Salbutamol+guaifenesin
About
Salbutamol+guaifenesin belongs to the class of medications called expectorants primarily used to treat cough. Coughing (dry or productive) is a body’s way of clearing irritants (like allergens, mucus, or smoke) from airways and preventing infection. There are two types of coughs, namely: dry cough and chesty cough. A dry cough is tickly and doesn't produce any vicious or thick mucus, while a chesty cough (wet cough) means mucous or sputum is produced to help clear your airways.
Salbutamol+guaifenesin is a combination of two drugs, namely: Salbutamol (bronchodilator) and Guaifenesin (expectorant). Salbutamol belongs to the class of bronchodilators that relaxes muscles and widens the airways. Thereby, it makes breathing easier. Guaifenesin belongs to the class of expectorants that works by increasing the volume of fluid in the airways, reduce the stickiness of mucus, and helps to remove it from the airways.
Take Salbutamol+guaifenesin as prescribed. Your doctor will recommend how often you take Salbutamol+guaifenesin based on your medical condition. Some people may experience nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, stomach upset, headache, dizziness, skin rash, tremor, restlessness, tension and rapid heartbeat. Most of these side effects of Salbutamol+guaifenesin do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
If you are allergic to Salbutamol+guaifenesin or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Salbutamol+guaifenesin is not recommended for children below 2 years of age, as the safety and effectiveness were not established. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is advised to inform your doctor before using Salbutamol+guaifenesin. If you have diabetes, regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is recommended while taking Salbutamol+guaifenesin. If you are about to undergo any surgery that requires anesthesia, please inform your doctor that you are taking Salbutamol+guaifenesin. If you experience constipation, leg cramps, numbness or tingling, increased urination or thirst, muscle weakness, or irregular heartbeats, contact your doctor as it may be due to low potassium levels in the blood. Drink plenty of fluids while taking Salbutamol+guaifenesin to loosen mucus. If you have diabetes, asthma, overactive thyroid, enlarged prostate, phenylketonuria (a birth defect that causes accumulation of amino acid, phenylalanine in the body), kidney, liver, or heart problems, inform your doctor before taking Salbutamol+guaifenesin.
Uses of Salbutamol+guaifenesin
Medicinal Benefits
Salbutamol+guaifenesin is a combination of two drugs, namely: Salbutamol (bronchodilator) and Guaifenesin (expectorant). Together Salbutamol+guaifenesin helps to relieve respiratory obstruction and improve pulmonary ventilation, especially in the conditions of respiratory disorders like asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema. Salbutamol+guaifenesin minimizes the bronchospasm (sudden narrowing of airways) and excessive secretion of viscous mucus (which blocks airways).
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Salbutamol+guaifenesin
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Stomach upset
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Skin rash
- Tremor
- Restlessness
- Tension
- Rapid heartbeat
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
If you are allergic to Salbutamol+guaifenesin or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is advised to inform your doctor before using Salbutamol+guaifenesin. Salbutamol+guaifenesin is not recommended for children below 2 years of age, as the safety and effectiveness were not established. If you have diabetes, regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is recommended while taking Salbutamol+guaifenesin. If you are about to undergo any surgery that requires anesthesia, please inform your doctor that you are taking Salbutamol+guaifenesin. If you experience constipation, leg cramps, numbness or tingling, increased urination or thirst, muscle weakness, or irregular heartbeats, contact your doctor as it may be due to low potassium levels in the blood. Drink plenty of fluids while taking Salbutamol+guaifenesin to loosen mucus. If you have diabetes, asthma, overactive thyroid, enlarged prostate, phenylketonuria (a birth defect that causes accumulation of amino acid, phenylalanine in the body), kidney, liver, or heart problems, inform your doctor before taking Salbutamol+guaifenesin.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Salbutamol+guaifenesin may have interaction with medicines used to lower high blood pressure (propranolol, reserpine, methyldopa, guanethidine), tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, imipramine, amoxapine).
Drug-Food Interaction: Salbutamol+guaifenesin may interact with caffeine. Therefore, avoid or limit the intake of caffeinated beverages, foods, or dietary supplements with Salbutamol+guaifenesin as it may increase the risk of adverse effects.
Drug-Disease Interaction: If you have diabetes, asthma, overactive thyroid, enlarged prostate, phenylketonuria (a birth defect that causes accumulation of amino acid, phenylalanine in the body), kidney, liver, or heart problems, inform your doctor before taking Salbutamol+guaifenesin.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionInteraction of alcohol with Salbutamol+guaifenesin is unknown. Please consult a doctor before consuming alcohol with Salbutamol+guaifenesin.
