Guaifenesin is labeled as an 'expectorant', it breaks up mucus congestion in the chest, especially the bronchial tubes. I keep a constant supply on hand, having had bronchial pneumonia once. The most common symptom of bronchial congestion is a persistent cough with some throat irritation. Phenylephrine is a vaso constrictor which may have led to its reputation as a decongestant. For my part I have taken it as a temporary decongestant in conjunction with a longer acting (24 hour) decongestant/antihistamine such as loratidine (Claritin) or fexofenadine (Allegra - which has worked best for me.)
I suspect that Phenylephrine has enjoyed some favorable acceptance due to confusion with Pseudoephedrine, a more effective decongestant. It is combined with loratidine (Claritin-D) and fexofenadine (Allegra-D), but their availability is somewhat restricted because Pseudoephedrine is used to make methamphetamine.
I think that Phenylephrine started with Claritin or with Allegra has helped me get a faster decongestant effect with severe congestion but I found little effect over long term repeated dosing. If anyone knows of a fast acting short term decongestant let me know (chlorpheniramine maleate is one.) Long ago there was Contac capsules but they were so effective that they had to be rushed off of the market. They contained small amounts of atropine - a heart stimulant, scopolamine - used as a truth serum before sodium pentothal and hyosyamine, a drying agent. Before they took it off of the market I bought as much as I could afford; of course the effective life expired somewhat quickly -- something I have found true of Allegra and Claritin also. 😥
Great info, Bob. Thanks. I also keep guaifenesin on hand. I’m asthmatic and a cold will often go to my chest. I remember Contac, my mother swore by that med. Oh and turpenhydrate for a deep cough. That stuff was wicked.
Sitting here and cogitating I am struck by a pattern that while being discussed, it is not directly pointed to.
A virus that “starts” in the nose will be transported to the throat and upper chest through mucous; post-=nasal drip or head congestion.
Here the virus can move into the lungs and cause sever respiratory distress, and likely very quickly.
This was a pathology of COVID-19
Fast forward to a new virus...
If it cause severe congestion and an OTC expectorant is taken, the virus can be ejected by blowing the nose and expectoration (not in front of the ladies, please), short-circuiting the pathology.
So, if you want the virus to infect as many as possible, find a reason to remove the OTC availability of the expectorants.
Then, limit their off-label use.
This is what happened with HCQ, IVM and even Zantac.
thanx bob
Interesting discussion. First, I’ll say I’m all for personal choice and the free market regarding the availability of OTC cold drugs, and that people should do what they’re comfortable with and what works for them. I personally remember suffering through many longlasting colds when I was a youngun and my immune system was still being formed. I was given all the usual stuff, not realizing that some of it was contributing to my problems, which were assumed to be all part of the sickness. However, I found over the years that I had to be EXTREMELY careful about what decongestants I should take, as many of the ones mentioned here on this thread are poison to me, and the side effects are so bad as to outweigh any small good they might do.
All that said, about 10 days ago I caught a cold. It was the first one I’ve had this century. (Crap happens. Oh well!) I was with a bunch of friends - all younger than me, and all unjabbed, btw - and we picked up something and all got sick the next day. But this time I just opted to trust my well-fortified immune system and take an otherwise hands-off approach (other than extra Vit. C, rest and lots of liquids), and the cold lasted between four and five days altogether. My husband never caught it from me (he takes a lot of the supplements that I do, but not all). My friends are all still quite under the weather to this day and have passed “IT” along to others as well, having developed more flu than cold-like illnesses, with body aches, sore throat, fever and extreme weakness that I never got, along with the respiratory issues. My resp. issues were so minor that I just blew my nose for about three days nonstop. LOL But it never turned into gooey or thick mucus, or went into my chest at all. So I wouldn’t care if I never saw those decongestant drugs again, personally. And to date I’ve not taken any prescription meds, which I hope to avoid forever. But I realize not everyone is as willing to take as many immune-boosting concoctions and herbs as I take year-round (probably 30 daily, at least).