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Codeine / guaifenesin for Cough User Reviews

Brand names: Cheratussin AC, Guaiatussin AC, Virtussin A/C, Guaifenesin AC, Cheracol with Codeine, Robafen AC, Gani-Tuss NR, Guaitussin AC, Codar GF, Mar-cof CG, Bitex Liquid, Allfen CD, Allfen CDX, Mytussin AC, Guiatussin with Codeine, Glydeine, Guaifen-C, Guaifen AC, Codafen, Guai-Co, Duraganidin NR, Diabetic Tussin C Dex-Tuss ExeClear-C Guiatuss AC Brontex M-Clear WC Pro-Clear …show all brand names

Rating: 5.6

Codeine / guaifenesin has an average rating of 5.6 out of 10 from a total of 85 reviews for the treatment of cough. 44% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 42% reported a negative experience.

10
22%
9
15%
8
6%
7
2%
6
7%
5
5%
4
0%
3
7%
2
9%
1
26%

Reviews for Codeine / guaifenesin

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Fee...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 23, 2012

Codeine / guaifenesin "I had a cold and bad cough for two weeks before I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with bronchitis. This has been amazing! It's bringing up the mucus that the OTC medicines weren't, and the cough is very minimal now. I take the dose on the lower end of the range prescribed, and it's doing the job. So glad I finally caved and went to the doctor."

10 / 10
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54 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 5, 2016

Codeine / guaifenesin "I was prescribed Cheratussin AC for a cough due to acute bronchitis. However, it seems to make the cough worse. My body wants to cough up phlegm, and the medicine tries to suppress the coughing reflex. That makes my body try even harder to cough up phlegm, and just ends up giving me a headache and a throat that hurts more."

3 / 10
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40 Report
  • ctr...
  • January 7, 2012

Codeine / guaifenesin "I have been taking this medicine for a week, and I am still coughing. I am finally getting some sleep, but I am still waking up with coughing fits. I have not had any side effects, but I can't say this medicine works."

3 / 10
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46 Report
  • Bay...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 12, 2014

Codeine / guaifenesin "My 8-yr-old daughter had pneumonia, diagnosed 6 days ago, along with her Z-pack antibiotics. Cheratussin AC not only quieted her cough when it was hurting but helped to expel the congestion. No bad side effects, but hated the bitter taste."

8 / 10
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42 Report
  • bio...
  • January 14, 2012

Codeine / guaifenesin "Had a cough for close to a year. I thought it was from congestive heart failure. Had been using Mucinex DM for the thick phlegm. It helped some but not enough. Then I got a cold and my cough and phlegm got much worse. My family insisted I see a doctor. The doctor prescribed this, what a relief it has been. Getting much phlegm out and cough is almost gone after 4 days on the syrup! Has been an answer to prayer so far! I had been battling this cough for a year, and it took so much out of me. Amazing to have it helped so much!"

10 / 10
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40 Report

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  • Joh...
  • November 7, 2014

Codeine / guaifenesin "Like clockwork, my allergy to Mountain Cedar starts around late October. Congestion, cough, but no fever. My doctor prescribes Cheratussin syrup, and it works great. I also take Mucinex DM with this, and it stops the congestion and cough after about an hour. I couldn't make it without this."

9 / 10
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31 Report
  • Anonymous
  • November 19, 2011

Codeine / guaifenesin "I took this medicine for coughing at night and had a very negative reaction to it. I seemed to have all of the classic signs of a heart attack - pain in the chest and back - it felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. Heart rate went down very low and blood pressure was low and then high."

1 / 10
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35 Report
  • Anonymous
  • March 22, 2010

Codeine / guaifenesin "Great medicine. I coughed so much that the dr said I have bruised my ribs. Very painful, this stuff is the best when you are having severe constant coughing. It will give you relief and let you rest. What is better than the OTC cough syrups."

10 / 10
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32 Report
  • Anonymous
  • November 23, 2012

Codeine / guaifenesin "Been coughing for 3 weeks, and this helped a lot. I am taking all sorts of over-the-counter pills, gels, capsules, hot water, cold water mixes with multiple active ingredients, and Cheratussin AC syrup gave me better relief than anything else. I still couldn't sleep through the night and ended up taking middle-of-the-night doses with the other things as it took over 4 weeks to get over my flu. When I was younger, I got a codeine cough syrup, and it didn't help, but this time, this did."

10 / 10
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32 Report
  • bri...
  • January 3, 2011

Codeine / guaifenesin "I took this for a cough I was having in conjunction with a sore throat. Every time I coughed, it just made my throat feel terrible. It did nothing for my cough at all, and it kept me up all night. The medicine and the cough, combined, made me lay awake. The codeine just didn't seem to knock me out. I had better luck with Theraflu Warming."

3 / 10
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33 Report
  • Rei...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • September 21, 2019

Codeine / guaifenesin "I used to use promethazine, but my ENT will only prescribe Robatussin or Virtussin whenever I catch a sinus infection. It’s been a huge relief to help me sleep at night, but still allows small coughs to slip through here and there. However, it’s much better than those major coughs where you’re just left breathless."

9 / 10
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13 Report
  • Anonymous
  • January 26, 2010

Codeine / guaifenesin "My daughter and son were both prescribed this, and it didn't work for either of them. In fact, they both complained that it gave them a bad headache about an hour after taking it, and they are both still coughing all night long. Our pediatrician said this was just as good as Tussionex, but much cheaper. I'd rather pay a $40 co-pay for the Tussionex since I know it works. No relief for me or my children."

