Guaifenesin / pseudoephedrine for Cough and Nasal Congestion User Reviews (Page 5)

• K-R...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 22, 2019

"I’ve been taking Mucinex D for years. 2 a day—1 in the am and 1 in the pm. It was always effective for those stubborn wet coughs, helping me produce phlegm. Until fast forward, in my 30s, post 2 kids and sleep doesn’t come so naturally anymore. I had no idea insomnia was a side effect until about 4 doses in this time. I slept 11-12 am, then woke up at 2:30 am and was WIDE awake and frustrated until 6 am, in which I slept from 6-8 am. Still not realizing it was from the Mucinex D, I took more at 8 am. By 7 pm, while trying to close my eyes and rest, my eyeballs popped back open, when suddenly I realized, “What if...” Sure enough, it was the Mucinex D causing me to be ridiculously tired but unable to sleep. It is the pseudoephedrine ingredient, which is a stimulant. Unfortunately, this side effect does not outweigh the benefits for me. So I’ll be drinking as much water as possible for the next 3 hours before bedtime and hoping for the best tonight. Maybe I should try the Mucinex plain and see how that goes."

• Anonymous
• October 14, 2011

"I have severe sinus problems all year long, but worse in the fall. The pressure pain is almost unbearable. My doctor has prescribed everything under the sun to help relieve the symptoms, and nothing works better than Mucinex D. I never have any drainage with my sinuses... just the pain/pressure, and I can get almost immediate relief after I take 1 bi-layer tablet (1200 mg guaifenesin and 120 mg pseudoephedrine). The medicine says it has an immediate release layer that works quickly, and it does. Then it has an extended release layer that works over the next few hours. I also have the side effect of insomnia, but it's so worth it to relieve that sinus pressure (those of you who have it know what I'm talking about!)."

• Dia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 7, 2015

"Took DM at bedtime and will never do that again! Yes, I felt better and felt some relief, however, the heart palpitations were out of this world! I was so jittery still 3 hours later that I literally couldn't sit still in my bed. Finally, I was able to sleep at 3 and woke up feeling super dehydrated and almost hungover, with puffy eyes and a bad headache. No más!"

• Anonymous
• June 23, 2009

"I had been struggling for several days with a severe head cold that was beginning to expand to my chest. I was using other over-the-counter medications with little effect. A co-worker mentioned Mucinex D, and I began to experience significant relief with the first dose. I did add an over-the-counter nighttime pain reliever, which really helped me to sleep through the night."

• Anonymous
• September 18, 2016

"Took this for relief as I looked and sounded pretty bad. I was keeping everyone up with my coughing and sneezing. I don't take medicine, but I caved in and grabbed this. I guess from hours of exhaustion, I passed out but woke up 2 hours later just wide awake! I couldn't go back to sleep, which made me so incredibly mad. I'm already an anxious person who is paranoid about everything. So this didn't help. It helped my cough calm down, but the next day it was worse. I was able to sleep without feeling like my nose was plugged up!"

• Lio...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 18, 2015

"My doctor told me that the key to Mucinex working effectively is to take it with a full 8 oz of water and then keep drinking water throughout the day. The water is what helps thin it out. If I don't drink plenty of water with it, it doesn't work. When I do, it often works all day and night. I take it early in the day because it does keep me awake. I hope this helps, good luck, and I hope you feel better. * Use a humidifier too, the moisture in the air keeps you from drying out."

• sic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 4, 2016

"Took this about three days into a pretty bad cold to relieve congestion, especially in my sinuses. Worked a charm! Took the adult dose around noon that day. Didn't have the same jittery side effects some are reporting and was, thankfully, able to take a nap that afternoon with the sinus relief it provided. My mom, on the other hand, says she can't take it after noon or else she won't sleep all night, so I understand your pain. All in all, worked great for me, but I understand that some people (for whatever reason) might have trouble sleeping if taken too late in the day."

• Cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 12, 2018

"All I do is simply plan taking this in relation to my sleep routine. I take it in the morning, and then that way it has no effect on my sleep, and it gives me the entire day to expel whatever needs to come out."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 8, 2012

"This definitely works to clear up nasal congestion, but I took it at 5:30 pm and was up all night. I haven't been able to sleep at all. It's now 4:30 am, and I'm still wide awake. I have to go to work, so I will be taking another dose in an hour to keep me up. I will not take a second dose later today so I can sleep, but I look forward to being able to breathe while I'm at work, so still worth taking the medicine."

• Anonymous
• August 25, 2008

"My husband has been using this as a maintenance drug for congestion and to alleviate a terrible snoring problem. After many years, now they tell us it will no longer be marketed in the strength that helps him. He is being told by the pharmacist to use Mucinex D 12 hr, but the strength is very different from the Pseudovent."

• Nat...
• February 19, 2018

"No complaints, my husband left to go to the pharmacy at 2 am to pick up anything to bring me comfort. I've had flu-like symptoms since last Wednesday, got through the worst but now left conquering thick phlegm that I'd have to cough so hard to try to get out, my head felt swollen and my eyes would get burning hot, bringing on horrible throat and headache. Ok, so took this at 2:15 am, and within a half hour, I was asleep, and slept until I had to take my children to school at 8:30 am. This has made the mucus so much easier to get 'up and out', I do not have to hack so hard. For my experience, this has helped so much, I wish I had taken this a full day earlier. He also got me the day/night pack, I plan on taking the night pill at about 7 pm, being that I hope I can make it to work tomorrow and want plenty of sleep. I feel sleepy now even with my 2:15 am dose. I am normally very sensitive to medications but have not experienced high heart rate, dizziness, or nausea. I would buy again."

