Can I take Advil and Mucinex together?

What is Advil? How it works in the body?

Advil is a Brand name for a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that contains ibuprofen as active ingredient. Chemically it is derivative of propionic acid. Advil works by inhibiting prostaglandins, chemicals that may cause inflammation in the body. Advil is used to for alleviating fever, and to treat pain or inflammation caused by various conditions such as headache, toothache, arthritis, menstrual cramps, back pain, or minor injury.

It is an OTC product that can be bought without prescription. It is available in capsule, oral suspension, tablet, chewable tablet and extended release tablet forms in doses of 200, 400 and 600 mg and 100mg/5ml as a suspension. FDA approved ibuprofen in 1974.

Advil is contraindicated for use in children younger than 6 years of age.

What is Mucinex? How it works in the body?

Mucinex is an expectorant drug that contains guaifenesin as an active ingredient. This medicine is helpful in reducing chest congestions caused by colds, infections or allergies. Mucinex works by thinning the mucus in the airways. As an expectorant drug, Mucinex increases the output of sputum and bronchial secretions by reducing adhesiveness and surface tension.

The increased flow of reduced viscous secretions promotes ciliary clearence and changes a dry, unproductive cough to one that is more productive and less frequent. By reducing the viscosity and adhesiveness of secretions, guaifenesin increases the efficacy of the mucociliary mechanism in removing accumulated secretions from the upper and lower airway. While Mucinex can easy symptoms, it is unable to treat the cause of congestion.

Mucinex is available in tablet, granule, and solution and liquid from. As a tablet it is available in doses of 600 and 1200 mg. As a solution and liquid it is available in dose of 100mg/5ml. FDA approved guaifenesin in 1952, and today is manufactured by Reckitt Benckiser.

Advil and Mucinex OTC combination products

As OTC products, both Advil and Mucinex are available in fixed-combinations with different active ingredients into one dosage form.

Different Advil OTC combination products are:

  • 7-select Advil PM (Diphenhydramine + Ibuprofen)
  • Advil Allergy and Congestion Relief (Chlorphenamine + Ibuprofen + Phenylephrine)
  • Advil Allergy Sinus (Chlorphenamine + Ibuprofen + Pseudoephedrine)
  • Advil Back Pain (Ibuprofen + Methocarbamol)
  • Advil Cold & Flu (Diphenhydramine + Ibuprofen)
  • Advil Cold & Sinus Liqui-gels (Ibuprofen + Pseudoephedrine)
  • Advil Cold & Sinus PE (Ibuprofen + Phenylephrine)
  • Advil Cold and Sinus (Ibuprofen + Pseudoephedrine)
  • Advil Congestion Relief (Ibuprofen + Phenylephrine)

Different Mucinex OTC combination products are:

  • Childrens Mucinex Cold, Cough and Sore Throat (Acetaminophen + Dextromethorphan + Guaifenesin + Phenylephrine)
  • Mucinex D (Guaifenesin + Pseudoephedrine)
  • Mucinex DM (Dextromethorphan + Guaifenesin)
  • Mucinex Fast-max Cold and Sinus (Acetaminophen + Guaifenesin + Phenylephrine)
  • Mucinex Fast-max Cold, Flu and Sore Throat (Acetaminophen + Dextromethorphan + Guaifenesin + Phenylephrine)
  • Mucinex Multi-action Congestion, Stuffy Nose & Cough Liquid (Dextromethorphan + Guaifenesin + Phenylephrine)
  • Mucinex Multi-action Wet & Dry Cough Liquid (Dextromethorphan + Guaifenesin)
  • Mucinex Fast-max Severe Congestion and Cough (Dextromethorphan + Guaifenesin + Phenylephrine)
  • Mucinex Fast-max Day Time Severe Cold (Acetaminophen + Dextromethorphan + Diphenhydramine + Guaifenesin + Phenylephrine)

Can I take Advil and Mucinex together?

Advil OTC product that contains only ibuprofen as an active ingredient and Mucinex OTC products containing only guaifenesin as an active ingredient can be taken together safely because there is no direct interaction between these two drugs.

can you take ibuprofen with mucinex fast max

Can you take Advil cold and sinus and mucinex together?

Can I take Advil cold and sinus with Mucinex D together?

Advil Cold and Sinus is a combination of two active ingredients Ibuprofen + Pseudoephedrine while Mucinex D except guaifenesin also contains pseudoephedrine as active ingredients. Taking these 2 medicines together you will double the dose of pseudoephedrine, increasing the risk of side effects to happen. Side effects may include:

  • convulsions (seizures)
  • fast breathing
  • hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there)
  • increase in blood pressure
  • irregular heartbeat (continuing)
  • shortness of breath or troubled breathing (severe or continuing)
  • slow or fast heartbeat (severe or continuing)
  • unusual nervousness, restlessness, or excitement

Thus Advil cold and sinus and Mucinex D should never be taken together.

Can I take Advil Congestion Relief and Mucinex Fast-max Cold and Sinus?

Since both products contains phenylephrine as an active ingredient, they should not be taken together, because their effects will become additive. If taken together they may increase the risk of side effect to happen. Side effects may include:

  • blurred vision
  • chest pain or discomfort
  • difficult or labored breathing
  • dizziness
  • fainting
  • fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat
  • headache
  • nausea or vomiting
  • nervousness
  • pain in the shoulders, arms, jaw, or neck
  • pounding in the ears
  • sweating
  • tightness in the chest
  • unusual tiredness

Thus you should avoid combination of these 2 medicines.

Can I take Advil Allergy Sinus and Mucinex Fast-max Day Time Severe Cold together?

Both medicines contains antihistamine drug in their preparation. Advil Allergy Sinus contains Chlorphenamine while Mucinex Fast-max Day Time Severe Cold contains Diphenhydramine. If these medicines are taken together their antihistamine effects will become additive and they will increase the chance of following side effects to happen:

  • sedation
  • drowsiness
  • sleepiness
  • dizziness
  • disturbed motor coordination
  • epigastric distress
  • thickening of bronchial secretions

Therefore, these 2 medicines should not be taken together

Patients with gastric or duodenal ulcers, gastritis, GERD, internal bleeding, patients who are on anticoagulant therapy (e.g. warfarin or heparin) should avoid these combination since they both contain NSAID drugs. Advil Allergy Sinus ibuprofen as an active ingredient while and Mucinex Fast-max Day Time Severe Cold contains acetaminophen. This combination should be avoided in such patients.

Can I take Advil PM and Mucinex Day Time Severe Cold together?

Both medicines contains antihistamine drug called diphenhydramine. If these medicines are taken together their antihistamine effects will become additive and they will increase the chance of following diphenhydramine side effects to happen:

  • drowsiness
  • sleepiness
  • sedation
  • disturbed motor coordination
  • dizziness
  • epigastric distress
  • thickening of bronchial secretions

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