Mucinex Side Effects

Mucinex offers a variety of products, each with individual quantities of ingredients that may cause side effects. See below for a list of Mucinex side effects, Mucinex products, and the active ingredients.

Active Mucinex Ingredients & Associated Mucinex Side Effects

The active ingredients in Mucinex products that may cause noticeable side effects are Guaifenesin, Dextromethorphan HBr, Phenylephrine HCl, and Pseudoephedrine HCl.

Guaifenesin is an expectorant drug. An expectorant drug signals your airways, lungs, bronchi, and trachea to secrete more and/or wetter secretions. This allows your respiratory tract to clear itself of clumpy mucus and to hydrate, which soothes irritations. Common side effects are: headaches, nausea, vomiting, and the formation of kidney stones (uric acid). Other rare side effects are allergic reactions, chapped lips, and dry mouth.

Dextromethorphan HBr (DXM or DM) is a cough suppressant drug. It helps to suppress your body’s natural urge to cough. Common side effects are nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, closed-eye hallucinations, difficulty breathing, rashes, itching, and sudden infant death syndrome. When this product is abused (large doses are taken) other side effects include: vomiting, blurred vision, bloodshot eyes, dilated pupils, hallucinations, disassociation, sweating, fever, bruxia, hypertension, shallow respiration, diarrhea, and urinary retention.

Phenylephrine HCl is a decongestant drug. Its main purpose is to relieve nasal congestion. The main side effect associated with this drug is hypertension. Less common side effects are: upset stomach, severe abdominal cramping, vomiting, seizures, and prostatic hyperplasia.

Pseudoephedrine HCl (PSE) is a sympathomimetic drug used for nasal/sinus decongestion and as a stimulant. The most common side effects are: excitability, nervousness, dizziness, anxiety, central nervous system stimulation, and insomnia. Other less common side effects are: heart palpitations, heart tachycardia, heart arrhythmias, blurred vision, hallucinations, hypertension, seizures, skin irritations, and Ischemic colitis.

Each of these drugs will affect each person differently. It is important to only take the recommended dosages and to consult a doctor if you experience any Mucinex side effects.

Mucinex Product Ingredients

Mucinex
Active ingredient(s):
Guaifenesin 600 m (Expectorant)
Inactive Ingredients:
carbomer 934P, NF; FD&C blue #1 aluminum lake; hypromellose, USP; magnesium stearate, NF; microcrystalline cellulose, NF; sodium starch glycolate, NF

Mucinex Maximum Strength
Active Ingredient(s):
Guaifenesin 1200 m (Expectorant)
Inactive Ingredients:
carbomer 934P, NF; FD&C blue #1 aluminum lake; hypromellose, USP; magnesium stearate, NF; microcrystalline cellulose, NF; sodium starch glycolate, NF

Mucinex DM
Active Ingredient(s):
Dextromethorphan HBr 30 mg (Cough Suppressant)
Guaifenesin 600 mg (Expectorant)
Inactive Ingredients:
Carbomer 934P, NF ; D&C yellow #10 aluminum lake; hypromellose, USP ; magnesium stearate, NF; microcrystalline cellulose, NF; sodium starch glycolate, NF

Mucinex DM Maximum Strength
Active Ingredient(s):
Dextromethorphan HBr 60 mg (Cough Suppressant)
Guaifenesin 1200 mg (Expectorant)
Inactive Ingredients:
carbomer 934P, NF; D&C yellow #10 aluminum lake; hypromellose, USP; magnesium stearate, NF; microcrystalline cellulose, NF; sodium starch glycolate, NF

Mucinex D
Active Ingredient(s):
Guaifenesin 600 mg (Expectorant)
Pseudoephedrine HCl 60 mg (Nasal Decongestant)
Inactive Ingredients:
carbomer 934P, NF; FD&C yellow #6 aluminum lake; hypromellose, USP; magnesium stearate, NF; microcrystalline cellulose, NF; sodium starch glycolate, NF

Mucinex D Maximum Strength
Active Ingredient(s):
Guaifenesin 1200 mg (Expectorant)
Pseudoephedrine HCl 120 mg (Nasal Decongestant)
Inactive Ingredients:
carbomer 934P, NF; FD&C yellow #6 aluminum lake; hypromellose, USP ; magnesium stearate, NF; microcrystalline cellulose, NF; sodium starch glycolate, NF

Mucinex Cough Mini-Melts Orange Crème Flavor (For Children)
Active Ingredient(s):
Dextromethorphan HBr 5 mg (Suppressant)
Guaifenesin 100 mg (Expectorant)
Inactive Ingredients:
aspartame, butylated methacrylate copolymer, carbomer homopolymer, creme flavor, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, orange flavor, povidone, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sorbitol, stearic acid, talc, triethyl citrate

Mucinex Mini-Melts Bubble Gum Flavor (For Children)
Active Ingredient(s):
Guaifenesin, USP 100 mg (Expectorant)
Inactive Ingredients:
aspartame, banana flavor, butylated methacrylate copolymer, carbomer, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, sodium bicarbonate, sorbitol, stearic acid, talc, triethyl citrate, tutti-frutti flavor

Mucinex Mini-Melts Grape Flavor (For Children)
Active Ingredient(s):
Guaifenesin, USP 50 mg (Expectorant)
Inactive Ingredients:
aspartame, butylated methacrylate copolymer, carbomer, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, grape flavor, magnesium stearate , microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, raspberry flavor, sodium bicarbonate, sorbitol, stearic acid, talc, triethyl citrate

Mucinex Cold Liquid Mixed Berry Flavor (For Children)
Active Ingredient(s):
Guaifenesin 100 mg (Expectorant)
Phenylephrine HCl 2.5 mg (Nasal decongestant)
Inactive Ingredients: citric acid anhydrous, dextrose, D&C red #33, FD&C blue #1, FD&C red #40, flavors, glycerin, methylparaben, potassium sorbate, propyl gallate, propylene glycol, propylparaben, purified water, saccharin sodium, sodium hydroxide, sorbitol solution, sucralose, xanthan gum

Mucinex Cough Liquid Cherry Flavor (For Children)
Active Ingredient(s):
Dextromethorphan HBr 5 mg (Cough Suppressant)
Guaifenesin 100 mg (Expectorant)
Inactive Ingredients: citric acid anhydrous,dextrose, D&C red #33, FD&C red #40, flavors, glycerin, methylparaben, potassium sorbate, propylene glycol, propylparaben, purified water, saccharin sodium, sodium hydroxide, sucralose, xanthan gum

Mucinex Liquid Grape Flavor (For Children)
Active Ingredient(s):
Guaifenesin 100 mg (Expectorant)
Inactive Ingredients:
citric acid anhydrous, dextrose, FD&C blue #1, FD&C red #40, flavor, glycerin, methylparaben, potassium sorbate, propylene glycol, propylparaben, purified water, saccharin sodium, sodium hydroxide, sucralose, xanthan gum

Resources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000696/#a682494-sideEffects
http://www.fda.gov
http://www.mucinex.com/professional/mucinex-products/