Re: Robitussin Question

[Guest guest]

techinically we aren't supposed to give guafenisen to kids with CF

but I use it only when he gets a cold. It just gives him a little

help in the breathing dept.

> I THOUGHT LAST YEAR I READ THAT YOU SHOULDN'T USE ANY MEDS. WITH THE

> GUAIFISEN(SP?) IN IT??? HAVE I GOT IT MUDDLED WITH ANOTHER WORD.

>

> JULIE (AUSTRALIA)

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hey ,

Are you talking about my best friend in the whole wide world,

Guaifenesin? Ah! I'm crushed! Guaifenesin is a good thing.

Perhaps you're confusing it with an ingredient in one of Robitussin's

other products. Robitussin makes several different formulas. Here's

Robitussin's web site so you can view their products and ingredients:

http://www.robitussin.com/

" Plain " Robitussion (also generics that are cheaper) contains only

guaifenesin, which is a mucolytic (thins mucus). Guaifenesin is also

labeled as an expectorant.

When was much younger, during allergy season he'd get a stuffy

nose with thick mucus draining down the back of his throat; he'd get

this nonstop, dry night time cough.

His doctor said we could give him Robitussin CF (ironic name for the

stuff, right?). It contains guaifenesin to thin mucus, pseudoephedrine

to decongest the nose, and detromethorphan to quiet the cough. If we

didn't give him this, then he'd lose sleep, burn too many calories

with nonproductive coughing, and even end up coughing until he vomited

in bed.

Most doctors will tell you that even with CF, there are appropriate

and valid times for using a cough suppressant. You just never want to

do this habitually.

But I've always wondered why doctors don't tell their patients to

start taking guaifenesin at first sign of infection when mucus begins

to thicken and turn color.

Many women (with and without CF) have been able to conceive after

taking gauifenesin because it thins mucus throughout the body,

including thick cervical mucus.

My theory has always been that since it thins mucus throughout the

body, then perhaps it would prevent thick CF mucus from plugging and

scarring the lungs, sinuses, eustachian tubes, pancreas, liver, and

gall bladder.

I have a wonderful ENT doctor back home in Oklahoma. He was one of the

first doctors I ever heard admit to CF carrier symptoms, and he said

it's probably why I have chronic sinusitis. He prescribed 1,000 mg.

guaifenesin (a prescription tablet called Allfen) to take in the

morning, and another 300 mg. to take in the evening three days prior

and three days after flying. Otherwise I generally end up with a

massive sinus infection and raging ear infection with bulging ear

drums.

I'm sure would rather pop a guaifenesin tablet than have to sit

inhaling Pulmozyme through a nebulizer. And guaif is a whole lot

cheaper, even if you get the prescription guaifenesin (which insurance

will cover).

To help guaif's thinning properties work properly, you should drink

*lots* of water during the day. (When I'm taking gauif, I increase

water, but also count coffee, tea and cranberry juice as part of my

water consumption, but not milk, soda, or citrus juices -- I guess I

figure it the beverage doesn't have the viscosity of water, then I

can't count it as a water!)

Also, just a note: guaif can cause a low uric acid reading on blood

tests. But as long as you know this, then you won't freak out.

Kim

--- " Baxter " <scottie@a...> wrote:

I THOUGHT LAST YEAR I READ THAT YOU SHOULDN'T USE ANY MEDS. WITH THE

GUAIFISEN(SP?) IN IT??? HAVE I GOT IT MUDDLED WITH ANOTHER WORD.

JULIE (AUSTRALIA)