy nose).

No interactions were found between guaifenesin / phenylephrine and ibuprofen / phenylephrine. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

Phenylephrine is an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor agonist indicated for the treatment of clinically important hypotension resulting primarily from vasodilation in the setting of anesthesia. Phenylephrine is available under the following different brand names: Vazculep.