How does mucinex d work

This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cough, cold, or allergy medicine. Guaifenesin and pseudoephedrine are contained in many combination medicines.

Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much of a certain drug. Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine if you are also using any other drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used together. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide. Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can worsen these effects. Ask your doctor before taking guaifenesin and pseudoephedrine with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures. Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient.

Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.

Mucinex D works by combining the actions of the drugs guaifenesin and pseudoephedrine. Each ingredient can affect different parts of your body in different ways. Here are the effects you should be aware of while you take this drug. The pseudoephedrine in Mucinex D can affect your heart and increase your blood pressure. Symptoms of heart-related side effects include:. The active ingredients in Mucinex D can both affect your nervous system. However, these side effects are rare.

Guaifenesin rarely causes stomach problems when you use it at recommended doses. Pseudoephedrine can cause the following side effects:. A possible side effect of Mucinex D is an allergic reaction. This may cause a skin rash. If you experience a rash after taking Mucinex D, stop taking it and contact your doctor.

Taking this drug if you have certain conditions increases your risk of severe side effects. Talk to your doctor before taking Mucinex-D if you have medical conditions such as:.

You should also contact your healthcare provider if your cough persists longer than 7 days or if it is accompanied by a fever that does not go away. Mucinex has little evidence to suggest that it has a strong effect to help you clear secretions. Some of the combinations listed above also are counter-intuitive. For instance, Mucinex DM has a cough suppressant, when you should be trying to thin your secretions and get rid of the excess mucus by coughing.

Caution should always be used when taking combinations of medications that may reduce the efficacy of the other medication. Staying properly hydrated with water is an important factor in helping to reduce the frequency of having thick secretions which are then difficult to cough up.

There are many other medications that can help, but they are typically reserved for chronic issues related to cystic fibrosis, chronic COPD, and other respiratory conditions. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth.

At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns? Both Sudafed and Mucinex can be very effective in their respective treatments; however, when choosing a medication for yourself, it is always best to check with your healthcare provider who has your full medical history and can help you select the most appropriate medication.

Sudafed is not typically covered by insurance or Medicare Part D. Mucinex is also not typically covered by insurance or Medicare Part D. You can use a SingleCare card to save on Sudafed or Mucinex. Common side effects of Sudafed include nervousness, restlessness, and trouble sleeping. Less common side effects may include headache, increased heartbeat, or painful urination.

With Mucinex, side effects are rare but may include dizziness, headache, diarrhea, or nausea. Whether you take Sudafed or Mucinex, be sure to follow the package directions and do not exceed the maximum recommended dose. If you have side effects that are bothersome, stop the medication and consult your healthcare provider. Patients who take a prescription monoamine oxidase inhibitor MAOI , such as selegiline or tranylcypromine , should not use Sudafed at the same time, or for two weeks after stopping the MAOI.

Sudafed also interacts with certain antidepressants such as Elavil amitriptyline or Desyrel trazodone. You should also check with your doctor if you take certain drugs such as Xanax alprazolam , headache medication such as Fioricet, ADHD medications, and painkillers.

The list of medications that may potentially interact with Sudafed is too long to list here; consult your healthcare provider for more information. Mucinex guaifenesin alone does not have any significant drug interactions, but there are drug interactions with the combination products that contain guaifenesin with other medications , such as Mucinex-DM or Mucinex-D.

Consult your healthcare provider for guidance. Sudafed has some warnings to be mindful of. It may cause nervousness, dizziness, or sleeplessness. As stated above, if you take a monoamine oxidase inhibitor MAOI , such as selegiline or tranylcypromine, do not take Sudafed. If you have certain health conditions, you should check with your doctor before using Sudafed. These include heart problems, high blood pressure hypertension , thyroid disease, diabetes, or enlarged prostate.

Sudafed should not be used in the first trimester of pregnancy. You may be able to use Sudafed pseudoephedrine in the second or third trimester but would need to consult your healthcare provider. Sudafed may be used occasionally while breastfeeding, but only if your doctor approves. Sudafed-PE phenylephrine should not be used during pregnancy.