What does guaifenesin codeine do

Like other narcotic medications, codeine can slow your breathing. Death may occur if breathing becomes too weak. A person caring for you should seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with long pauses, blue colored lips, or if you are hard to wake up. Serious side effects may be more likely in older adults and those who are overweight, malnourished, or debilitated.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine if you are also using any other drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used together. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Taking codeine, guaifenesin, and pseudoephedrine with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death. Ask your doctor before taking a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, prescription cough medicine, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures. Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise.

Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient.

Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor.

Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at A codeine overdose can be fatal, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription.

Overdose symptoms may include slow breathing and heart rate, severe drowsiness, muscle weakness, cold and clammy skin, pinpoint pupils, and fainting. This medicine may impair your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine will affect you. Dizziness or severe drowsiness can cause falls or other accidents.

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking medicine that contains codeine. Dangerous side effects or death can occur when alcohol is combined with a narcotic medicine. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold or cough medicine. Many combination medicines contain guaifenesin or phenylephrine.

Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much of this medicine. Check the label to see if a medicine contains a decongestant or an expectorant. Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous or life-threatening side effects.

Ask your doctor before taking codeine, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures. Other drugs may interact with codeine, guaifenesin, and phenylephrine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc.

Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise.

Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Codeine can slow or stop your breathing.

Never use codeine and guaifenesin in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Cough or cold medicine is usually taken only for a short time until your symptoms clear up. Codeine may be habit-forming, even at regular doses.

Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. Selling or giving away codeine is against the law. 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. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 7 days of treatment, or if you have a fever with a headache or skin rash. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not freeze. Keep track of the amount of medicine used from each new bottle. Codeine is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if anyone is using your medicine improperly or without a prescription.

Since codeine and guaifenesin is used when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are on a schedule, use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose.

Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose. Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at A codeine overdose can be fatal, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription. Overdose symptoms may include slow breathing and heart rate, severe drowsiness, muscle weakness, cold and clammy skin, pinpoint pupils, and fainting. This medicine may impair your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine will affect you.

This may be more likely to happen in children who have breathing problems. Deadly breathing problems have happened with the use of codeine in some children. Talk with the doctor. This drug may cause harm to the unborn baby if you take it while you are pregnant. If you are pregnant or you get pregnant while taking this drug, call your doctor right away. Using this drug for a long time during pregnancy may lead to withdrawal in the newborn baby.

This can be life-threatening. What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away? Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect: Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Very bad dizziness or passing out. Chest pain or pressure. Fast or abnormal heartbeat. Trouble breathing, slow breathing, or shallow breathing. Noisy breathing.

Breathing problems during sleep sleep apnea. Feeling confused. Hallucinations seeing or hearing things that are not there. Mood changes. Very bad headache. Trouble passing urine. Change in eyesight. Severe constipation or stomach pain. These may be signs of a severe bowel problem. What are some other side effects of this drug?

Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away: Constipation. Upset stomach or throwing up. Feeling dizzy, sleepy, tired, or weak. Sweating a lot. You may report side effects to your national health agency. How is this drug best taken? 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.