Guaifenesin
Indications
Registered South African indications:
- Cough
Cautions
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or any of its excipients
- Children under 2 years of age
Cautions
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Chronic or persistent cough
Adult dosage
Forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: syr
Alleviation of cough
- Oral (syr): 200-400mg, 4hrly
Paediatric dosage
Paed. forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: syr
Alleviation of cough
Younger than 2 years
- Not established for use
Between 2-5 years
- Oral (syr): 50-100mg, 4hrly
Between 6-12 years
- Oral (syr): 100-200mg, 4hrly
Older than 12 years
- See adult dosage
Special populations
Pregnancy
- Caution
- There are no or limited amount of data from the use of guaifenesin in pregnant women. As a result, guaifenesin is not recommended during pregnancy or in women of childbearing potential not using contraception
Breastfeeding
- Caution; not recommended
- It is unknown whether guaifenesin/ metabolites are excreted in human milk, therefore, a risk to newborns/ infants cannot be excluded. As a result, guaifenesin is not recommended during breastfeeding
Renal Impairment
Hepatic Impairment
Elderly
Porphyria Information
Drugs in Sport
- Permitted - No warnings
Adverse reactions
Central Nervous System Disorders
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Headache
Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea and vomiting
Genitourinary Disorders
- Nephrolithiasis
Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
- Hypouricemia
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders
- Pruritus
- Urticaria
- Rash
Interactions
Cough suppressants
Monitoring
None routine
Mechanism of action
The exact mechanism of action of guaifenesin is unknown. It may act by irritating gastric vagal receptors resulting in the activation of efferent parasympathetic reflexes, which cause glands to secrete less viscous mucous. This may help to clear small airways obstructed by congealed mucous.
Dosage forms
- Syrup
- Liquid
Formulation
Guaifenesin is available in several formulations. Please note the list below gives examples of products which are available and is not necessarily comprehensive. The listing of a product does not constitute endorsement of the product by EMGuidance; likewise, failure to list a product does not imply that EMGuidance disapproves of the product. This information is put together on the basis of the National Government's Medicines Price Registry at the time of publication
Syrup (per 5ml) 50mg
- Benylin Childrens wet cough (Johnsons & Johnsons) originator
Syrup (per 5ml) 100mg
- Lennon Cough Mixture (Pharmacare)
- Lennon Cough Mixture Honey (Pharmacare)
- Lennon Cough Mixture Orange (Pharmacare)
Syrup (per 10ml) 100mg
- Benylin wet cough (alc, sugar & colour free) (Johnsons & Johnsons) originator
- Benylin wet cough methol (Johnsons & Johnsons) originator
- Dilinct Junior Syrup (Adcock)
Syrup (per 10ml) 200mg
- L.C.C.-G Guaphenesin Cough Remedy- Orange flavour (Adcock)
- L.C.C.-G Guaphenesin Cough Remedy- Peppermint flavour (Adcock)
Liquid (per 10ml) 200mg
- Benylin wet cough liquid (Johnsons & Johnsons) generic
COMBINATION PREPARATIONS
Guaifenesin/ Pseudoephedrine
Syrup (per 5ml) 100mg/30mg
- Respinol Expecorant (Medicine Dev)
Guaifenesin/ Terbutaline
Syrup (per 5ml) 66.5mg/5mg
- Benylin Bronchospect (Johnson & Johnson) originator
Diphenhydramine/ Guaifenesin/ Pholcodine
Syrup (per 5ml) 15mg/100mg/8mg
- Procof (Pharmacare)
Guaifenesin/ Pseudoephedrine/ Triprolidine
Syrup (per 5ml) 100mg/30mg/1.25mg
- Flusin Expectorant (Pharmacare)
Guaifenesin/ Pseudoephedrine/ Triprolidine/ Folic acid
Syrup (per 5ml) 50mg/12mg/0.6mg/100μg
- Linctifed Wet Cough Childrens Syrup (GSK) originator
Guaifenesin/ Pseudoephedrine/ Triprolidine/ Codeine
Syrup (per 5ml) 50mg/12mg/0.6mg/3mg
- Adco Neofed Paediatric (Adcock)
- Merck-Paed Expectorant (Xixia)
- Trifen Expectorant Paediatric (Be-tabs)
Syrup (per 5ml) 100mg/20mg/1.25mg/ 7.5mg
- Linctifed Wet Cough (GSK) originator
- Merck-Expectorant (Xixia)
- Trifen Expectorant Adult (Be-tabs)
Bufyline/ Doxylamine/ Etafedrine/ Guaifenesin
Syrup (per 5ml) 60mg/6mg/20mg/100mg
- Nethaprin Expectorant (Adcock)
Codeine/ Chlorpheniramine/ Phenylephrine/ Cetylpyridinium/ Guaifenesin/ Sodium salicylate
Syrup (per 5ml) 5mg/2mg/2mg/2mg/25mg/1500mg
- Colphen (Adcock) originator
Codeine/ Chlorpheniramine/ Ephedrine/ Guaifenesin/ Cocillana
Syrup (per 5ml) 10mg/2mg/20mg/100mg/5mg
- Corbar Linctus (Adcock) originator
References
