Can You Take Mucinex With Allergy Medicine

Mucinex Allergy Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives difficult breathing swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using Mucinex Allergy and call your doctor at once if you have:

• flu-like symptoms

• new or worsening cough

• pain or

• signs of an ear infection–fever, ear pain or full feeling, trouble hearing, drainage from the ear, fussiness in a child.

Common side effects may include:

• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sinus pain, sore throat.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

So Why Are Decongestants Bad For Your Heart

You reach for a decongestant to help clear a runny, stuffy nose. A decongestant eases congestion by constricting the blood vessels in your nasal passages. This dries up nasal mucus.

But these medications can also abnormally stimulate the heart and blood vessels throughout the body. This can cause an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, or skipped beats. And it can interfere with your heart medications, Dr. Kaminski says.

If you have a heart condition, heart palpitations can last several hours after you take a decongestant. It is a dangerous and worrisome feeling that should be avoided at all costs.

What Are The Side Effects Of Mucinex D

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives difficult breathing swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using guaifenesin and pseudoephedrine and call your doctor at once if you have:

• fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat or
• severe anxiety or nervousness.

Common side effects may include:

• dry mouth, nose, or throat
• upset stomach, loss of appetite, vomiting
• feeling excited or restless
• sleep problems or
• headache, dizziness.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Recommended Reading: What Does Sudafed Do For Allergies

Can You Take Mucinex With A Decongestant

When you have a cold, or the flu, you usually have mucus in your lungs and congestion in your nose. An expectorant like Mucinex can help your body break up and remove the mucus in your lungs, but you will need a decongestant to help rid you of the nasal congestion. Sometimes medications contain both an expectorant and a decongestant 1. In those instances, you should not take another decongestant on top of that.

If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.

Can I Take Theraflu For Allergies

Theraflu Sinus & Cold is a combination medicine used to treat headache, runny nose, sneezing, stuffy nose, sinus congestion, watery eyes, and pain or fever caused by allergies, the common cold, or the flu. Theraflu Sinus & Cold may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Recommended Reading: Can Allergies Make You Sick

Can I Use Sudafed Or Mucinex With Alcohol

It is best to avoid alcohol while taking these medications. Some forms of Sudafed or Mucinex come as a combination medication, with several medications in one. Alcohol can intensify the effect of some of these medications, worsen side effects, and cause additional impairment. It is safer to wait until you are feeling better before drinking alcohol.

Is Sudafed Or Mucinex Better For Post Nasal Drip

It depends on what symptoms you are experiencing. If you feel like you have a lot of phlegm, Mucinex may be worth a try. If the drip is accompanied by nasal congestion, you can try Sudafed. You can also try to use a humidifier in your room, drink a lot of fluids, use a nasal irrigation solution, and sleep with your head propped up on pillows.

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Can I Take Advil And Mucinex

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Side Effects Not Requiring Immediate Medical Attention

Some side effects of fexofenadine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• pain in arms or legs
• pain or tenderness around eyes or cheekbones
• painful menstrual bleeding
• redness or swelling in ear
• ringing or buzzing in ears
• runny or stuffy nose

Applies to fexofenadine: oral capsule, oral suspension, oral tablet, oral tablet disintegrating

Read Also: Do Seasonal Allergies Cause Diarrhea

How Should I Take Mucinex Allergy

Use exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor.

Always follow directions on the medicine label about giving cough or cold medicine to a child.

• Ask a doctor before giving Mucinex Allergy liquid to a child younger than 2 years old.

• The disintegrating tablets are not for use in a child younger than 6 years old.

• The 12-hour and 24-hour forms of Mucinex Allergy are not for use in a child younger than 12 years old.

Take this medicine only with water.

Take the disintegrating tablet on an empty stomach.

Shake the oral suspension before you measure a dose. Use the dosing cup provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device .

Remove an orally disintegrating tablet from the package only when you are ready to take the medicine. Place the tablet on your tongue and allow it to dissolve, without chewing. Swallow several times as the tablet dissolves.

Store Mucinex Allergy in its original package at room temperature, away from moisture and heat. Do not allow liquid medicine to freeze.