• Anonymous
• September 12, 2011

"I had an experience with a rare side effect. I began sweating profusely after taking the pill (recommended dosage) after 3 days. After reading further, I have figured out that I drank 2 cups of coffee the third morning when I took the pills, which led to the sweating. Otherwise, I have had no adverse side effects, and it works great! It is just not a good combination with coffee!"

• sle...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 23, 2019

"I agree with so many that have left a review here! I do feel it helps with my cough and congestion, but I agree with the feeling of anxiety, heart racing, and most definitely sleepless nights (which is due to the pseudoephedrine in it)! I need my sleep. I may just take it in the AM or just not take it anymore. Not to mention it is very expensive for OTC (behind the pharmacy) medicine. My prescriptions with my insurance are way less than this!"

• Sic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 7, 2022

"I will never take this again, ever. While it did clear my sinuses and gave me that kind of relief, it kept me up all night long, and not just insomnia, but feelings of anxiety as well. I wouldn't even risk taking this during the day, so severe were the side effects. I'm going to stick to my Alka-Seltzer Cold and Flu and my NyQuil. Seriously, do not take this."

• Anonymous
• October 14, 2009

"This worked on my sinuses, however, my heart rate increases so much that I feel jittery. The insomnia is a setback. The relief is great, but I'm not sure the things that go with it are worth it. Although my heart rate being up made me lose weight."

• Can...
• March 16, 2019

"I took this for some relief of nasal and chest congestion. Let me warn you, do not take it, as within a half hour my heart was racing and I was jittery and anxious. On top of it, it made me sick to my stomach and I feel like someone is sitting on my chest. I can’t quench my thirst, no matter how much water I drink. I hope this feeling doesn’t last the entire 12 hours. This is horrible. I will never take this again, and this should be removed from the market."

• Tir...
• February 19, 2017

"This stuff is torture! I was coughing a little and had some allergy congestion. The pharmacist recommended this stuff. It's 2:00 AM. I took two pills at 3 in the afternoon, and I have been coughing my lungs out ever since. I'm literally coughing so hard, I'm sweating and have a headache. I feel edgy, and there is no hope of getting sleep tonight."

• u2a...
• November 6, 2011

"My sister recommended this to me while I was experiencing several nasal congestion and cough. The product works GREAT WHEN USED AS DIRECTED. She suggested taking 2 (12 hour) pills instead of the one that was suggested on the box. (She had done this and thought I'd be okay.) I experienced VERY SEVERE side effects. I became extremely lightheaded, dizzy beyond belief, loss of concentration, and severe loss of appetite. I literally felt like I was walking on clouds. I suggest also not taking this at night as it will keep you up ALL night. One pill in the morning is enough to get you by."

• Anonymous
• October 9, 2011

"I took one Mucinex DM at 11 am, and coughing and mucus flow was reduced significantly, although accompanied by dry mouth. Yesterday at noon, I would have given it 10/10. However, I took one capsule at 8 pm and had severe insomnia and could not fall asleep until 8 the next morning."

• nut...
• February 20, 2013

"Works great on my sinus pressure/cold. Now I can breathe, no more stuffy nose or runny nose. Had no problem sleeping, but it did give me a severe headache-so now trying half the recommended dose. Got immediate relief, just waiting to see if it will still give me a headache."

• Yen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2022

"I took this around 9 pm, it is now 4:26 am, and I have not been able to sleep at all! I have extreme dry mouth and jitters. I really wish this was specified on the box or mentioned by my doctor. I just want this out of my body! I will NOT be taking this again. This is just a reminder of why I typically DO NOT take medicine."

• Sin...
• February 3, 2012

"Mucinex D works wonders for congestion and coughs. I took this in the evening around 9:00, though, and it's now 6:00 in the morning, and I have not slept a wink. I would recommend taking this as early as possible."

• Unh...
• April 21, 2017

"This is my second day of using Mucinex. At this point, I'm not sure why my doctor recommended it. I never did have congestion, just a sore throat. Anyway, I'll not take it anymore, it's 1:00 a.m., I'm totally exhausted and cannot sleep. Last night it was 12:30 or so, and I finally went to sleep. I'm used to falling asleep around 9:30. I do take sleeping pills, and I just took my dose of those, hope it puts me to sleep. Otherwise, how do you make it through the next day? I just read the label, guess I missed before that it can cause sleeplessness, or I wouldn't have taken it at all. It's expensive and another drug going in the garbage can!"

• Eri...
• January 5, 2018

"I confess that the price on this one gave me a bit of sticker shock. But after two days of little sleep with a stuffy nose from a cold... well, desperate times. The pills are large - something to take into consideration - but these work amazingly well! The presence of pseudoephedrine makes these difficult to find; you can't order them online, and you have to show a license to get your hands on them in the store. But they're worth the trouble. The first night I took them, I slept all night. It did give me heart palpitations, due to the pseudoephedrine, a stimulant, but in my case, that's a side effect I was willing to live with. I hate to spend money (these cost us $32), but the great results made me a believer in this case!"

• Sin...
• March 2, 2011

"I am a long-time sinus sufferer. Mucinex is a godsend. Mucinex-D works fabulously for the morning and all-day relief. For bed, I just take Mucinex (without the D) so that I don't have the stimulant effect of the pseudoephedrine running through me. Works like a charm to get some sleep. Do not like generic versions. They don't work like the brand-name Mucinex does. Expensive, but so worth every cent!"