robitussin DM / store brand tussin dm

my dr suggested mucinex
my dr suggested mucinex to help thin mucus. not the DM variety, but the regular type. tricky pill to swallow, but it had worked before treatment. I have not tried it yet.

sweetblood22 said:

They have mucinex in a
They have mucinex in a liquid. I tried it because of my excessive mucous, but it dried my mouth out so bad I just bled more. Was too drying for me.

yep
I am trying some mucinex today. It is removing the mucus from my nose, but it is very drying...a lot of bleeding if I blow too hard. I will probably not be trying it again! I think I would rather have the bloody nose than the sinus headache...I am using some saline nose gel, that seems to help some with the dryness though...we will see. I'll try to remember to post more info later...sleepy now!

Hal61 said:

Mucas away
Hi Dragons, good to hear from you! Last treatments, and you're standing up on third base. Still some slogging to get to home base, but keep your head up, a lot of the ground is behind you.

Except for the on-and-off gagging when trying to sleep, and the constant need to clear your throat, and a few other mucus related problems, I found it to be amazing stuff. I spent more than one hazy night standing over my stainless steel sink wondering at the sheer will and resiliance of the mucus. I've not heard of Robitusin to thin mucus, most remedies rx, and homestyle, are expectorants of one type or another, but thinning it sounds like an excellent alternate plan and I hope it brings you some relief. The good news is the mucus does pass, for everyone I know of at any rate. I always thought that if I could just refine it and use it to lubricate my car engine, I'd never have to change oil again.

best to you, Hal

Expectorants vs Supressants
"Robitussin" can mean a lot of formulations - if you want to thin mucus, you are looking for guaifenesin (an expectorant), if you want to stop coughing, you want dextromethorphan (a supressant). Read the labels and you'll see that most OTC cough syrups have either one of these or a combination of both. You can save money by buying generics (like CVS or Rite-Aid brands) and it is always better to buy them singly and mix as needed. Avoid the all-in-one syrups, like Nyquil, as they include antihistimines, decongestants and pain relievers.

Consider using a humidifier in your room at night - it doesn't help with the gagging, but does help thin the mucus enough so that you can spit it out, rather than have it form that impervious barrier at the back of your mouth. You can also try various mouthwashes and gargles before bed. I suspect none of these methods really work, but trying a different one each day helps you pass the time until the mucus recedes, which it will.