Do you use Mucinex? At what dosage?

Posted by cate123456 @cate123456, Feb 11, 2023

I have tried Mucinex occasionally over the years at the 600 mg with no results.
But having read Sue and other’s success using it, I recently tried the extra strength 1,200 mg dosage, and found it really did work to thin mucus and calm down my lungs. I started taking it twice a day and it really helped, but am concerned whether it’s safe to take the high dose long term.

I have a doc appointment in two weeks that I will ask, but I also wanted to get feedback first from anyone here using Mucinex, especially long term.
And if so, can you get it via prescription to lower the cost?
Thanks!

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@sueinmn

I find that I need both. But right now I'm battling a virus and can't tolerate the 7% saline, so I'm all the way down to .9% and even that only once a day.
Sue

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Hope you feel better soon.

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@crepass

Hope you feel better soon.

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Thanks! I accidentally discovered yesterday that the blended tea I just began drinking was complicating my life - I am allergic to two of the "minor" ingredients and it was setting off my allergic/asthma response along with the bug. Gave it away, took some benadryl, and I'm doing better already!
I'm really feeling silly that I just read "green tea citrus blend" and not the whole list of ingredients - DUH! You would think after a lifetime of reading labels one would know better.
Sue

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@raney

I have been taking 1200 mg. 2 times a day for a couple of years. I do not know whether it is safe or not but would like to know,
I was told that I could not get it by RX, but I called my insurance company and found that guaifenesin can be obtained by RX. I got my 1st RX from Walgreens (180 600 mg Extended Release i got 180 tablets.
I am not sure of the charge. I would have to look it up , but I know it is MUCH less expensive than OTC

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Dear Raney,
Thank you SO much for informing us that guaifenesin ER can be obtained by prescription! I don't know why I hadn't thought to look into that. I take 600 mg. twice daily. I always compare prices at CVS, Target, Walgreens, and get whatever is cheapest at the time, but it is still expensive. GoodRx has great prices if you get it via prescription, and in my area, Walgreens was the cheapest. Donna T

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@donnaturn

Dear Raney,
Thank you SO much for informing us that guaifenesin ER can be obtained by prescription! I don't know why I hadn't thought to look into that. I take 600 mg. twice daily. I always compare prices at CVS, Target, Walgreens, and get whatever is cheapest at the time, but it is still expensive. GoodRx has great prices if you get it via prescription, and in my area, Walgreens was the cheapest. Donna T

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It took the person that I spoke with at my insurance company a few minutes to find it. I think she had to look in a different category. My pill is white oval and has G233 imprinted. I looked up the above description and it is guafenisin although my RX label only says "mucus relief 600 mg..

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@cate123456

I so relate on wanting to feel better!!!
Thanks for sharing your info — It sounds like it’s not dangerous to take it everyday, so let’s hope it works for you!! Sadly I tried to go off Budesonide and I’m in really bad shape with Bronchospasming and excess mucus and coughing — started it again but it takes many days to kick in. I’m afraid I’ll need a steroid forever now….sigh.

I have a pulmonologist appt in 10 days and will ask my doc her experience w Mucinex and let you know what she says.

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Thanks. Will look forward to seeing what your doctor says.

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@cate123456

I so relate on wanting to feel better!!!
Thanks for sharing your info — It sounds like it’s not dangerous to take it everyday, so let’s hope it works for you!! Sadly I tried to go off Budesonide and I’m in really bad shape with Bronchospasming and excess mucus and coughing — started it again but it takes many days to kick in. I’m afraid I’ll need a steroid forever now….sigh.

I have a pulmonologist appt in 10 days and will ask my doc her experience w Mucinex and let you know what she says.

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Cate123456 Why do you take Budesonide? I'm on it as well- 0.5- for emphysema. I'm suppose to nebulize it twice daily however I'm going to try to reduce to one daily with my docs ok. I asked for the0.25 dose but he suggested trying once a day. Good luck to you.

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@calinski420

Cate123456 Why do you take Budesonide? I'm on it as well- 0.5- for emphysema. I'm suppose to nebulize it twice daily however I'm going to try to reduce to one daily with my docs ok. I asked for the0.25 dose but he suggested trying once a day. Good luck to you.

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Calinski,
In September I contracted a viscous bacteria and coinfection called Acinetobacter Baumanni. The coughing was so violent I broke a rib and was hospitalized twice. Oxygen went down to 80s. It took six weeks on various strong antibiotics to clear it.
But now this bacteria seems to have damaged my lungs or something. I failed my last lung function test.

Before this I never had ANY symptoms to my Bronch and MAC and I’ve always been healthy with good strong lungs, aerobically fit, and, perfect lung function tests etc.
Now I have Bronchospasming, excess mucus, constant coughing and shortness of breath.
It’s been five months — I’m pretty darned depressed about it.
But I now have great compassion for those of you like Sue who have been dealing with this their whole lives!!!!

So they have me on pulmicort .5 nebulized twice a day which does help some, and Levabuterol nebbed every four - six hours. I’m using the Mucinex instead of saline to keep down the irritation in my lungs. I tried going off the Budesonide but it got even worse again, so I’m back on it….bummer…

But I’m hopeful, as I read that there’s a Covid-acquired asthma that has happened to a lot of people with Covid, and it can take even a year to heal the lungs. It sounds similar to what I have, so I’m hoping eventually my formally healthy lungs will heal 👍👍

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@sueinmn

Thanks! I accidentally discovered yesterday that the blended tea I just began drinking was complicating my life - I am allergic to two of the "minor" ingredients and it was setting off my allergic/asthma response along with the bug. Gave it away, took some benadryl, and I'm doing better already!
I'm really feeling silly that I just read "green tea citrus blend" and not the whole list of ingredients - DUH! You would think after a lifetime of reading labels one would know better.
Sue

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So glad it was something you could “fix”. I am finding that prefab foods are not my friends. The simpler the better! I guess im going to have to start cooking again. 😆

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@crepass

So glad it was something you could “fix”. I am finding that prefab foods are not my friends. The simpler the better! I guess im going to have to start cooking again. 😆

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I am amazed at how simple it was. As for prefab food, except for crackers and tortilla chips, there is little of it in our house. I am finding it quite easy to cook once and eat 3 times. The day it's cooked, 1/3 in the freezer for later, the other 1/3 in thr fridge to transform into something else.

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I get my extra strength Musinex at Costco and stock up when they put it on sale. I use it once a day and nebulize once a day with 7% saline. That and wearing a mask has kept me exacerbation free for 3 years.

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