Fibromyalgia/Myofascial Pain Syndrome Handout # 6 = Guaifenesin

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http://www.pendulum.org/related/FMS/fm-pain.htm

Fibromyalgia/Myofascial Pain Syndrome Handout # 6

Devin Starlanyl MD

Guaifenesin

Guaifenesin (pronounced like " Gwhy-fenesin " ), is an

over-the-counter (OTC) medication usually used to loosen phlegm and

mucous in lungs and helps you to cough it up. R. St. Amand

M.D. discovered that it may reverse the process of fibromyalgia.

Guaifenesin is the active ingredient in many cough expectorants.

Unfortunately, most of these same medications are found with a

large amount of sugar and alcohol. For some reason known only to

the Food and Drug Administration, the pill form is prescription

only. It is important to drink at least a full glass of water with

it. You may become very thirsty, and want to carry some water

around. Guaifenesin dosage is started low at first. It may cause

stomach upset or nausea, which should disappear as your body

adjusts to it. Store guaifenesin between 59 and 86 degrees F--not

in the refrigerator or very warm room. It will thin your

secretions.

Most people will begin dosage at 300 mg twice a day,

understanding that there will probably be a period of flu-like

fatigue as stored toxins and excess phosphates start releasing.

Your body may urge you to sleep. Listen to it. Your liver and

kidneys are working hard to process toxins and excess materials, so

that they can be excreted. Following this initial period, raise

the dosage to 600 mg twice a day if tolerated. Guaifenesin dosage

is generally raised 300 mgs a day at a time. As the FMS starts

reversing, adjust the dosage higher or lower on an individual

basis. Every pattern is different. IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO

AVOID SALICYLATE USE DURING GUAIFENESIN TREATMENT. SALICYLATES,

FOUND IN MEDICATIONS LIKE ASPIRIN, DOLOBID (DIFLUNISAL) PABA, AND

TRILISATE WILL BLOCK THE BODY " S EFFORTS TO EXCRETE THE EXCESS

PHOSPHATES. The toxins will be liberated from the myofascia, but will

circulate in the blood without being excreted.

Large quantities of herbs and herbal teas should be

avoided, as many are rich in salicylates, unless you can be sure

without doubt that the herbs have none. Small amounts of herbs for

seasoning are acceptable. Listen to your body. If you get a

sudden worsening of symptoms, seek what may be blocking the guai.

Many topical creams, including PABA sunscreens, are

salicylate-related. Ask your pharmacist. Many commonly used

medications, such as Alka-Seltzer, are also rich in salicylates. Read

your labels.

The amount of fatigue and symptoms the reversal entails

will vary with the patient, possibly due to the amount, placing and

nature of myofascial deposits, the length of time and severity of the

FMS/MPS, how efficient the liver and kidneys are at detox, and how

much bodywork has already been done to break up deposits in the

myofascia and elsewhere. Dr. St.Amand suspects that one inherited

problem in FMS is a tendency toward a defect in phosphate excretion,

which ultimately causes an accumulation of phosphates within the

mitochondria (our cellular " chemical factories " ). Dr. St. Amand has

found that FMS is cyclic in nature. Symptom cycles start long before

there is any suspicion of disease--often as " growing pains " in

childhood. During guaifenesin treatment, previous symptoms may be

relived by the patient--physical and emotional--often in a reverse

of their first occurrence. He has found the FMS reversal to be a

cyclic process as well, although we have not seen exact reversal of

symptoms in our local group. Most people on guai for FMS reversal

gradually begin to have more and more good days and finally, the

good days start to cluster. He has found that, on the average,

several months of treatment at the proper dosage will reverse one

year of accumulated deposits. The longer the patient has had the

illness, the longer it will take to recover.

