Mucinex does it help you?

I do not know about Curist brand but I got some Guaifenesin from Amazon that has no dyes in it. It is labeled Welmate. It is exactly the same as Mucinex otherwise and is time released. But I find it reacts differently in my body. I think the Mucinex has been more effective for some reason although lately I do not find Mucinex helps at all.

Most of the time it helps.

Yes I take it instead of Sudafed.
Guaifenesin ER 1200mg bid
"" Immediate Release 1200mg prn

.I was told by physicians that if you take Mucinex more than 3 days in a row, it works against you because it dehydrates your body. I found that to be true, especially if I take it morning and evening for a month or more, then I get dry eye and other issues. Most of the time I try to take it just in the evening and some evenings I forget to take it. It's not perfect, but it helps. I also make sure to drink LOTS of fluid during the day. Time and again I do take it twice a day if I feel I need it. But the most helpful so far is the 3% saline, which I neb twice a day.

I got so sick and could not cough up anything so I started the Mucinex. I took it for a month straight and it seemed to work then all of a sudden . . . . bam, could not breath. One Dr. told me to take it to feel better and another Dr. told me only take it 10 days on 10 days off. It could start doing the opposite. That is exactly what it did, I now have another serious lung infection. Trying to figure out what to do is exhausting emotionally and physically. Here is my take, the Pulmonologist was correct . . . . don't take it for long periods of time. It will stop helping and take you the other direction. You could start picking up bacteria again. I did. I feel as if I am wondering blind thru this maze. I figure it out as I go and do the best that I can.

Interesting. I am in hosp with a flare up right now and the dr here only put me on the mucinex for a few days - twice a day - then just discontinued it. This must be a new way of thinking about Mucinex or I just didn't know it was a short term thing. I never used it much as I have loose phlegm. A lot of people on here seem to take it all the time so I don't know any real answer about this only what just happened to me here this week.

Sure would be nice to see some studies on this! Perhaps some future agreement on the standard of care for [idiopathic] bronchiectasis will address this. Europe seems ahead of the US in this realm. Anyone know what's recommended by the European Lung Foundation?

After a recent flare pulmonary recommended long acting mucinex. I've continued to take it 1-2x day. Presently, I take the name brand instead of generic, which seems to work better than the generic. I purchase Mucinex Oral Tablet Extended Release at Costco. FWIW, the Costco tablet "looks" timed release whereas the generic Amazon supplied was 1/4 the size of the name brand, Mucinex. Not sure what to make of that but it's working much better than the generic. My hunch is that Mucinex has the time release process down better than the generic.

If guaifenesin had diuretic properties I could see how it might be dehydrating. Guaifenesin is an expectorant, however, which means it helps to loosen and thin mucus in the airways, making it easier to cough up. It's indicated to take it with a full glass of water. Summer heat and/or some salty food might make guaifenesin seem dehydrating?

Sorry about the latest hospital visit. Wishing you well.
Mucinex is probably meant to be short term but for those of us that have thick hard to get up mucus, sometimes we get desperate and resort to over the counter meds a bit too long. In our defense, no one has ever told us, take it too long and you will go the opposite way. Truly they call it practicing medicine for a reason. I find that my Infectious Disease Dr. is my main go to but then my Pulmonologist knows stuff that Infectious Disease does not know.

Well I think that I am catching on to a few things after 12 years of trying to figure this out. Dr's won't give you the entire story. You seem to put the pieces of the puzzle together after years of infections and many Dr's visits. If you have a hard time getting mucus up, then take Mucinex but no longer than a week. Get your mo jo back and start moving. My go to medicine is movement. I take all the drugs but when I move I sure do breath better. I am sure that not everyone is like me. The fatigue is very real. We all fight a mental battle as much as a physical one.