Re: Guai addiction?

[Guest guest]

Hi Penny. I've been a moderator on a guai list for over 4 years

now, corresponding with hundreds of people who have followed that

protocol, as well as taking it myself on and off (mostly on) over

that period of time. Someone with an alternative treatment to offer

made several comments about people having trouble " withdrawing " from

guai that were widely discussed at the time, and, after chewing it

over endlessly, we couldn't find anyone who substantiated it, let

alone any noticeable subgroup who substantiated having problems

stopping it. Over the years, I've gone off it several times for

various reasons, as has my daughter, with no withdrawal symptoms of

any sort. From what I've read about it, it doesn't reduce the

amount of mucus one produces. Rather, it works as a mucus-thinner,

so you are less " plugged up " when taking it. A guess might be that

seasonal allergies may have kicked in following the cold, or as you

suggest, that the higher level of mucus-production from the cold has

been continuing? I make sure I'm good about taking it and ALA

together when I start dripping due to hayfever and find I'm alot

more comfortable as a result.

Val

>

> Hi guys,

>

> Anyone know if you can become dependent on Guaifenisen? I had such

a

> nasty chest cold and Guai was one of the few things that helped me

> keep the coughing under control by reducing the mucous production.

>

> I seem to be having a hard time weaning off of it. I've gone

through

> several bottles, using it constantly in the beginning and even

now, if

> I don't use it 3 times a day, the coughing starts coming back and

the

> mucous starts running down my throat.

>

> Anyone on the Gaui protocol hear of any kind of rebound effects

when

> trying to stop it?

>

> Or maybe I'm still just not over the cold? It's been 3 weeks

though!

>

> That's a big difference since starting the Benicar. I think this

is

> the second cold I've had, and this one was really nasty.

>

> penny

[Guest guest]

Hi Val,

Thanks for the feedback.

I'm pretty certain that it's not allergies. I don't get much in the

way of allergies.

I know Guai's supposed to thin mucous, but I'm pretty sure it

reduces the production of mucous overall in me. I'd noticed this

effect prior to using it for this cold, which turned to bronchitis.

For one thing, my sinuses felt " dried out " when I used Guai, prior

to this cold, on a regular basis.

Anyway, maybe this is just one of the longest colds I've ever had,

but this dependence on Gaui is starting to bother me. I keep

thinking the cold/bronchitis is pretty much gone, but then the Guai

wears off, and I'm coughing again.

The other thing I find odd is how I've had none of the side effects

I hear people report who are on the protocol. What's the standard

dosing for that protocol? I've been doing anywhere from 6 to 10 tsp

a day for 3 weeks now, and haven't felt anything other than

substantial reductions in mucous and coughing.

penny

> >

> > Hi guys,

> >

> > Anyone know if you can become dependent on Guaifenisen? I had

such

> a

> > nasty chest cold and Guai was one of the few things that helped

me

> > keep the coughing under control by reducing the mucous

production.

> >

> > I seem to be having a hard time weaning off of it. I've gone

> through

> > several bottles, using it constantly in the beginning and even

> now, if

> > I don't use it 3 times a day, the coughing starts coming back

and

> the

> > mucous starts running down my throat.

> >

> > Anyone on the Gaui protocol hear of any kind of rebound effects

> when

> > trying to stop it?

> >

> > Or maybe I'm still just not over the cold? It's been 3 weeks

> though!

> >

> > That's a big difference since starting the Benicar. I think this

> is

> > the second cold I've had, and this one was really nasty.

> >

> > penny

[Guest guest]

Hi Penny,

Glad to hear you're not afflicted with spring hayfever. Rotten

stuff, but a lingering cold isn't any fun either.

Doses of guai range from 400mg/day up to 4800 for a very few, but

most people settle into the 800-1200mg/day range. I think I

remember that the standard PDR recommendation is for 2400/day for

its mainstream mucus-related use. The FM-symptom-excerbation

effects are supposedly dependent on whether you are concurrently

exposed to salicylates. The theory indicates that if you are

exposed to salicylates, guai won't exacerbate your symptoms. In

addition to aspirin, people are exposed to salicylates in all kinds

of hair and skin products, certainly herbal supplements, and so on.

I see you're taking a liquid brand. Is the only active ingredient

listed guaifenesin, or is it a combination preparation with

pseudophedrine or something else in it, too?

Val

> > >

> > > Hi guys,

> > >

> > > Anyone know if you can become dependent on Guaifenisen? I had

> such

> > a

> > > nasty chest cold and Guai was one of the few things that

helped

> me

> > > keep the coughing under control by reducing the mucous

> production.

> > >

> > > I seem to be having a hard time weaning off of it. I've gone

> > through

> > > several bottles, using it constantly in the beginning and even

> > now, if

> > > I don't use it 3 times a day, the coughing starts coming back

> and

> > the

> > > mucous starts running down my throat.

> > >

> > > Anyone on the Gaui protocol hear of any kind of rebound

effects

> > when

> > > trying to stop it?