Dr. St. Amand warns people that guaifenesin therapy is " not

for the faint of heart " . When the toxins and excess stored material

are liberated, you may experience nausea, fatigue, increased aches,

eye irritation, abnormal sensations, abnormal taste (foul or

metallic), burning on urination (excess phosphates are excreted as

phosphoric acid), pungent smelly urine, and bladder infections.

I have found that people who have done a great deal of body

work--accupressure, tennis ball compression, sine-wave ultrasound

with electrostim, GMS, stretching, etc. and pay attention to good

body mechanics, good nutrition, and use the FMS/MPS vitamin regimen

while taking the guaifenesin seem to have much more rapid reversal of

FM/MPS without most of the symptoms reversal phenomenon.

Dr. St. Amand has found three subsets in his clinic

practice. One subset goes through FMS reversal relatively quickly

at 300 mg twice a day. The largest subset reverses at 600 mg bid.

Another subset needs 1800 mg a day or more, and just sputters along

slowly through the reversal process. Some people need more than

1600 mg a day.

The calcium excreted is limited to inappropriate calcium

surplus. None of Dr. St. Amand " s patients have developed

osteoporosis. Odd skin rashes can be common during the reversal

period. These can be scaly rashes, like eczema, blistering, adult

acne, or skin cracking. He has also found that at some time after

the adequate dosage for reversal has been reached, the patient may

lose a large amount of " inferiorly-formed " hair that is replaced

with healthy hair. We have found significant hair-loss to be

rare. During guaifenesin, avoid adding phosphoric acid to your

body. Colas, for instance, are loaded with it. It makes no sense

to add phosphoric acid to your metabolism when your body is already

working hard to get rid of its excess.

You may also have a burnt taste in your mouth, pimples,

gunky eyes, and an acidy smelling perspiration unique to

guaifenesin reversal (fortunately), and very strong-smelling

urine. The urine can get very dark--deep yellow, or even brown.

Vaginal secretions turn acidy. Women may get rashes and burning

from it. Male partners sometimes also feel the effects. You may

experience soreness in the crease between your buttocks, possibly

due to the acidic nature of the urine. It is important to remember

that these signs and symptoms are NOT side-effects of guai. They

are from the toxins and excesses being released by the guai, and are

a good sign, although it won " t feel like it at the time. At least

you " ll understand why you often felt " toxic " . You were.

Headaches are very common on the first reverse cycle. There

are some " ouch spots " on the back of the neck you can find with

moderate pressure, on the hairline. Ice on these sometimes helps

endure the first cycle. When I saw Dr. St. Amand, he warned me

that my hardest job would be encouraging people to continue

guaifenesin therapy through the first cycle. He was right.

Encouragement isn " t as difficult lately. Almost every time our group

meets, someone mentions they are working full-time and their

symptoms are in remission or greatly eased, thanks to guai. I know I

have had severe FMS/MPS for a long time, and I have a lot of

perpetuating factors--some of which I can do nothing about. It's a

long, tough road ahead, but I know it " s the right one. In a year and

a half on guai (and a lot of bodywork, mindwork, and attention to

perpetuating factors, I feel I " m a lot better. It is interesting to

know that besides using guaifenesin for its expectorant qualities, it

has also been used to help women get pregnant. It thins the cervical

secretions, making it easier for the sperm to reach the egg. For the

first few months on guaifenesin, expect to be spitting out mucous

that has been clogging your airways. It " s a wonder we get enough

oxygen.

We " ve had several people who have had blood analyses report

that their liver enzymes were high. That could be due to the heavy

detoxification. You may have to cut back on the guaifenesin and/or

the bodywork. Don " t push it. It took a long time for your body to

get this toxic. The liver and kidneys can " t clean it up overnight.

Be good to them. They are working very hard for you. Allow enough

time between bodywork sessions so that you recover from one before

the next begins. You shouldn " t be totally fatigued before a bodywork

session. You may also want to allow some time for your body to

adjust to healing. It will be finding a new balance every day. You

may have to adjust the guai so that too much toxin isn " t hitting the

liver at once. We have one elderly person who has severe chemical

cirrhosis, and many other perpetuating factors, and yet has very

slowly been able to detox her body with guaifenesin. She is now

able to take aquatic aerobics.

