Fibromyalgia Support Group
You're not alone in your pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can be difficult to diagnose and manage. If you're trying to cope with pain throughout your body, sleep problems, general fatigue, or other common fibromyalgia symptoms, you're in the right place. The community is here for you to talk about therapies and share your challenges.
Has anyone tried this to help with Fibromyalgia? A relative of my wife has told her that taking guaifenesin has helped her with her FM. I found this on Wikipedia;
Treatment of fibromyalgia
Because of its uricosuric effect, guaifenesin was chosen in the 1990s for the experimental guaifenesin protocol a treatment for fibromyalgia. Proponents[who?] of the guaifenesin protocol believe that it treats fibromyalgia by removing excess phosphate from the body. However, a consumer alert on the Fibromyalgia Network's website (http://www.fmnetnews.com/resources-alert-product6.php) states that Dr. St. Amand's claims of guaifenesin's effects on fibromyalgia are groundless, and cites double blind research by Robert Bennett, M.D. which found no significant differences between guaifenesin and a placebo in terms of any effect on fibromyalgia or its markers.
In response R. Paul St. Amand, M.D. (Associate Clinical Professor or Medicine at Harbor/UCLA) writes about emerging support for his protocol. Two papers have been published (St. Amand one Author)reported abnormal cytokines/chemokines in a large cohort of fibromyalgic patients.Twenty-three were abnormally elevated in untreated patients. On guaifenesin 10 were lowered or normalized, five remained the same and eight were elevated as patients improved. It is becoming apparent that, in mixtures, some C/Cs neutralize others and prevent the expected inflammatory response that is absent in fibromyalgia. A second paper showed three rare gene mutations in a 15% subset of patients. Since that time another gene has been revealed in another 15% of patients (paper in preparation). Guaifenesin is hardly inert and reverses fibromaylgia in patients who meticulously follow the protocol.
References: Zhang Z, Cherryholmes G, Mao A, Marek C, Longmate J, Kalos M, St. Amand RP, Shively JE. High Plasma Levels of MCP-1 and Eotaxin Provide Evidence for an Immunological Basis of Fibromyalgia. J. of Experimental Biology and Medicine; June 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mucinex
My wife started taking some last night ... I'd like to know if anyone else has ever tried it.
Treatment of fibromyalgia
Because of its uricosuric effect, guaifenesin was chosen in the 1990s for the experimental guaifenesin protocol a treatment for fibromyalgia. Proponents[who?] of the guaifenesin protocol believe that it treats fibromyalgia by removing excess phosphate from the body. However, a consumer alert on the Fibromyalgia Network's website (http://www.fmnetnews.com/resources-alert-product6.php) states that Dr. St. Amand's claims of guaifenesin's effects on fibromyalgia are groundless, and cites double blind research by Robert Bennett, M.D. which found no significant differences between guaifenesin and a placebo in terms of any effect on fibromyalgia or its markers.
In response R. Paul St. Amand, M.D. (Associate Clinical Professor or Medicine at Harbor/UCLA) writes about emerging support for his protocol. Two papers have been published (St. Amand one Author)reported abnormal cytokines/chemokines in a large cohort of fibromyalgic patients.Twenty-three were abnormally elevated in untreated patients. On guaifenesin 10 were lowered or normalized, five remained the same and eight were elevated as patients improved. It is becoming apparent that, in mixtures, some C/Cs neutralize others and prevent the expected inflammatory response that is absent in fibromyalgia. A second paper showed three rare gene mutations in a 15% subset of patients. Since that time another gene has been revealed in another 15% of patients (paper in preparation). Guaifenesin is hardly inert and reverses fibromaylgia in patients who meticulously follow the protocol.
References: Zhang Z, Cherryholmes G, Mao A, Marek C, Longmate J, Kalos M, St. Amand RP, Shively JE. High Plasma Levels of MCP-1 and Eotaxin Provide Evidence for an Immunological Basis of Fibromyalgia. J. of Experimental Biology and Medicine; June 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mucinex
My wife started taking some last night ... I'd like to know if anyone else has ever tried it.
I just wanted to chime in with my experience. I saw a Dr. in Jan 08 who called himself a "FM specialist". He subscribed to Dr. St. Amand's theory on Guai. I started taking it then and am still on it today.
It has not helped my FM in the least, but what it did help was the terrible long lasting colds that I was getting every couple of months. I've only had a cold twice since taking it.
Many advocates will tell you that if it didn't work it was because you didn't eliminate Salicylates in the products you use. Sals are in everything from pepto bismal to toothpaste. Even my "FM Specialist thought that was a bunch of hooey. I did not eliminate Sals from my diet.
There is also a special diet that you need to follow if you are hypoglycemic.
Since Dr. St. Amand's Guaifenesin protocol is now about a decade old and it's very hard to find anyone who claims to have been cured, I would put my money on Dr. Bennett who has treated FM patients for years and is a real doctor.
I take the pure form of Guai that I purchase from ProHealth. I don't take Mucinex.