Mucinex DM Review

I'm not particularly susceptible to colds, but once I have one, it invariably invades my sinuses and my chest.  And, that brings us to now.

Maybe it was that flight back from LaGuardia last weekend.  Spirit Air sure knows how to pack the plane.  A couple of days later I felt the classic symptoms of a summer cold.  I felt achy, warm and glassy eyed.  I hate this feeling.  And, I knew that while the mild fever would pass in a day or two, I would soon find this cold settling in my sinuses and lungs.

By Wednesday morning my sinuses were stuffed and my  chest congested.  Coughing had kept me up most of the previous night, so I went right to my medicine cabinet and found the Mucinex DM Expectorant and Nasal Decongestant - Maximum Strength.

Mucinex DM Expectorant and Nasal Decongestant

For the last couple of years this has been my "go to" OTC med for dealing with the misery of the hacking cough and full chest.

Mucinex DM Expectorant and Nasal Decongestant combines the cough suppressant, Dextromethorphan HBr (60mg) with the expectorant, Guaifenisen (1200mg) in an extended release formulation.

How it Works

Taken twice a day, these very large pills help to calm, but not eliminate my cough.  Coughing is important.  That's how we eliminate the junk we have in our lungs and bronchial tubes.  That's where the Guaifenisen comes in.  Derived from the guaiac tree, this natural expectorant has been used by Native Americans for hundreds of years.

Essentially, Guaifenisen works by attracting moisture to the phlegm and mucous trapped in the repiratory system making it easier to expel when coughing.  For me that makes the difference between a couple of days of discomfort or a week or more of uncontrolled hacking and sleepless nights.

I generally find that I begin to feel relief within a couple of hours of taking the medication.  Usually I start my course a couple of hours before bedtime.  My coughing diminishes to a point that I don't find myself awake all night but apparently the congestion in my chest seems to free itself.

During the day, I'm more aware of the amount of phlegm my coughing produces.  It may not be pretty, but it's awfully effective at minimizing the amount of time that I feel congested.

Side Effects

This OTC medication is meant to take with at least a full glass of water.  Personally, I suffer no side effects at all other than I find the taste of this medication appalling.  For some it may cause nausea (not too uncommon) and if taken to excess can promote kidney stones (uncommon).

My Viewpoint

I'm like most men.  I'm pretty good at suffering through most household accidents.  Gash a hand?  No problem.  But the common cold makes me into a whining pathetic soul.  Just ask Veronica about that. Mucinex DM Expectorant and Nasal Decongestant provides me with quick relief from the secondary symptoms of a cold.  A side benefit is it allows the lovely Veronica to sleep better as well.

I highly recommend Mucinex DM Expectorant and Nasal Decongestant.