RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Guaifenesin has no effect on sputum volume or sputum properties in adolescents and adults with an acute respiratory tract infection
JF Respiratory Care
FD American Association for Respiratory Care
SP respcare.02640
DO 10.4187/respcare.02640
A1 Agathe Hoffer-Schaefer
A1 Henry J. Rozycki
A1 Melissa A. Yopp
A1 Bruce K. Rubin
YR 2013
UL http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/early/2013/09/03/respcare.02640.abstract
AB Background: Guaifenesin (GGE) has been studied as a cough suppressant and as an expectorant; however published studies to date have failed to find a consistent benefit. Methods: An 8-day, multi-center, clinical trial conducted to study the effect of two 600 mg extended-release GGE tablets twice daily for 1 week, on old symptoms,sputum volume and properties in adolescents and adults with productive cough from an acute respiratory tract infection (RTI). The study enrolled 378 subjects (GGE n=188, placebo n=190) who were otherwise healthy and had an RTI for up to 5 days before enrollment. Subjects suffered from at least two of three symptoms of cough, thickened mucus, and chest congestion. A total of 151 GGE and 144 control subjects completed the full protocol. Evaluations: Single sputum samples were collected from each subject on days 1, 3, 4 and 8 of the study. The rheology and interfacial tension of sputum was measured and 24 hour collected samples from days 1 and 4 were analyzed for total volume and hydration. Results: Symptoms in both the guaifenesin and placebo groups improved to a similar degree over time. There were no significant differences between the GGE and placebo groups for sputum volume (p = 0.408), percent solids (p = 0.694), interfacial tension (p = 0.881), elasticity (p = 0.710), viscosity (p = 0.447), or mechanical impedance ( p = 0.749). Conclusion: The recommended dosage of GGE had no measurable effect on sputum volume or properties and is unlikely to be an expectorant or mucolytic when used to treat acute RTI. Clinical trials registration: clinicaltrials.gov NCT01046136.