Guafenisen Therapy - What works for me

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As I've mentioned on here before, I was diagnosed with MS 9 years ago (confirmed by MRI) and my Neurologist added a secondary diagnosis of Fibro this past year, primarily based on my history of having widespread pain (particularly in legs, arms, feet, neck, face, and back), with trigger points in my hips, neck face, arms, legs and back, along with problems sleeping and "fibro fog" that many of us face.

There are many times when the overriding and most crippling aspect of having both diseases are those presented by the fibro (or at least those symptoms that I attribute to the fibro - sometimes really knowing which disease or drug is causing which issue is often just a guess).

This past month after picking up a copy of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain: A Survival Manual (if you haven't read it, this book is a must have for anyone dealing with Fibro, or CMP), I read the chapter on Guafenisen therapy and how it has helped people with Fibro.  Now, I'm not one to run out and try the latest vitamin supplement and usually don't believe in supplements that aren't backed up by clinical data, but I found the information on GF very compelling.  GF is a very safe drug to take (my Dr. was completely comfortable with my taking it when I informed him of my plans).

Prior to starting the med I had spend nearly every day of the preceding two weeks in bed - very fatigued and with generalized pain all over my body (that "flu-like" ache that you can't shake).  I started taking an extra strength Mucinex (brand name Guafenisen) in the morning.  It took about a week before I started noticing results, but I have to say that the results have made a believer out of me.

Over the subsequent 2 weeks, I have not had a single day where I had to spend the day in bed - not one.  For me, this is simply unheard of.  I can usually go maybe 4 days in a row, but then I'm down for 2 or 3.  So to have 2 good weeks is incredible.  I still tend to fade in the afternoon and have to lay down, and it can still take me some effort to get up in the morning, but I haven't felt this good in a long time, and the only thing I can attribute it to is the Guafenisen - I've made no other changes to medications or diet.  The book talks about stepping up from a lower dose, but since I was familiar with Mucinex, I started with 1 - 1200mg tablet every morning, and that's it.  I haven't changed the dosage.

Would be interested to know if other guys on here have had a similar experience.

[augoldminer]

Tried Guaifenesin and stopped using any aspirin like medications.(must do for Guaifenesin to work as claimed)

It did nothing.

But i do know a couple people that use the Guaifenesin therapy for gout.
It was and still is used by a few doctors for gout in children and people that react badly to modern gout meds.
its also a good long term preventative for gout as it has very few side affects unlike modern gout meds.

[foxgrove]

Glad to hear that you are having a good stretch RA!!    I haven't tried the guaifenesin protocol per se but I know that methocarbamol which is closely related.. (main ingredient in Robaxacet) worked quite well for a few months near the beginning of this whole pain thing but very quickly lost it's effectiveness.  I hope your good effects hang on for a long time.

[db]

I tried high dossages of Mucinex for 1-2 months and simply gave up.  It may be because my chronic myofascial pain was the worse problem but as far as I could tell I was no better.

 

However, I recently went to a pain clinic and had some success getting treated for my tension head-aches.  It's a long story but the doctor also mentioned trying a treatment that worked along a similar mechanism.  Something about an MD(?) pain receptor in the brain.  To make a long story short, I was told that the cough suppressant dextromethorphan(SP?) worked on the same receptor.  Furthermore, if I took the over-the -counter medicine for a couple weeks it would work just as well as the pain clinic treatment and save me a load of $$$.

The only OTC medicine I could find, also contained guafenisen.  So if you want to try this treatment you might want to get the cough syrup an go for a dual treatment.

Incidently, the treatment seemed to work well on my headpain.  It seems to have gone away.  I treated myself for ten days using a double dose, 3-4x/day.  I caught a buzz a couple of times but other than that it was no problem.

 

db

[tojo]

I had a friend of mine about 11 years ago that was on this therapy and she said it did her a world of good. SHe was also the one that told me I had Fibro. Takes one to know one I guess LOL

[rwilli]

  I read a post awhile,maybe right here and remembered I had some Mucinex and have been taking it for the last 20 days. I know that's not very long but I see no difference, but since no two days are ever the same it is very hard to tell about anything.

    I looked at the prices and it is very expensive, anyone know of a cheaper way/form to buy it.    go slow    rwilli

[db]

Other than cough syrup, I've used Mucinex.  Seems like I paid about $60 for a months treatment.

db