Pregnancy
cautionThe safety of Salbutamol+guaifenesin in pregnant women is unknown. Therefore, it is given to pregnant women only if the doctor thinks benefits outweigh risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionSalbutamol present in Salbutamol+guaifenesin is excreted in human milk. So, it is advisable to avoid breastfeeding while using Salbutamol+guaifenesin. Salbutamol+guaifenesin should be given to breastfeeding mothers only if the doctor thinks benefits are greater than risks.
Driving
cautionSalbutamol+guaifenesin may cause dizziness or drowsiness in some people. Therefore, drive only if you are alert after taking Salbutamol+guaifenesin.
Liver
cautionTake Salbutamol+guaifenesin with caution, especially if you have a history of Liver diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Kidney
cautionTake Salbutamol+guaifenesin with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Children
cautionSalbutamol+guaifenesin is not recommended for children below 2 years of age. However, please consult a doctor before using Salbutamol+guaifenesin in children.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Avoid dairy products such as milk as it may increase mucus production. Also, avoid processed or refined foods to have relief from cough. Instead replace baked foods, fried foods, white bread, white pasta, French fries, sugary desserts, and chips with green leafy vegetables.
- Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dry throat while you have a cough and loosen mucus.
- Avoid citrus fruits as they may worsen the cough. Eat fruits rich in water content such as pears, watermelon, peaches, and pineapples.
Special Advise
- Regularly monitor blood sugar levels while taking Salbutamol+guaifenesin, especially if you have diabetes as Salbutamol+guaifenesin may increase blood sugar levels.
- Monitor blood potassium levels while taking Salbutamol+guaifenesin, especially in asthma patients, as it may cause low potassium levels in the blood.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Cough: Coughing is a body’s way of clearing irritants (like allergens, mucus, or smoke) from airways and preventing infection. Coughs may be dry or productive. A productive cough (wet cough) brings up sputum (phlegm, mucus, and other matter) from the lungs. Cough is commonly caused as a response to allergy or viral infection but coughing up mucus is possibly an indication of infection in the respiratory tract. If you are coughing thick, solid white mucus, it indicates you may have a bacterial infection in the airways. If the mucus is clear or light-colored, it indicates you may have allergies or a minor infection in the respiratory tract, and yellow or green mucus indicates a respiratory infection. Cough production is common in asthma, COPD, and other respiratory disorders like bronchitis (airway inflammation and infection).
FAQs
Salbutamol+guaifenesin contains Salbutamol and Guaifenesin. Salbutamol is a bronchodilator that relaxes bronchi (airways) muscles and widens it thereby, makes breathing easier, especially asthma and COPD patients. Guaifenesin is an expectorant that works by increasing the volume of fluid in the airways, reduce the stickiness of mucus and helps to remove it from airways.
Salbutamol+guaifenesin should be used with caution in hyperthyroid (overactive thyroid) patients as it may worsen the condition. Inform your doctor if have hyperthyroidism before taking Salbutamol+guaifenesin so that the dose may be adjusted appropriately. However, regular monitoring of thyroid hormone levels is recommended while taking Salbutamol+guaifenesin.
No, you are not recommended to take propranolol with Salbutamol+guaifenesin as it may reduce the effectiveness of both the medicines. Also, propranolol may cause narrowing of airways sometimes, which may trigger severe asthmatic attacks or worsen breathing problems. However, you are recommended to consult a doctor before using other medicines with Salbutamol+guaifenesin.
Salbutamol+guaifenesin is not recommended for diabetic patients as it may increase blood sugar levels. However, regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is recommended while taking Salbutamol+guaifenesin.
Yes, Salbutamol+guaifenesin may cause drowsiness or dizziness. It is not necessary for everyone taking Salbutamol+guaifenesin to experience this side effect. However, avoid driving or doing any hazardous tasks if you feel drowsy or dizzy after taking Salbutamol+guaifenesin.
You are recommended to take Salbutamol+guaifenesin for as long as your doctor has prescribed it. However, if the symptoms persist or worsen with rash, fever or persistent headache after one week of using Salbutamol+guaifenesin, please consult your doctor.
No, you are not recommended to stop taking Salbutamol+guaifenesin without consulting your doctor as it may worsen cough or cause recurring symptoms. Therefore, take Salbutamol+guaifenesin for as long as your doctor has prescribed it, and if you experience any difficulty while taking Salbutamol+guaifenesin, please consult your doctor.