Drug Interactions Of Sudafed Vs Mucinex

Patients who take a prescription monoamine oxidase inhibitor , such as selegiline or tranylcypromine, should not use Sudafed at the same time, or for two weeks after stopping the MAOI.

Sudafed also interacts with certain antidepressants such as Elavil or Desyrel . You should also check with your doctor if you take certain drugs such as Xanax , headache medication such as Fioricet, ADHD medications, and painkillers. The list of medications that may potentially interact with Sudafed is too long to list here consult your healthcare provider for more information.

Mucinex alone does not have any significant drug interactions, but there are drug interactions with the combination products that contain guaifenesin with other medications, such as Mucinex-DM or Mucinex-D. Consult your healthcare provider for guidance.

Recommended Reading: How To Tell If You Have Allergies Or A Cold

What Are Some Things I Need To Know Or Do While I Take Mucinex

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take Mucinex. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Different brands of Mucinex may be for use in different ages of children. Talk with the doctor before giving Mucinex to a child.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using Mucinex while you are pregnant.
• Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about any risks to your baby.

What Happens If I Miss A Dose

Since cough or cold medicine is taken when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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How To Take Mucinex D

Use Mucinex D exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Use exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Cough or cold medicine is usually taken only for a short time until your symptoms clear up.

Do not give this medication to a child younger than 4 years old. Always ask a doctor before giving cough or cold medicine to a child. Death can occur from the misuse of cough or cold medicine in very young children.

Measure liquid medicine with the dosing syringe provided, or with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Do not crush, chew, break, or open an extended-release tablet or capsule. Swallow it whole.

The chewable tablet must be chewed before you swallow it.

Drink extra fluids to help loosen the congestion and lubricate your throat while you are taking this medication.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Since this medicine is taken when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What Are Some Other Side Effects Of Mucinex

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if you have any side effects that bother you or do not go away.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

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It’s Easier Than You Think To Take Too Much Allergy And Cold Medicine Here’s Why

It’s a heck of a time when cold season overlap. If you happen to be one of the unfortunate souls in this sniffly Venn diagram from hell, you’d likely do anything to find relief. Fortunately, you won’t have to go much further than your medicine cabinet, but before you do, be sure to read this advice from Erica Patel, MD, of the University of Southern California, about whether it’s safe to take allergy meds and cold meds simultaneously.

Because symptoms are similar for colds and allergies, you don’t necessarily have to double down. “Many over-the-counter cough and cold medicines and allergy medicines may have similar ingredients,” Dr. Patel noted, including a pain and fever reducer, a decongestant , an antihistamine , and a cough reliever. But that means it’s also easy to overdo it.

“A good way to avoid overdosing on ingredients is to compare labels,” she told POPSUGAR. “For example, if one medication has acetaminophen as an ingredient, then avoid taking other medications with acetaminophen in them.” Common cold and allergy medication ingredients include:

• Pain relievers: acetaminophen or ibuprofen
• : phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine, oxymetazoline
• Cough Suppressants: dextromethorphan, guaifenesin
• Antihistamines: diphenhydramine , loratadine , cetirizine , fexofenadine

Managing A Cold With Hypertension

If you cant take a decongestant because of high blood pressure, there are other ways to reduce your cold or allergy symptoms:

• Take Coricidin HBP, which is free of decongestants

• Drink plenty of fluids including water, juice, tea and soup to prevent dehydration and clear mucus from your lungs

• Take a pain reliever such as Tylenol or Motrin for fever, sore throat, body aches and headache

• Flush your sinuses with a saline spray to relieve nasal congestion

• Soothe a sore or scratchy throat with lozenges

• Use a vaporizer or humidifier if necessary to boost humidity

• Get plenty of rest

• Return to your doctor after five to seven days to make sure youre on the road to recovery

Recommended Reading: How To Get Rid Of Allergy Hives

Mucinex Uses And Side Effects

Mucinex is a brand name for a medication called guaifenesin. In the United States, guaifenesin is sold over-the-counter expectorant that can be used to treat congestion by breaking up and thinning mucus in the chest and throat. Mucus that is closer to a liquid than a solid is easier to cough out and expel. Mucinex is typically used by individuals who are congested because they are suffering from a common cold, the flu, or allergies but it can be prescribed by a doctor for other reasons. Guaifenesin works to relieve the symptoms of these conditions but is not a treatment for the root cause of congestion or decrease the overall time of these illnesses. Guaifenesin is safe to use in both adults and children.

