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Indications and Dosage
Oral
Cough Adult: As conventional preparation: 200-400 mg 4 hourly. As extended-release tab: 600-1,200 mg 12 hourly. Max: 2,400 mg daily.
Child: 6-12 years 100 mg four times daily. Max: 400 mg daily. Max treatment duration: 5 days; ≥12 years Same as adult dose. |
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Administration
May be taken with or without food.
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Contraindications
Children <6 years.
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Special Precautions
Patient with persistent or chronic cough (as seen with asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, smoking), cough accompanied by excessive phlegm, porphyria. Severe hepatic and renal impairment. Children. Treatment with a cough and cold medicine in children (especially above 6 years old) should be considered carefully due to potential risks and limited evidence on efficacy. Pregnancy and lactation.
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Adverse Reactions
Endocrine disorders: Hypouricaemia.
Gastrointestinal disorders: Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting. Nervous system disorders: Dizziness, drowsiness, headache. Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Rash. |
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Overdosage
Symptoms: Gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, drowsiness. Management: Symptomatic and supportive treatment.
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Lab Interference
May produce colour interference with determinations of urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and vanillylmadelic acid (VMA).
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Action
Description: Guaifenesin acts as an expectorant by increasing the effective hydration of the respiratory gland thereby increasing the volume and reducing the viscosity of tenacious bronchial secretions, thus facilitating its removal by natural clearance processes.
Pharmacokinetics: Absorption: Well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Time to peak plasma concentration: Approx 15 minutes. Distribution: Enters breast milk (in small amounts). Metabolism: Metabolised in the liver via oxidation and demethylation. Excretion: Mainly via urine. Elimination half-life: Approx 1 hour. |
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Chemical Structure
 Source: National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Database. Guaifenesin, CID=3516, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Guaifenesin (accessed on Jan. 23, 2020) |
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Storage
Store between 20-25°C. Protect from light.
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MIMS Class
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ATC Classification
R05CA03 - guaifenesin ; Belongs to the class of expectorants. Used in the treatment of wet cough.
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References
Anon. Guaifenesin. AHFS Clinical Drug Information [online]. Bethesda, MD. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. https://www.ahfscdi.com. Accessed 07/08/2018. Anon. Guaifenesin. Lexicomp Online. Hudson, Ohio. Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information, Inc. https://online.lexi.com. Accessed 07/08/2018. Buckingham R (ed). Guaifenesin. Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference [online]. London. Pharmaceutical Press. https://www.medicinescomplete.com. Accessed 07/08/2018. Guaifenesin 400 mg Tablet (Medline Industries). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/. Accessed 07/08/2018. Guaifenesin Extended Release 600 Mg (McKesson). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/. Accessed 07/08/2018. Guaifenesin Extended-Release (Guardian Drug Company). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/. Accessed 07/08/2018. Guaifenesin Liquid (Method Pharmaceuticals, LLC). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/. Accessed 07/08/2018. Guaifenesin Solution (Hi-Tech Pharmacal Co., Inc.). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/. Accessed 07/08/2018.
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