Kicks the Mucus Monster Out? I Guess I'll Just Have to Take it on Faith
Written: Jan 04 '06
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Non-drowsy, non-stimulant
Cons: Relief is minimal, very expensive, very bad taste
The Bottom Line: I've heard from other people that Mucinex worked well for them, but it hasn't done much for me.
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| dagny21's Full Review: Mucinex DM Expectorant, Guaifenesin Cough Suppress... |
I'll admit it. The commercials got to me. The first time I saw the Mucinex commercial, I wasn't even sick and yet I still couldn't wait to try it. I'm sure you've seen the commercials, but in case you haven't, you can check out Mr. Mucus online at http://www.mucinex.com/
Mucinex
Mucinex is an expectorant, which means it's main purpose is to break up mucus and make your cough more productive, so you can get rid of your congestion faster. According to the web site, Mucinex is "the only FDA-approved, long-lasting expectorant that provides non-drowsy relief on 1 convenient bi-layer tablet." On the bottle, it also says it's a cough suppressant.
Ingredients in the Tablets
These "bi-layer" tablets are each made up of 600 mg guaifenesin(whose job is to thin mucus and make it easier to cough up) and 30 mg dextromethorphan (intended to suppress nonproductive cough).
Using Mucinex
People 12 years of age and old are supposed to take 1 to 2 tablets every 12 hours, with no more than 4 tablets taken in a 24-hour period (it is not safe to take more than 120 mg of dextromethorphan in a 24-hour period).
My Experience
During my last few colds, I've tried taking Mucinex. I paid a whopping $14.00 (Alaska prices) for just 20 tablets. Fortunately, I've only taken a few tablets per cold, so my bottle has lasted awhile.
~Taste
Mucinex tablets taste bad! The instructions on the bottle tell you not to break, chew, or crush the tablets before you take them. Regardless, the pills start dissolving the instant they touch your mouth, and the taste is pretty bad, so swallow quickly with lots of water. Even so, I usually have to brush my teeth afterwords to get rid of the taste.
~Pills
These pills are not small, but not particularly large either. People who have trouble swallowing pills will have about an average amount of trouble with these.
~Side Effects
I experienced no side effects
~Relief?
Because Mucinex doesn't have a lot of effects on your body's symptoms (except for loosening the cough), it's kind of hard to tell if it's working. I have not taken Mucinex when I've been heavily congested, but each time I've taken it my congestion has been a bother, and yet when I take the pill, the noticable effect has been so subtle that I can't be sure it's not a placebo effect. My cough seems slightly more watery, and perhaps a little less frequent.
Final Thoughts
Maybe the effects would be more noticable if my congestion was really bad, not just mildly annoying. But, as it is, I've resigned myself to taking Mucinex in the same spirit as Vitamin C when I have a cold, in that I'm just assuming it's doing something positive. When I run out of tablets, I probably won't buy another bottle, unless I get a truly bad cold and feel desperate for relief. Then we'll see if the effects are more dramatic.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
dagny21
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 in Kids & Family |
 - Top 500 |
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Member: Christine D
Location: Alaska
Reviews written: 368
Trusted by: 63 members
About Me:
Happily married mother of one boy.
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