1. SAMF_12th Edition_Page 559 2. y (11/05/2016_McNeil_Benylin Child_syr) 3. SmPC: Benylin Mucus Cough Menthol flavour 100mg/5ml Oral Solution, McNeil Products Ltd: Last updated on eMC: 06 Jul 2015; Downloaded online; 21 Jul 2018https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/23800 4. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-51ZMvEqdnZ7i1AQ0UAMs2_IihHPLf68 (17/09/2004_J&J_Benylin wet cough_syr) 5. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-51ZMvEqdnZ7i1AQ0UAMs2_IihHPLf68 (07/03/2003_J&J_Benylin childrens wet cough_syr) 6. SmPC: Boots Chesty Cough Syrup 6 Years Plus, THE BOOTS COMPANY PLC: Last updated on eMC: 03 Aug 2015; Downloaded online; 21 Jul 2018 https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/8451 7. SmPC: Covonia Chesty Cough Sugar Free Syrup, Thornton & Ross Ltd: Last updated on eMC: 31 Aug 2018; Downloaded online; 27 Nov 2018 https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/30343 8. SmPC: Boots Chesty Cough Relief 100 mg/5ml Oral Solution, THE BOOTS COMPANY PLC: Last updated on eMC: 16 Oct 2015; Downloaded online; 21 Jul 2018 https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/8084 9. U2D: Guaifenesin: Drug information; Uptodate; Downloaded online; 21 Jul 2018 https://www.uptodate.com/contents/guaifenesin-drug-information?source=search_result&search=Guaifenesin&selectedTitle=1~69 10. NAPOS The Drug Database for Acute Porphyria: Guaifenesin; Accessed online; 26 Nov 2018 [http://www.drugs-porphyria.org/languages/UnitedKingdom/s3.php?l=gbr&atc_code=R05CA03] 11. South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport: Benylin wet cough; Accessed online; 2 Nov 2018 [http://www.drugfreesport.org.za/online-medication-check/] 12. Pharmacologist Recommendations: Guaifenesin- Prof Irhuma Accessed on trello 30 September 2024 Implemented 02 Oct 2024 [https://trello.com/c/k5gbu3KS/1743-guaifenesin-syr-drupal-id-15866?search_id=316d65e4-6afa-4e04-9caf-0b8eeb2123f0] 12.1 BENYLIN CHILDREN’S WET COUGH PI. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i5pUA0-IaGZ_Zrd0CuinGvA4GBsGybKb/view 12. 2BENYLIN WET COUGH PI. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OMKKuohGqbmQJq8MhaYQQvQjfMSNubEq/viewConnect your Google account
Brands & products
14 products · stale NAPPI snapshot · refreshed 5/28/2026 · 159 days oldsyrupGeneric· 13 products
from R0.36/unit| Product | Strength | Pack | Sched | SEP | Unit | Disp fee | NAPPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merck-Paed Expectorant | 50 mg/5ml | 100 | S2 | R36.22 | R0.36 | R24.41 | 785989005 |
| Merck-Expectorant | 100 mg/5ml | 100 | S2 | R36.66 | R0.37 | R24.57 | 785970002 |
| Respinol expectorant | 30 mg | 200 | S2 | R77.89 | R0.39 | R38.83 | 706070002 |
| Respinol expectorant | 30 mg | 100 | S2 | R51.56 | R0.52 | R29.72 | 706070001 |
| Adco-neofed paed | 3 mg/5ml | 100 | S2 | R63.27 | R0.63 | R33.77 | 794813011 |
| Trifen expect adult | 20 mg/5ml | 100 | S2 | R68.13 | R0.68 | R35.45 | 799475009 |
| Adco-neofed paed | 3 mg/5ml | 50 | S2 | R40.72 | R0.81 | R25.97 | 794813003 |
| Benylin bronchospect | - mg/5ml | 200 | S2 | R161.57 | R0.81 | R67.78 | 883879004 |
| Procof | 15 mg | 100 | S2 | R92.56 | R0.93 | R43.91 | 757233007 |
| Linctifed wet cough (was Linctifed exp p | 50 mg/5ml | 100 | S2 | R93.05 | R0.93 | R44.08 | 738220019 |
| Linctifed wet cough regular (was Linctif | 100 mg/5ml | 100 | S2 | R98.22 | R0.98 | R45.87 | 738212008 |
| Corbar linctus | 10 mg | 200 | S2 | R202.25 | R1.01 | R80.85 | 716073013 |
| Corbar linctus | 10 mg | 100 | S2 | R110.98 | R1.11 | R50.28 | 716073005 |
solutionGeneric· 1 product
from R1.04/unit| Product | Strength | Pack | Sched | SEP | Unit | Disp fee | NAPPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flusin Expectorant Syrup | 100 mg/5ml | 100 | S2 | R104.07 | R1.04 | R47.89 | 716133001 |
- Benylin childrens wet cough
- Benylin wet cough
- Dilinct Junior Syrup
- Lennon Cough Mixture
- Lennon Cough Mixture Hpney
- Lennon Cough Mixture Orange
- L.C.C.-G Guaphenesin Cough Remedy
Medical aid coverage
data not yet integrated- Comprehensive Series—
- Executive Plan—
- KeyCare Series—
- Priority Series—
- Saver Series—
Formulary scraper pending — coverage tier, co-pay and authorisation requirements will appear here once data is ingested.
- BonClassic—
- BonComprehensive—
- BonEssential—
- BonFit Select—
- BonSave—
- BonStart—
Formulary scraper pending — coverage tier, co-pay and authorisation requirements will appear here once data is ingested.
- Beryl—
- Emerald—
- Onyx—
- Ruby—
- Sapphire—
- Tanzanite One—
Formulary scraper pending — coverage tier, co-pay and authorisation requirements will appear here once data is ingested.
- Aquarium Option—
- Efficiency Option—
- Marine Option—
Formulary scraper pending — coverage tier, co-pay and authorisation requirements will appear here once data is ingested.