Yesterday I took Mucinex, a secretion thinner, for the first time in my life that I didn't have a cold. Today, for the first time I can remember in years, I have saliva. Only people here would understand why that's a big deal. Taking more now to see if there's a difference tomorrow too. =)
Let us know. I know my rheumy told me to take mucinex but I can't remember what it was for. You may be on to something. Lucy
This drug thins the secretions that we make. You may not be making anymore saliva, but the saliva you have is thinner now and flowing more easily. Glad to hear that it worked. I buy the generic as it is much cheaper and you don't need a prescription for it either.
I try to take one a day at least lately. I have more trouble with the thick mucus in my lungs and bronchioles than I do the oral glands. At least the lungs seem to bother me more.
It just occured to me that taking this drug may also help to thin the secretions in our pancreas and liver which would also help with digestion. I think I am going to be more proactive about this. It may even help with the colon. Irish ;D
I've taken Mucinex (guaifesin) before and it helped a good deal with my dry air ways, chronic cough and dry sinuses. I didn't notice how my saliva status was at the time, perhaps it was improved and I attributed it to the Salagen I take. I've been meaning to put Mucinex on the shopping list but it slipped my mind. So thanks for this reminder! Irish, that's a brilliant idea about it possibly aiding digestion and it makes perfect sense.
Wow, this really interesting.
Is this something to check with my rheumy before trying? Would it help with that weird goopy cough I get in the morning?
And how many milligrams should be taken? How often and are there any side effects?
My worst time is in the morning, with no saliva, gross cough, stuffy nose.
Hi all,
I have taken Mucinex daily (regular-blue), not with added decongestants, now for about 10 years. It thins saliva, and definitely helps the chest and lungs. When my asthma is acting up, two tabs ease the breathing because the mucus is thinned out by it.
I take up to 2400 on a average day, more if having chest problems. I swear by it. Have not heard of any benefits to colon.
I buy it at Walgreen's or Walmart under the store brand Mucous Relief.
I've not found any side effects to the med, but would love to be updated if you know any!!
PS. Boy! It's dry here in New Mexico!!!
coopwall
ANytime you start a new med that is OTC you need to check with your doc about the drug interactions, etc. Or, you may want to check with your pharmacist. According to my nurses drug book this med has very few side effects or drug interactions, but still check with your doc.
Also, check to see how many milligrams you should take. The OTC tablets/caplets are usually 400 mgm and my doc told me to take one three times a day. Everyone is different. As far as the colon/stomach effect, that is something that just hit me while I was posting. It sort of nags at me and I am going to pay attention and see if this makes a difference. The sjogrens can cause very dry stools because of lack of lubrication from the mucus producing glands of the colon. Good luck. Irish ;D
Glad that you found some relief with it! I take one occasionally when I feel really clogged up and nothing is draining. But I've found that if I take it for more than a couple days that it seems to dry me out.
Deb
does anyone notice that they cough incessantly on mucinex? I have heard that this medicine could help us tremendously but whenever I take it, I can't stop coughing.
season, I am wondering if your mucus loosens just enough that it moves and when it goes to a different place in the bronchial tree it sets off the cough reflex trying to move it up and out of your lungs.
Are you on any inhalers? Sometimes using an albuterol inhaler will help dilate those bronchials so that you more easily can cough up the mucus plugs. It is good to get rid of this junky stuff cause it sits down there and can grow bacteria causing infection. I think that anyone with sjogrens should have inhalers to help open up the airway so the mucus is easier to get rid of. Irish ;D
I too have been suffering from a terrible cough and stumbled upon this website searching for answers. I was diagnosed with Sjogrens 3 years ago but was told it was not active.
I could never really find out much about it and the 2 Rhuemotologists I did see didn't explain or give me any reason for worry. Then a year ago, I started getting sinus infections and then cough. I coughed from January 2017 until today, October 2017. I have been to every doctor imaginable with no results.
I became depressed and I even gained 45 pounds. I've never been overweight in my life. So as the year went on I kept sinking and I found this website and the link to Guaifenesin/Mucinex. I started taking it right away and the Oregano oil. I have had such a blessed day. I have hardly coughed at all.
I thank everyone who posted and put recommendations. If not for you, I don't know how much longer I would have suffered. My medical bills are beyond outrageous and I haven't been able to work. I have hope now. I went practically skipping to my doctors to get tested again to make sure.
So, thank you,
I feel alive and hopeful because of this post.
For some reason Mucinex just dries me out even more!
Dries me out too but I take it when I get a cold or flu.
Zavime.....I tell everyone about Oil of Oregano. It's a miracle.
Mucinex I take when I'm congested and I find it helpful. I do find it a little drying so I try not to take it often. And I think it can raise blood pressure. BUT, I certainly see where it can have benefits for us with SJ Syndrome! I'm going to try to keep it in the house regularly.
If you find Mucinex to be drying, check to be sure you haven't gotten Mucinex DM. Not sure about your locale, but here, the packaging is almost identical, with just the letters "dm" after the name in a slightly different colour on either a blue or green detailed box.
The DM (dextromethorphan) can be extremely drying.
i also woulkd love to try mucinex, i found out that i always took another mucous thinner with something else inside it, bromexin. it helps but doctors say that while it softens mucous it also augments it.we do not have mucinex here in europe but i saw in the pharmacy that vicks have something with just guaifenesin, anybody tried it? i was very careful that there is nothing else a part guaifenesin and something that gives some flavour but i would like to order mucinex on amazon if please you give me the exact name.i tried also NAC but its bad for my stomach,
thanks
Linda- Why exactlly is Dextromethorphan drying?
Blue- I think it's the regular plain Mucinex you need.
Sharon, I'm not sure, but my allergist, when he saw that I was taking Salagen at the time he was treating me, told me to avoid DM and just take plain mucinex. I asked why and he said they would cancel each other out. When I researched it, I found that both are the same class of drug, cholinergics, and I would have thought that they would enhance each other, but I did find that if I took any cold or cough medication containing DM, my dryness was worse.
Basically, I guess I was thinking it was worth a try, no scientific basis, just experience and the advice of a doctor who was probably basing it on his own anecdotal experience.
I can no longer take either Salagen or DM because of a heart rhythm issue, but to be honest, I haven't noticed much difference in dryness without the Salagen, which only provided a brief spurt of saliva after the dose anyway.
Linda- Interesting...I took the regular Mucinex and it dried me out and I have tried Dextromethorphan separately and it sometimes also dries somewhat. I guess there's something to that.
Salagen also only gives me very brief relief.
Most of the over the counter cough syrups have the DM in them and they are to be taken carefully. People are taking them more I believe because I see the shelves of pharmacies in US are full of these cough syrups. THe DM can cause problems and doctors have been warning people about them. Sorry, but I can't remember the side effects it causes right now.
The guaifisen is good when it helps a person. Comes in tablets and liquid with only the guaifisen. The Mucinex brand is really spendy and many stores have their own generic brand tabs or liquid. If you can't take this then try the facial sauna, personal humidifier, etc. Always some little way we can come up with to help.Irish