Does Mucinex Work for Cold and Flu Symptoms? - GoodRx (2024)

You’re likely familiar with the telltale signs that you’re coming down with a bug. A runny or stuffy nose, and maybe a fever and sore throat, too.

If mucus starts building up in your chest, you may be looking for ways to get it out. In this case, one common over-the-counter (OTC) product you might reach for is guaifenesin. Guaifenesin is most commonly known by one of its brand names, Mucinex. Or, you may choose other Mucinex products, like Mucinex DM or Mucinex Fast-Max Cold & Flu, to help target more of your symptoms.

But does Mucinex actually work for cold and flu symptoms? The short answer: Not really.

What is Mucinex?

Mucinex is the brand name for a line of OTC medications sold for cough, cold, and flu symptoms. These medications come in many forms, including:

• Oral tablets, caplets, and liquid gels

• Oral liquids

• Granules

• Nasal spray

• Throat spray

• Lozenges

Mucinex products may be marketed differently for nighttime and daytime use. Some products help treat specific symptoms, like cough. Others contain multiple ingredients that target several symptoms, including sore throat, congestion, and headache.

Most Mucinex products are intended for adults. But some can be taken by children. Certain formulations are made to be fast-acting, while others are made for slow release.

So, is Mucinex a decongestant, a cough suppressant, or something else? The answer depends on the ingredients.

What are the ingredients in Mucinex?

The main active ingredient in most Mucinex products is guaifenesin. Guaifenesin belongs to a class of medications known as expectorants. But other ingredients may also be found in Mucinex products. These ingredients belong to other classes of medications. They include:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

• Dextromethorphan (Delsym)

• Doxylamine (Unisom SleepTabs)

• Phenylephrine (Sudafed PE)

• Triprolidine (Histex)

• Oxymetazoline (Afrin)

• Numbing agents like hexylresorcinol, benzocaine, and menthol

What does Mucinex do?

The guaifenesin in Mucinex helps loosen and thin mucus in your airways. If you have a “wet” cough, this can make the mucus easier to cough up.

Guafenesin kicks in fast — usually within 30 minutes of taking it. You’ll typically repeat doses every 4 hours as needed.

How well does Mucinex work for coughing?

The guaifenesin in Mucinex likely won’t stop you from coughing.

There’s mixed evidence for using guaifenesin to relieve a cough. Plus, it doesn’t loosen or thin your mucus very well, either. One study found that it didn’t work any better than placebo (a pill with no medication in it) at getting rid of mucus buildup.

Does Mucinex work well for other cold or flu symptoms?

As mentioned earlier, there are several cold and flu medications under the Mucinex brand. Let’s review a few of these products and how well they work.

Mucinex Fast-Max Cold & Flu

Mucinex Fast-Max Cold & Flu is a combination product for multi-symptom relief. In addition to guaifenesin, it contains three additional ingredients:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol): Pain reliever and fever reducer

• Dextromethorphan (Delsym, Robitussin): Cough suppressant

• Phenylephrine (Sudafed PE): Decongestant

Together, these ingredients are intended to treat fever and/or minor aches and pains, cough, and congestion. Most of them start working within 30 minutes.

Acetaminophen works well to alleviate fever and minor aches. There isn’t much evidence supporting OTC cough medications, like guaifenesin and dextromethorphan. And phenylephrine might provide some congestion relief, but it doesn’t work as well as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed).

Mucinex vs. Mucinex DM

Regular Mucinex only contains guaifenesin. Mucinex DM contains guaifenesin and the cough suppressant, dextromethorphan. Dextromethorphan works by blocking your cough reflex. The combination is thought to relieve chest congestion and lessen coughing.

Again, there’s not much evidence that these medications work for coughing. But they may provide relief for some people taking them.

Mucinex Maximum Strength

Mucinex Maximum Strength contains 1200 mg of guaifenesin in an extended-release (ER) tablet. It releases the medication slowly, so you only need to take it every 12 hours. However, increasing your guaifenesin dosage doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll work better.

One study found that 1200 mg of guaifenesin (single dose) didn’t have a significant effect on mucus or cough compared to placebo. But it didn’t look at whether multiple doses would make a difference.

When should you not take Mucinex?

OTC cough medications like Mucinex are intended for short-term use. If your cough has been going on for longer than 7 days, stop taking Mucinex and contact your healthcare provider. This is also the case if your cough is accompanied by a fever, headache, or more severe symptoms that don’t go away.

Talk to your healthcare provider before taking Mucinex if you have a chronic cough from smoking, asthma, or other lung conditions. And if you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Mucinex in the past, you shouldn’t try taking it again.