OTC Cough meds

[Guest guest]

Just a quick word to clarify something. The two common drugs sold over the counter as cough medications are guaifenesin and dextro methorpan. They are often together in the same cough medicine in things like Robitussin DM or Mucinex DM.

But here's what to remember about these two drugs:

Dextro methorphan is a cough suppressant so you want to take this only if you are trying to suppress a cough. If you don't want to suppress be careful to read the label of the cough medicine you are taking to make sure there is no dextro methorphan.

Guaifenesin is an expectorant. That means it thins and liquifies whatever mucous and phlegm are in the respiratory tract. It is sold by itself in products like Mucinex. It will not suppress a cough, it will only act as an expectorant.

Other cough suppressants like codeine are generally only available by prescription though I understand in some states cough syrup with codeine is available otc by following a special procedure at the pharmacy counter.

Beth

Moderator

Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08

To: Breathe-Support Sent: Mon, November 30, 2009 10:09:20 PMSubject: Re: just a few questions for anyone who would like to answer

For cough-only.. .there is a Guaifensin OTC cough tablets I have taken that works ok, but the Guaifen-Codein prescription works the best for me. C_53_Familial IPF_5/09Washington

From: Soulliere <johnsbatik (AT) yahoo (DOT) com>To: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. comSent: Mon, November 30, 2009 10:36:27 AMSubject: Re: just a few questions for anyone who would like to answer

What kind of over th counter stuff do you guys use......... coughs runny nose etc......... . been a long time since I've had a cold. I don't wanna get busted for meth lab....lol

<FONT face="comic sans ms" color=#40007f size=3> Soulliere & nbsp; <IMG src="http:// us.i1.yimg. com/us.yimg. com/i/mesg/ tsmileys2/ 50.gif"></FONT>

From: nicunrs01 <nicunrs01 (AT) yahoo (DOT) com>To: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. comSent: Sun, November 29, 2009 12:35:41 AMSubject: just a few questions for anyone who would like to answer

So I have been looking at the posts here and doing a lot of research on the net since I found out last week that I am thought to have UIP and now I have a few questions. First I am suppose to meet with the pulomologist here in omaha on tuesday and I know he is going to want to start me on steriod therapy but i want to go to either denver or UCLA for a second opinion and think that the meds would interfer with the testing and results ANY THOUGHTS?Second does anyone know how long it takes to get into one of the centers of excellence primarily UCLA or Denver. I am leaning towards these ones because Denver is closest to Omaha and would not be to hard to travel back and forth to. UCLA because my husbands Aunt was the coordinator for the heart lung transplant center until a few years ago when she retired so she knows all the guys involved with the lung transplant team the chief surgeon and so on. I am a firm believer that in healthcare you are

better off if you know someone somewhere. Third do any of you know anythin about a Dr. Anne-Louise Katzenstein with SUNY Syracuse? Is she associated with a center of excellence or a ILD center? she is the one who read my biopys as being UIP with large areas of inflammation. Just wondering if she is known in this field thanks for listening and helping me as I stumble down and very scary unfamilier road. I can tell you this has given me a much greater appreciaption for what the parents of my little patients go through as they watch their precious child lay in their incubators and listen to me tell them "We have no way of telling every baby is so different" those words have such a huge meaning to me know. This is definately one of the lessons I belive that my Lord wants me to take away from this struggle. Thank goodness I am listening. LOL Good night all and please

advise!!!!