> > >

> > > Or maybe I'm still just not over the cold? It's been 3 weeks

> > though!

> > >

> > > That's a big difference since starting the Benicar. I think

this

> > is

> > > the second cold I've had, and this one was really nasty.

> > >

> > > penny

[Guest guest]

What a strange response to Guai. Are you taking just

plain guai?

I have taken 1200mg 2x daily for years. If I don't

take it my mucous dries up and my chronic sinus

infection turns acute and ugly which is what has

happened at the moment again.

You can't get plain Guai by rx anymore so my doc

perscribed one with an added ingredient. It dried me

up so bad that within one day I knew I couldn't use

it.

I asked him what else is available by rx as I have a

limited income for OTC drugs. He perscribed one with a

cough suppressant which works fine.

Marie

--- penny <pennyhoule@...> wrote:

>

> Hi Val,

>

> Thanks for the feedback.

>

> I'm pretty certain that it's not allergies. I don't

> get much in the

> way of allergies.

>

> I know Guai's supposed to thin mucous, but I'm

> pretty sure it

> reduces the production of mucous overall in me. I'd

> noticed this

> effect prior to using it for this cold, which turned

> to bronchitis.

>

> For one thing, my sinuses felt " dried out " when I

> used Guai, prior

> to this cold, on a regular basis.

>

> Anyway, maybe this is just one of the longest colds

> I've ever had,

> but this dependence on Gaui is starting to bother

> me. I keep

> thinking the cold/bronchitis is pretty much gone,

> but then the Guai

> wears off, and I'm coughing again.

>

> The other thing I find odd is how I've had none of

> the side effects

> I hear people report who are on the protocol. What's

> the standard

> dosing for that protocol? I've been doing anywhere

> from 6 to 10 tsp

> a day for 3 weeks now, and haven't felt anything

> other than

> substantial reductions in mucous and coughing.

>

> penny

>

>

>

>

>

>

> > >

> > > Hi guys,

> > >

> > > Anyone know if you can become dependent on

> Guaifenisen? I had

> such

> > a

> > > nasty chest cold and Guai was one of the few

> things that helped

> me

> > > keep the coughing under control by reducing the

> mucous

> production.

> > >

> > > I seem to be having a hard time weaning off of

> it. I've gone

> > through

> > > several bottles, using it constantly in the

> beginning and even

> > now, if

> > > I don't use it 3 times a day, the coughing

> starts coming back

> and

> > the

> > > mucous starts running down my throat.

> > >

> > > Anyone on the Gaui protocol hear of any kind of

> rebound effects

> > when

> > > trying to stop it?

> > >

> > > Or maybe I'm still just not over the cold? It's

> been 3 weeks

> > though!

> > >

> > > That's a big difference since starting the

> Benicar. I think this

> > is

> > > the second cold I've had, and this one was

> really nasty.

> > >

> > > penny

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Yes, I'm taking plain Guai (Robitussin). I used the one with a cough

suppressant (Robitussin DM) for a while in the beginning, but found

that the plain Guai did a better job. I coughed more with the cough

suppressant (expectorant?) than without. :-)

One reason I believe the Guai reduces the production of mucous, is

because when I've got a lot of mucous going into my stomach, I get

really nauseated. The Guai was definitely preventing that, and as

soon as it would wear off, the mucous would get thick, hit my

stomach and make me feel sick again.

Before getting sick, I was using Guai mainly whenever I felt my

mucous production was too high.

You know, I think what I'm experiencing now is just residual

cold/bronchitis activity. I'm finally doing better, and I didn't

take any Guai before bed last night (I've run out). This a.m. I'm

feeling a little urge to cough, but it's much milder. I've still got

plegm coming up when I cough, but it's much looser and easier to get

rid of. I started the abx, Zyvox, yesterday too. Felt like maybe I

needed a change. That could be helping as well.

I probably overreacted about the guai, but it's been 3 weeks of non

stop hacking! And I started to wonder if perhaps something was

prolonging it.

penny

> > > >

> > > > Hi guys,

> > > >

> > > > Anyone know if you can become dependent on

> > Guaifenisen? I had

> > such

> > > a

> > > > nasty chest cold and Guai was one of the few

> > things that helped

> > me

> > > > keep the coughing under control by reducing the

> > mucous

> > production.

> > > >

> > > > I seem to be having a hard time weaning off of

> > it. I've gone

> > > through

> > > > several bottles, using it constantly in the

> > beginning and even

> > > now, if

> > > > I don't use it 3 times a day, the coughing

> > starts coming back

> > and

> > > the

> > > > mucous starts running down my throat.

> > > >

> > > > Anyone on the Gaui protocol hear of any kind of

> > rebound effects

> > > when

> > > > trying to stop it?

> > > >

> > > > Or maybe I'm still just not over the cold? It's

> > been 3 weeks

> > > though!