2 / 10
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34 Report
  • CR0...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 3, 2015

"Had a bad cold for a few days, so I went to the doctor for a check, and she prescribed me Cheratussin (guaifenesin with codeine) to help me get some restful sleep. Took the first 10 ml dose, and 45 minutes later, my heart is pounding, and my face and arms feel really warm. Don't like the heart pounding, and won't be taking any more of this stuff. I'll switch back to my Delsym that doesn't work quite as well, but doesn't make me feel like my heart is going to explode."

5 / 10
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17 Report
  • Anonymous
  • January 20, 2010

Codeine / guaifenesin "This did little for my cough - still waking up in the middle of the night with coughing fits. Even when I take another dose at night, it doesn't help. In fact, I've now woken up every night while I've been taking this, so I will stop."

2 / 10
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27 Report
  • Ros...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 19, 2015

Codeine / guaifenesin "I would have given this medicine a 10 if it wasn't for the dull headache (may not have been due to the drug, I was battling a sinus infection anyway) after I took this medicine. Cough was gone within an hour. Make sure you drink a lot of water. Maybe that's why I got the headache too. Also, I noticed that I was very sensitive after taking this drug. I actually cried a little bit because of the sinus pressure when usually I just suck it up with pain and never cry. Stopped wheezing. Make sure to take a warm shower too after taking this drug, it will also help clear the mucus."

7 / 10
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18 Report
  • Jes...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • December 31, 2019

"Got this to help sleep as I have an upper respiratory infection and have mucus stuck in my chest. Started taking a 5-day dose of Z-pack, and within hours, my mucus was less congested! Was doing great throughout the day and took this medicine as prescribed by the doctor - supposed to help sleep and cough, well, it made the cough worse and no sleep. Will not be taking it every again."

1 / 10
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13 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 1, 2012

Codeine / guaifenesin "Works great! Quiets a hacking cough, no matter how bad. Works the best when other products don't work. Does cause drowsiness, though, but that's not bad if it's night time or you're convalescing at home anyway from being sick. Great stuff!"

9 / 10
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28 Report
  • Poo...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 22, 2018

Codeine / guaifenesin "Unfortunately, I had the same negative experience with this cough/codeine combination as another reviewer. My doctor said it should help me sleep and not keep me up coughing all night. (I was recently diagnosed with viral bronchitis.) This did just the opposite! I took this at 11:00 p.m. and then laid awake until 3:30 a.m.! I had to get up and take some NyQuil just to get a few hours of sleep before having to get up for the day. Thought this may be a fluke, so I tried the same thing the next evening....sure enough...I laid awake again into the wee hours! I'll stick to the over-the-counter, Mucinex DM."

1 / 10
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16 Report
  • awa...
  • November 19, 2007

Codeine / guaifenesin "This medication should be taken exactly as the labeling indicates... impressive relief of symptomatic coughs! Finally got a good night's sleep, which did as much to relieve my condition as anything. Great."

9 / 10
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27 Report
  • Ind...
  • December 11, 2008

Codeine / guaifenesin "I am 68 and have had asthma for about 15 years. For a while, I was hospitalized about once a year with a respiratory infection. Thanks to my doctor, we have headed off many infections over the years with a short treatment program of Iophen-C NR to get rid of the congestion. It has worked well for me. I also take anti-convulsants (since I was 15) and suffer no side effects with the syrup. I put the bottle on the counter with a slip of paper to monitor the dosage. It has been a blessing for me."

9 / 10
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26 Report
  • Bea...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 3, 2019

"My doctor first provided this cough syrup to help stop an insane cough from a sinus infection I had when I couldn't sleep for like a week due to hacking. I tried everything else, but nothing worked. I took 5 ml (half dose) as I had never taken it before just to be sure. Nothing happened. So I took the rest of the 5 ml (full dose, 10 ml), and it immediately calmed everything down, including my cough, and I slept well. No side effects here. No hangover. No weird dreams. And it tastes actually better than any of the OTC cough syrups. I only have to take it at night and only a couple of nights at the most when my cough resolves. Works well when all else fails."

9 / 10
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9 Report
  • Kst...
  • September 13, 2015

Codeine / guaifenesin "Amazing product! I hope this isn't TMI, but I was feeling quite sick as 'cold' was sitting on my chest and had a lot of mucus that wasn't coming up. Took this medicine, and it really does help produce a more productive cough and less frequent, which meant I could clear my throat of mucus and wasn't coughing quite as much. Took for a max of two a day. Felt a bit better after the first dose. Cost me around"

10 / 10
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14 Report
  • Kym...
  • February 2, 2018

Codeine / guaifenesin "I’m awake for the 3rd night in a row now. This stuff tastes awful, but I could deal with that if it would work. My doctor used to give me Tussionex, but she has a new NP who seemed to think I needed this instead, even when I told her I’d like to go with what I know has worked in the past. I’d rather be using Mucinex or Theraflu. At least with those options, I can sleep through the night. This seems to make my cough worse."

1 / 10
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11 Report
  • mat...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 16, 2018

Codeine / guaifenesin "I was told to take 5 mL by mouth 3x/day. I was concerned about the codeine, but it seems to have no effect due to the small amount of it in it (Class V opioid liquid, so pretty safe with prescribed use). I was given a 7-day supply (105 mL), and it seems to help a bit, but not enough. I would recommend an OTC cough syrup with NyQuil or ZzzQuil."

6 / 10
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8 Report
  • Ano...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 18, 2023

"After 3 weeks of a nagging cough, 1.5 bottles of NyQuil later and completed taking antibiotics, steroids, an inhaler, and the pearls, went back to urgent care. He assured me I would sleep with this as I haven’t had a full night's sleep in 3 weeks. The pharmacist mentioned it’s way better than NyQuil and I’ll sleep great. Not at all. I’m coughing so much and not tired at all. My chest and head hurt so badly from all the coughing. It gets to a point that you just cry. I don’t recommend this medication. Back to NyQuil, I guess."

1 / 10
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3 Report

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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.