Sometimes guai is working on feeder deposits. These are

large deposits which release vast quantities of debris and toxins

as these huge myofascial lumps dissolve. The liver and kidneys can

only handle so much at one time. Excess debris forms temporary

deposits--even on the teeth sometimes, until the liver and kidneys

catch up processing the wastes.

Expect plateaus in the reversal process. Don " t get

discouraged. We are all different. Allow your body to find the

best pace. Knowing that guai thins secretions and works at a

cellular level, I have a theory. It may work mechanically,

cleaning off gummy cellular membranes. I suspect it works on the

inner mitochondrial membrane, but that " s just a guess. I feel that

the nature of our reversal depends on the nature of our deposits:

how many, how dense they are, how much and what kind of tissue is

displaced and how good your body is at detoxifying. Also important

is our electrolytic balance--we need good balance for body

maintenance, and to handle the disruption caused by extra calcium

phosphate (and who knows what else) release. A good mineral

supplement will help. This reversal process is not easy, but

neither is FMS/MPS. There " s no way out but through.

Fibromites usually have thick secretions. If you wear

glasses, they gunk up from nasal secretions when you blow your

nose. Our sweat can precipitate photoreactions from the sun. We

often need more toilet paper than most to cleanse, or we need to

use wet wipes, though this observation isn " t something that people

often volunteer. Guai thins our sticky secretions. It " s all

connected. During each stage of FMS regression, your body/mind needs

to find its new balance, and you may have to adjust your medications.

You may be able to drop medications altogether. I was off reflux

meds for a year, until recently, when the extra burden of writing the

book, coupled with an incredibly hot summer, caused the return of

reflux. I know that as soon as I cut back on the work, the reflux

will go. Listen to your body. Help it detoxify as much as possible.

While taking guaifenesin:

Get plenty of rest.

Drink six to eight glasses of water to help flush out the toxins.

Eat healthy food, but not too much of it.

Visualize your mitochondrial factories and their dirty smokestacks.

Then visualize them running cleanly, with the free flow of energy

restored.

Pay attention to your posture.

Lay down for 5 minutes a few times a day if possible--with a cold

pack on your neck, if it helps. Listen to soothing music.

Laugh as much as you can. Laughter triggers electrical impulses in

brain, to secrete natural tranquilizers and painkillers to help you

through reversal.

Stretch. Get a massage. Meditate.

Take 15-20 minute warm baths, not hot.

You are under stress, and going through the trauma of change

and rebalancing. Baby yourself. With many people, guaifenesin

therapy can result in remission of symptoms. It is not a cure.

When your symptoms are in remission, and you have resumed

activities, it is time to try cutting down or stopping your other

medications. Try this only after discussing it with your doctor.

When you are symptom-free and medication-free, slowly start to

taper the guaifenesin. At one point, your symptoms may reappear.

That means that you have at least one perpetuating factor. You may

need a maintenance dose of guaifenesin to help you eliminate excess

phosphates, just like some diabetics need insulin. Most of us didn " t

notice FMS/MPS symptoms until they became overwhelming. Take heart.

Your symptoms will lessen, long before all deposits disappear. Guai

has another rather beneficial side effect. At least 3 ladies on guai

had previous breast implants, and all of them had developed hard

capsules around the implants. Guai therapy eliminated, or at least

minimized, the capsules. This leads me to another theory. If implant

capsules form readily on people with FMS, do similar capsules form

around bursae--the sacs which hold fluid in the joints? This would

account for some of the pain and stiffness, and some of the climate

affects. The guai might minimize them as well. The double blind

study on guaifenesin at Oregon Health Sciences University, under

the auspices of M.D., was concluded in June.

The results are in data tabulation. ***