> > > >

> > > > That's a big difference since starting the

> > Benicar. I think this

> > > is

> > > > the second cold I've had, and this one was

> > really nasty.

> > > >

> > > > penny

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

I spoke too soon. The coughing has started up again pretty badly

since I ran out of the Gaui. Starting to have the rattling/wheezing

thing happening again, too. I can't believe that the Gaui is this

effective in stopping all that but also can't believe I've still got

a cough when I'm off the Gaui. :-(

My mouth also just feels coated with mucous, which almost seems like

some kind of rebound effect. I guess that's what I'm wondering.

This reminds me of how I was when I was a kid. I frequently had

long, drawn out colds that often turned into bronchitis and some

times pneumonia. Not until I experienced my first full blown CFS

crash did all the colds stop. And they've pretty much been gone for

well over 10 years, until I started the Benicar. Very strange.

penny

> > > > >

> > > > > Hi guys,

> > > > >

> > > > > Anyone know if you can become dependent on

> > > Guaifenisen? I had

> > > such

> > > > a

> > > > > nasty chest cold and Guai was one of the few

> > > things that helped

> > > me

> > > > > keep the coughing under control by reducing the

> > > mucous

> > > production.

> > > > >

> > > > > I seem to be having a hard time weaning off of

> > > it. I've gone

> > > > through

> > > > > several bottles, using it constantly in the

> > > beginning and even

> > > > now, if

> > > > > I don't use it 3 times a day, the coughing

> > > starts coming back

> > > and

> > > > the

> > > > > mucous starts running down my throat.

> > > > >

> > > > > Anyone on the Gaui protocol hear of any kind of

> > > rebound effects

> > > > when

> > > > > trying to stop it?

> > > > >

> > > > > Or maybe I'm still just not over the cold? It's

> > > been 3 weeks

> > > > though!

> > > > >

> > > > > That's a big difference since starting the

> > > Benicar. I think this

> > > > is

> > > > > the second cold I've had, and this one was

> > > really nasty.

> > > > >

> > > > > penny

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> > __________________________________________________

> >

[Guest guest]

Penny

To get rid of my cough which lasted 6 months and mucus i took very very high

doses of a well known probiotic powder. which worked for me.If you are

coughing a lot and also have a lot of mucus it could be a yeast problem .

>

> I spoke too soon. The coughing has started up again pretty badly

> since I ran out of the Gaui. Starting to have the rattling/wheezing

> thing happening again, too. I can't believe that the Gaui is this

> effective in stopping all that but also can't believe I've still got

> a cough when I'm off the Gaui. :-(

>

> My mouth also just feels coated with mucous, which almost seems like

> some kind of rebound effect. I guess that's what I'm wondering.

>

> This reminds me of how I was when I was a kid. I frequently had

> long, drawn out colds that often turned into bronchitis and some

> times pneumonia. Not until I experienced my first full blown CFS

> crash did all the colds stop. And they've pretty much been gone for

> well over 10 years, until I started the Benicar. Very strange.

>

> penny

[Guest guest]

I was wondering the same thing, as the sticky mouth got worse after

I started the zyvox. I've been taking diflucan daily, but you could

still be right. I'll try to fit the probiotics somewhere in between

abx dosing.

penny

> >

> > I spoke too soon. The coughing has started up again pretty badly

> > since I ran out of the Gaui. Starting to have the

rattling/wheezing

> > thing happening again, too. I can't believe that the Gaui is

this

> > effective in stopping all that but also can't believe I've still

got

> > a cough when I'm off the Gaui. :-(

> >

> > My mouth also just feels coated with mucous, which almost seems

like

> > some kind of rebound effect. I guess that's what I'm wondering.

> >

> > This reminds me of how I was when I was a kid. I frequently had

> > long, drawn out colds that often turned into bronchitis and some

> > times pneumonia. Not until I experienced my first full blown CFS

> > crash did all the colds stop. And they've pretty much been gone

for

> > well over 10 years, until I started the Benicar. Very strange.

> >

> > penny

[Guest guest]

Do a google on coughs and yeast etc .. make sure the probiotic you use is

really powerful and coats the throat.

good luck ....

> > >

> > > I spoke too soon. The coughing has started up again pretty badly

> > > since I ran out of the Gaui. Starting to have the

> rattling/wheezing

> > > thing happening again, too. I can't believe that the Gaui is

> this

> > > effective in stopping all that but also can't believe I've still

> got

> > > a cough when I'm off the Gaui. :-(

> > >

> > > My mouth also just feels coated with mucous, which almost seems

> like

> > > some kind of rebound effect. I guess that's what I'm wondering.

> > >

> > > This reminds me of how I was when I was a kid. I frequently had

> > > long, drawn out colds that often turned into bronchitis and some

> > > times pneumonia. Not until I experienced my first full blown CFS

> > > crash did all the colds stop. And they've pretty much been gone

> for

> > > well over 10 years, until I started the Benicar. Very strange.

> > >

> > > penny