FAQs: Guaifenesin Protocol

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1. Are homeopathic preparations safe to use with guai?
2. Does Guaifenesin cause an increase of tartar/plaque on teeth?
3. Where can I purchase Guaifenesin?
4. Can guaifenesin harm my kidneys?
5. Can I take vitamins while I am taking guaifenesin?
6. How do I store guaifenesin correctly?
7. What is the proper way to find my correct guaifenesin dosage?

1. Are homeopathic preparations safe to use with guai?
Homeopathic products are extremely diluted solutions made from minerals, botanical substances, or other sources. Homeopaths base their practice on a theory called "the law of similars". They believed that water molecules retain a memory of something and that even the memory of the original substance is medicinal. For this reason homeopathic products are more dilute than you can even imagine. A drop of the original substance is diluted 99 times for each X you see on the label. If something is 30 X that means it has been diluted 99 times thirty.

Homeopaths admit that most of their substances are nothing but water with a spiritual memory and their compounds don't have to contain ANY of the original molecules to work. That's why homeopathy is NOT a problem with guaifenesin.

Dilutions of 1 to 10 are designated by the Roman numeral X (1X = 1/10, 3X = 1/1,000, 6X = 1/1,000,000). Similarly, dilutions of 1 to 100 are designated by the Roman numeral C (1C = 1/100, 3C =1/1,000,000, and so on). Most remedies today range from 6X to 30X, but products of 30C or more are marketed. top

2. Does Guaifenesin cause an increase of tartar/plaque on teeth?
Plaque and tartar don't form instantly. By the time they can be detected, much time has passed. We theorize that plaque and tartar formation may coincide with the body's effort to purge excess phosphate and retained calcium via the salivary glands. top

3. Where can I purchase Guaifenesin?
Guaifenesin is now sold over-the-counter.  If you are buying it at your local pharmacy buy Mucinex, 600 mg.  Marina del Rey Pharmacy www.fibropharmacy.com carries this same compound as well as compounded guaifenesin which does not have a short acting layer.  It is available in tablets and capsules. Mucinex contains a long acting and short acting layer--it is a combination of long and short acting guaifenesin.

If you have a prescription you can purchase a compounded guaifenesin from Marina del Rey Pharmacy. This guaifenesin is formulated as dye free to accommodate daily use over extended periods by those with fibromyalgia. 

Compounded guai  is beneficial if your insurance covers compounded drugs or you want to take it off your income tax. Your prescription should read: guaifenesin dye free 600 mg. and then quantity of pills you require. Be aware that if you live outside the US you may be limited to a three month supply per shipment.  Please check your local import laws to avoid a problem with customs.  Neither our office nor the pharmacy can advise you on local law.  www.fibropharmacy.com.

4. Can guaifenesin harm my kidneys?
We know of no renal problem with guaifenesin. It has been on the market for over seventy-five years with no known side effects. It is an over the counter medication that does not require a prescription.

The usual kidney tests (creatinine and fasting BUN) normally keep one apprised of impending problems with kidneys. In addition the urine may be monitored for releasing protein. Every physician knows how to keep an eye on this.

Our theory is that the proximal renal tubules have a genetic defect that renders them less able to maintain the meticulous control phosphates require.

This in no way impairs any other renal function and as such, FM is not a kidney disease, merely a genetic variant. top

5. Can I take vitamins while I am taking guaifenesin?
Vitamins and Minerals are all fine with guaifenesin. You don't need any additional vitamins because you are on guaifenesin but if you wish to take them, you may do so. Be sure to check the labels for added plants (ginseng, green tea extract, ephedra, alfalfa, rose hips, etc. ) and bioflavinoids (a plant pigment which blocks guai). Be sure to check any "proprietary blends" for these two things: plant names and bioflavinoids.

Vitamins, like other medications contain inactive and active ingredients. Active ingredients can be easily distinguished because they have a measurement following the name. Green Tea Extract 125 mg. is an active ingredient. Other ingredients: gelatin, accacia, starch .. those three are not medicinal and not blockers. top

6. How do I store guaifenesin correctly?
Guaifenesin, like nearly all other medications, should be stored in an area that has a temperature between 59 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit, not in the refrigerator or in a very warm room. Store it away from moisture and sunlight. Do not store in bathroom where it can be damp and humid. Do not refrigerate syrups or freeze liquid forms. Keep the LID ON TIGHTLY. The good news is that recent potency trials by Adams Pharmaceuticals have demonstrated that despite expiration dates guaifenesin quite probably retains full potency for ten years, and may have only a slightly diminished potency after that period. top

7. What is the proper way to find my correct guaifenesin dosage?
When you start guaifenesin there are several things you may experience. Some people actually feel better for 24-48 hours. This is not a common reaction, but it happens because the guaifenesin begins to help the body excrete phosphate right away if it isn't blocked.

The proper way to start your guaifenesin is 300 mg. twice a day. If this is your dose, you will feel worse rather quickly. You may feel achy, fluey, crabby, more fatigue... usually you will only experience your personal symptoms made worse. In other words, if you've never had a headache, it's unlikely that you'll have headaches. Use your own list of symptoms to guide you. (Don't use pre-printed symptoms from any list) You will know within one week if you feel worse.

If you feel just the same plus or minus after a week, then it's time to raise your dose. You should go up to 1200 mg, or 600 mg. twice a day. Some people are frightened that they will be incapacited and prefer to be cautious. If this is the case, yes, you can raise your dose to 900 mg. instead of 1200 mg.

Now the process begins the same. You might feel a bit better for 24-48 hours. (You might not). Then, if this is your dose, you will feel worse. You should wait three weeks this time -- to finish your first month on guaifenesin and evaluate your situation. If you have someone mapping you, at the end of this first month, get checked again. If you don't, look at your calendar or your symptoms and see if you feel worse. You can use a chart. Remember the less you write the easier it will be to track your progress.

If at the end of the first month, you don't feel worse, it's time to raise your dose again, this time up to 1800 mg a day. This dose works for 90 percent of patients so you have an excellent chance to respond. If for some reason, after another month, you have not felt worse, recheck your products very carefully. While it's possible you may need more than 1800 mg. of guai to reverse your FM, especially if you usually require large doses of medication---this dose works for 90 percent of patients. That's why you should check your products before raising your dose. top