Aside from being used as an expectorant, guaifenesin is a centrally-acting muscle relaxant and is sometimes used in veterinary medicine for this purpose. There is also an off-label treatment known as the fibromyalgia guaifenesin protocol that is sometimes used, however, there is very little evidence to support the use of guaifenesin in this manner.

Guaifenesin is sold by itself or as one of the several ingredients in many cough and cold preparations. Some of the different medications containing guaifenesin include:

How Is Mucinex Best Taken

Use Mucinex as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• Take with or without food. Take with food if it causes an upset stomach.
• Drink lots of noncaffeine liquids unless told to drink less liquid by your doctor.
• Swallow whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• If you take Mucinex on a regular basis, take a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.
• Many times Mucinex is taken on an as needed basis. Do not take more often than told by the doctor.

Read Also: How Did Peanut Allergies Start

Tips For Relieving Congestion When You Have A Heart Condition

So, how are you supposed to relieve congestion if you have a heart condition? Dr. Kaminski recommends the following four tips:

1. Try a saline nasal spray to relieve your congestion.2. Increase the humidity in your home. A cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer may help ease congestion.

3. Talk to your cardiologist. They can tell you which OTC medicines are safe to use with your heart condition and the medications you take.

4. Avoid drugs with D after the name. Take time to read the warning labels on the bottle or box. When in doubt, consult the pharmacist. Pharmacists are a great resource, Dr. Kaminski says.

If you have a heart condition, pay attention to which over-the-counter drugs you use. These tips can help you manage cold and allergy symptoms without making your heart race. If youre still not finding a solution to your congestion, your doctor may have other tips that will help.

Why Do Some Medications Dehydrate You

There is a difference between actual dehydrating medications and those that give you a dried-out sensation, says Jennings. The goal of a diuretic is to remove excess fluid from the body, which can lower blood pressure and reduce swelling in the extremities. Dehydration would only occur if such a medication removed too much fluid from the body. Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned.

Medications that dry you outantihistaminescause that side effect because they block a specific neurotransmitter in the brain, Jennings says.

Many patients experience drying side effects because they are taking too many antihistamines. “For example, if someone is taking a daily antihistamine for allergy symptoms and currently suffering from cold/flu symptoms, they might take a multi-symptoms product that results in a duplication of antihistamine,” Jennings says.

Jennings gives the example of someone taking a daily antihistamine to fight seasonal allergies who then comes down with the common cold.

If they continue to take their daily allergy medication and introduce a product like NyQuil for overnight cold relief, they are doubling up on antihistamines and are more likely to experience extreme dryness. Many consumers aren’t aware of what’s in their medications or how their medications may interact, Jennings adds.

Read Also: Can Allergies Cause Sinus Pressure And Headaches

A Multitude Of Cough Causes

While coughing exists to protect us from infections of the respiratory tract, it is commonly found with other conditions, too. We associate asthma with wheezing and difficulty breathing, but for many, its main symptom is a cough. Heartburn is the cardinal symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease , but the stomach acid irritating the esophagus and the back of the throat can also produce a nasty cough.

Coughing is also a side effect of several drugs, most notably ACE inhibitors such as lisinopril and enalapril, which are mainstays in the treatment of high blood pressure and heart failure. The ACE inhibitor cough sometimes begins months after you start taking the drug. Fortunately, there are good alternatives for those who have this problem.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , bacterial sinusitis, lung cancer all may announce their presence with a cough. And, of course, there’s the infamous smoker’s hack.

Several other conditions can also cause postnasal drip and its resulting cough, including sinusitis, exposure to air pollution, hay fever , and other allergies that cause nasal congestion.