Can You Take Mucinex With High Blood Pressure?
In our latest question and answer, our pharmacist discusses whether or not Mucinex (guaifenesin) is safe to use if you have high blood pressure.
I have high blood pressure and take lisinopril. I am wondering if Mucinex is safe to take and won't affect or raise my BP.
Aug 11, 2022- Mucinex (guaifenesin) is safe to take if you have high blood pressure and will not raise your blood pressure.
- Be sure to check the ingredients on combination Mucinex products, as other ingredients they contain may affect blood pressure.
- Mucinex is generally well-tolerated with only mild side effects that occur rarely.
Answer
Hello and thanks for reaching out to us Daphne!
It's always a good idea to look into whether or not over-the-counter medication can interact with the prescription drugs you are taking and double-check that they won't negatively affect any disease state you have, like high blood pressure.
There are a number of over-the-counter meds that can affect blood pressure, like the nasal decongestant Sudafed, but fortunately, Mucinex (guaifenesin) isn't one of them. It is perfectly safe to take if you have high blood pressure and won't raise it.
What Are The Side Effects Of Mucinex?
Mucinex is very well-tolerated and side effects are generally mild if they happen at all. They occur only rarely.
Nevertheless, the following side effects have been reported with Mucinex:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Abdominal pain
- Kidney stones (has only been reported with high doses for long periods of time)
As mentioned in the section above, Mucinex does not affect blood pressure.
Final Words
I want to point out that this answer only refers to Mucinex which contains the single ingredient guaifenesin. There are a number of Mucinex products on the market, many with several ingredients (e.g. Mucinex FastMax). Those products may contain an ingredient that affects blood pressure, so be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist about those.
What Is Mucinex?
Guaifenesin is used to relieve chest congestion. It may help control symptoms but does not treat the cause of symptoms or speed recovery.
Guaifenesin is in a class of medications called expectorants. It works by thinning the mucus in the air passages to make it easier to cough up the mucus and clear the airways.
References & sources
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Over-the-counter medication
- Drugs that can be purchased without a prescription from a doctor.
- Prescription drugs
- Medications that can only be obtained with a written order from a doctor.
- Nasal decongestant
- A medication that relieves stuffiness and congestion in the nose and sinuses.
- Guaifenesin
- The active ingredient in Mucinex that helps clear chest congestion by thinning mucus.
- Expectorants
- A class of medications that help clear mucus from the airways by making it thinner and easier to cough up.
- Side effects
- Unwanted or unintended reactions that occur in addition to the intended effect of a medication.
- Kidney stones
- Hard deposits that form in the kidneys, which can be painful and may occur as a rare side effect with high doses of medication over long periods.
- Air passages
- The tubes in the lungs and throat through which air travels when breathing.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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