Talk:Guaifenesin

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[edit] abuse vs. use

Please DO NOT use the word abuse in the context of psychoacitve drugs. Abuse is defined differently by many people, use however is a neutral term. I find the use of the word abuse to be very naive. I happen to be a regular drug user but I have not let it affect my social life, my work, or school.

[edit] General

Did guaifenesin originate in Asia or is it based on a substance in the Asian ecosystem or pharmacopia? The name seems to suggest guai feng or something like that. knoodelhed 16:52, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

Not really. AFAIK, the name "guaifenesin" comes from the guaiacol ring in the guaifenesin molecule (you can see it on the left in the structural image), and "-fenesin" is due to its similarity to mephenesin, a compound which was discovered earlier. (Caveat lector: WP has a policy against original research. You've been warned :) Fvasconcellos 17:41, 14 December 2006 (UTC)
This is a question about the etymology of the word and also the history of the drug. Neither has yet been addressed in this article. --Una Smith (talk) 18:26, 23 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Use in Fertility Treatment

Resolved.

How about adding a section on the use of Guaifenesin with fertility treatments. I know that my wife's doctor recommended that she take it since the other medications would dry out her vaginal mucosas, then the guaifenesin would help with lubrication, as well as promote a better environment for the sperms. Is anybody up to researching this a little better, and adding this section? It would be a great help. 71.16.238.125 (talk) 03:38, 29 November 2007 (UTC)

My doctor recommended this as well. Here's an article on it: http://www.babyhopes.com/articles/robitussin.html. I am sure there are other, more authoritative sources as well. -Corinne —Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.231.48.104 (talk) 06:57, 6 December 2007 (UTC)

Guaifenesin is very widely used to improve cervical mucus. The support for its use is almost entirely anecdotal. There is just one article on this topic in the medical literature, involving a very small population and lacking controls. I have added a section on use by women. --Una Smith (talk) 18:12, 23 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Solubility

Is this substance soluble in alcohol, water or any other solvent? There's no information about it's route of absorption in the digestive tract. 97.82.247.200 19:24, 8 September 2007 (UTC)

Guaifenesin is soluble in water (5 g/100 cm3) and freely soluble in alcohol. I believe its pharmacokinetics are not well known, hence the conspicuous lack of information in the article :) Fvasconcellos (t·c) 21:44, 8 September 2007 (UTC)


I used Benylin for my cough and it has definately changed the cervical mucus! |Thought I had a problem down there till I looked up the guaifenesin. Sorry to say it like that but thats how I can describe it. So yes in theory it could help! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 217.34.245.93 (talk) 21:02, 11 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] "Guafenisin"

Resolved.

I don't know how to do redirects, but I think somebody should redirect searches for "guafenisin" to this article. I think that's a VERY likely misspelling. I was a spelling bee champ, and I still misspelled guafenesin that way. --63.25.26.104 23:03, 28 September 2007 (UTC)

I've added that as a redirect. See Wikipedia:Redirect on how to do redirects. -- Ash Lux (talk | contribs) 18:24, 11 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Citation for its effectiveness???

Under "Treatment of asthma" the article states:

"Guaifenesin is effective in the treatment of the thickened bronchial mucosa characteristic of asthma. It works by drawing water into the bronchi."

Under "Use by singers" the article states:

"Singers sometimes refer to guaifenesin as the "wonder drug", for its ability to promote secondary mucosal secretion in the respiratory system."

But no citation is given for either of these claims. (In the second quote it is the unquestioning reference to guaifenesin's supposed "ability to promote secondary mucosal secretion in the respiratory system" that concerns me.)

I have never been able to find any reliable verification of the effectiveness of guaifenesin as an expectorant. Furthermore, many pharmacists whom I have asked about it have told me that they are not aware of any confirmation, either, that guaifenesin has any of these claimed properties.

SO: Unless unbiased clinical trials are soon cited in the article showing guaifenesin has these claimed properties, I intend to remove these claims as unverified.Daqu 18:31, 19 October 2007 (UTC)

Hm. It is a matter of fact that guaifenesin is the sole active ingredient in many cough syrups labeled "expectorant". Daqu, you are welcome to add "fact" tags to the article. Have you tried searching the medical literature? --Una Smith (talk) 18:26, 23 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Questionable Citation Re: FDA

"Moreover, because of concerns about illegal recreational drugs, the American FDA has forced manufacturers of ephedrine to add guaifenesin to over the counter weight loss medications."

This statement cites the referenced Docket response by David Riddle, but the cited work never makes this claim. The cited work is a statement by a producer of an athsma treatment requesting that the guaifenesin/ephedrine combination not be promoted to schedule II as it is a long-standing effective combination. Nowhere therein is the claim made that the inclusion of guaifenesin is being forced upon them. Quite the contrary, in fact. Suggest deletion of this entire passage. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.81.160.131 (talk) 01:47, 4 November 2007 (UTC)