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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jaynee on January 7, 2004, at 20:24:06
I have been reading up on Guaifenesin and find it to be quite interesting. I read one account where someone had tried every SSRI for fibromyalgia and none worked but Guaifenesin did.
Anyways just curious if anyone has heard of this medication or tried it.
Thanks
Posted by MelD on January 7, 2004, at 20:55:13
In reply to Guaifenesin - anyone tried this or even heard of ?, posted by Jaynee on January 7, 2004, at 20:24:06
Guaifenesin is an expectorant, and is found in Robitussin. It thins mucus. That is all i know about it. Melodie
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on January 8, 2004, at 8:37:54
In reply to Guaifenesin - anyone tried this or even heard of ?, posted by Jaynee on January 7, 2004, at 20:24:06
I gave guaifenesin a try for fibro and personally received no benefit, though I have heard of it used successfully in quite a few patients. Definitely worth a try, but you only mentioned SSRIs -- have you tried Elavil, Flexeril, Effexor, Robaxin, Skelaxin, Soma, narcotic analgesics (i.e. Ultram, Avinza, Duragesic, Demerol, Dilaudid)...? If not, you have (statistically speaking) a better chance with any of these more orthodox treatments than with guaifenesin. On a side note, I found complete relief from debilitating fibromyalgia recently when I read that aspartame (Nutrasweet, Equal) is a potent toxin (it turns into wood alcohol, formaldehyde, and ant poison and gets stored in your fatty tissue) and that it commonly is the catalyst of many, many disorders -- fibromyalgia and CFS included. I switched to sucralose (Splenda), also calorie-free, and found a ton of sodas and such that are sweetened with sucralose and acesulfame-K. They taste a hell of a lot better than aspartame-sweetened beverages too. I have a fairly lengthy post re: aspartame and its many detriments on PB-Alternative, and I highly suggest you check it out.
As MelD said, guaifenesin is an expectorant, often used in combination with dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant) in Robitussin, Vick's, and the like. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to use a medicine that stops you from coughing along with one that causes a more productive cough, but then pharm companies make the majority of their money through public ignorance. :-)
Posted by Jaynee on January 8, 2004, at 15:22:06
In reply to Re: Guaifenesin - anyone tried this or even heard of ? » Jaynee, posted by Ame Sans Vie on January 8, 2004, at 8:37:54
Thanks for your post. I don't have FMS, but I was interested in how guaifenesin supposedly helps to withdraw excess minerals from the body. And seeing that I have Hemochromatosis, that really interested me. I will definitely look into it more.
I have only tried Manerix, (great for energy, but didn't do much for depression(PMS))Effexor xr,(couldn't tolerate the side-effects and anxiety/insomnia it caused) I am on Celexa now and I like it, it makes me a bit too lethargic, but it is the best I've tried yet. I have also just been taking zopiclone and I find am finally sleeping through the night which helps alot, actually I really like zopiclone, have even taken small amounts during the day and I like the calmness I get from it.
Thanks again for your insight into guaifenesin.
Posted by mtdew on January 8, 2004, at 22:43:44
In reply to Ame Sans Vie , posted by Jaynee on January 8, 2004, at 15:22:06
I was about to comment based on my knowledge of guaifenesin, but in double-checking a fact I came across a page with more info on guaifenesin than I ever imagined.
http://web.mit.edu/london/www/guai.html
Suffice it to say that the evidence for the effectiveness of guaifenesin as a cure for fibro is entirely anecdotal. Also, being that it is a very old drug, if it was helpful in hemochromatosis your doctor would probably already know about it. It does help with CFS-related chest congestion, however, IME.
Posted by Jaynee on January 9, 2004, at 21:12:22
In reply to Guaifenesin, posted by mtdew on January 8, 2004, at 22:43:44
Thanks for the great info.
No, my doctor wouldn't know about this. I had to ask for the genetic test for hemochromatosis, they were about to kill me with medications for lupus, which was a misdiagnosis. But thank god I looked up all the medical information and symptoms I could and came up basically with a self-diagnosis. Most doctors are unaware of hemochromatosis and how common it is. It is misdiagnosed 95% of the time.
Posted by mtdew on January 9, 2004, at 22:42:17
In reply to mtdew, posted by Jaynee on January 9, 2004, at 21:12:22
I'm glad you caught it! I read an article not too long ago about a man who was suffering from reduced libido and saw his doctor, who found that his testosterone was low, and started him on testosterone supplements. Years later the man died of untreated hemochromatosis. The excess iron had damaged the gland that produces testosterone, and the doctor never bothered to look deeper into the problem. Good catch!
This is the end of the thread.
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