First Lady Michelle Obama shares tips on parenting with moms and other audience members in a WebMD Town Hall meeting in Miami, Florida.
Information and Resources
Mucolytics for Sinusitis
Examples
| Generic Name | Brand Name |
|---|---|
| guaifenesin | Mucinex, Robitussin |
How It Works
Guaifenesin may help thin the mucus, improving drainage of mucus from the nose and sinuses during sinusitis.
Why It Is Used
Guaifenesin may be used to treat symptoms caused by acute or chronic sinusitis. It is usually used along with antibiotics and home treatment.
How Well It Works
Guaifenesin has not been proved to be effective in reducing symptoms of sinusitis, but it is widely used.
Side Effects
In general, guaifenesin is safe for all people when used as directed.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About
Guaifenesin is inexpensive and available without a prescription. There is no evidence showing that it is effective in treating sinusitis.
Saline (saltwater) nasal sprays and washes may help clear up a stuffy nose. Both are available at pharmacies without a prescription. A humidifier may also help thick or dried mucus to drain.
It is often combined with another medicine such as a cough suppressant or decongestant.
Mucolytics may not be safe for young children or for people who have certain health problems. Before you use them, check the label. If you do use these medicines, always follow the directions about how much to use based on age and in some cases weight.
Complete the new medication information form (PDF)
(What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
August 03, 2010
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.
Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this
information.
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
Top 12 Health Topics-
1.
-
2.
-
3.
-
4.
-
5.
-
6.
-
7.
-
8.
-
9.
-
10.
-
11.
-
12.
Top 12 Videos-
1.
-
2.
-
3.
-
4.
-
5.
-
6.
-
7.
-
8.
-
9.
-
10.
-
11.
-
12.
Hot Topics
- Which Drugstore Tooth Whiteners Work Best?
- Kids' Top 6 Worries and How to Fix Them
- Surprising Headache Triggers
- Safe Ways to Lose Weight Fast
- Counting Carbs When You Use Insulin
- Fibromyalgia: Symptoms and Treatments
- CML: How It Affects Your Body
- 6 Sex Mistakes Men Make
- Dupuytren's Contracture: What You Need to Know
- Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
WebMD Video: Now Playing
FROM CBS NEWS
Third of malaria meds from Asia, Africa are fake
Almost half of malaria medications in southeast Asia and over a third from sub-Saharan Africa were packaged poorly, including some expired drugs that had been repackaged
More from CBS News:
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Advertise With Us|WebMD Corporate|Medscape Reference|eMedicineHealth|RxList|Medscape|MedicineNet|BootsWebMD
©2005-2012 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.