FAQ -  An Introduction to Fibromyalgia & Guaifenesin Protocol
August 29, 2004
 

What is Fibromyalgia (FMS) and how is it diagnosed?
What are some of the symptoms of Fibromyalgia?

Can children and teenagers suffer from Fibromyalgia?
More on 'blood sugar blues'.
Are symptoms always permanent?
What is a medical protocol?
What is the definition of Fibromyalgia for those following the Guaifenesin protocol exclusively?
What is guaifenesin?
How did the use of guaifenesin for fibromyalgia come about?
What is cycling, how does it feel, and how long does it last?
What is mapping, why is it needed, and how does it feel?

What are Salicylates?
What types of guaifenesin are available?
Which brand of guaifenesin is best for me?

Is the guaifenesin Protocol the same for children?
What if I have a problem or need help?

What is Fibromyalgia and how is it diagnosed?
Fibromyalgia (FMS) was identified officially by the AMA in 1987 as a real physical illness which may cause significant disability.  In medical circles it is known as chronic yet non-degenerative, worsening yet non-progressive, and systemically painful.  Some physicians describe it as non-inflammatory, and others claim it is an inflammatory condition.  At this time, the causes of the syndrome are not known, and the competent treatments for FMS, unfortunately, are little known.

Presently, there are no laboratory tests which can be used to diagnose FMS.  Lab tests are used, however, to 'rule out' other conditions which may mimic FMS symptoms, or which may concurrently be present with FMS.  When symptoms are viewed individually, rather than as a whole, the FMS diagnosis may easily be overlooked.  At this time, FMS is diagnosed when the lab results are negative for other health conditions, and when at least 11 of 18 accepted tender points result during a physical exam.  It is possible, however, for a person to have FMS when fewer than 11 tender points are discovered.  The tender point exam, recognized by the American Academy of Rheumatology, is accomplished when a patient complains that at least 11 of 18 tender points 'hurt' when pressed by the examiner.

In contrast, the “mapping” technique used by *Guai'ers identifies Fibromyalgia by lesions wherever they may occur, regardless of the patient’s pain sensitivity, through palpation of the hard, swollen, fibrous areas or “bumps”, found in muscle or connective tissue. 

Many find that experimenting with Guaifenesin will be as good as a diagnosis.  Once reaching a certain dose they will experience an exacerbation of symptoms.  This is one way to discover one's correct dose (lowest purging dose), mapping is another.  It is always a good idea to consider that one might also have other conditions which need to be treated (e.g., bacterial and parasitic infections, viral loads, thyroid dysfunction, celiac/gluten intolerance, etc.).  See More Resources.

For patients who exhibit symptoms other than pain, the tender point exam may result with a false negative.  Because there are no lab tests which can give an absolute 'positive' for the disease, many patients see a number of doctors, receiving diagnoses for several things which might include chemical sensitivities, carpal tunnel, irritable bowel (spastic colon), stress, migraine headaches, depression, unknown myopathy, vertigo, vulvar disease, anxiety and so forth.  FMS has been diagnosed in very young children, as well as the elderly.  FMS appears to be present more often in women than men.

Because medical professionals disagree on what causes FMS and how to treat the illness, it's important to find a medical practitioner who will view each patient individually, since symptoms and responses to medications vary.  Medical professionals and researchers also disagree as to whether FMS is inherited; that is, is there a specific gene involved in the illness which is somehow triggered, or is a family actually prone to the illness in an 'inherited' fashion.

Fibromyalgia has been given many names over the years, the most commonly-known are Fibromyositis and Fibrositis.  Some medical professionals liken it to other well-known (and lesser-known) conditions: Muscular Rheumatism, Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome, Myofascial Pain Syndrome, Nonarticular rheumatism, Periarticular Fibrositis, Psychogenic rheumatism, Rheumatoid Myositis, Tension Myalgia, Gulf War Syndrome, and more.  Generally, it is not known at this time if some of these syndromes are indeed the 'same animal' or if perhaps each of these syndromes is very unique, requiring different treatment options. 

Many people are convinced that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is just another presentation of FMS which tends to focus more on the fatigue symptoms/

Dr Penniston has written a book listing further conditions which he titles The Nonplus Conditions (e.g., Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Irritable Bowel Syndrome,  Interstitial Cystitis (IC), Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), Neurally Mediated Hypotension (NMH), Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), Vulvar Pain Syndrome, Vulvodynia (VV), 

Fibromyalgia is classified as a syndrome, as are other disabling illnesses.  The www.MedTerms.com dictionary defines a syndrome as a combination of signs and symptoms that occur together and reflect a particular disease.  It is from the Greek 'syn-' together + dramein to run = to run together.  Other well-known syndromes include AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Lupus.

What are some of the symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
Those who suffer from Fibromyalgia (FMS) know that there are lots of symptoms.  Some people experience only a few symptoms and are able to manage a somewhat normal life.  Others live with many symptoms, which may be quite debilitating.  Symptoms seem to change from moment to moment, so that many Fibromyalgics never know how they are going to feel, or what they will be able to do.

People who have Fibromyalgia may have the following symptoms; however, the symptoms listed may or may not be caused by FMS exclusively.  Frequently-accompanying syndromes or other health problems may also contribute to the symptoms.

Cognitive Difficulties: Fibromites have spoken of distractions caused by bright lights and background noise such as radio/TV/other conversation. They complain of becoming disoriented even in their own homes, getting lost while driving on the most familiar routes, feelings of anxiety; overwhelming all-over or localized fatigue; poor sleep patterns, unrefreshing sleep, insomnia and/or frequent awakening; inexplicable nervousness; irritability; exhibition of characteristics which are not usual for them; depression - general or specific, full or part time; apathy (a feeling of not caring about people or things, even though one does  care); listlessness, restlessness; impaired memory and concentration; inability to follow directions; inability in remembering how to accomplish routine activities; impaired speech; poor performance in areas of expertise; suicidal thoughts; hypersensitivities to sounds, light, taste, smell, touch; difficulty in making decisions; inability to reason logically; poor comprehension of time; 'zoning out', feeling stressed for no reason; distorted or lost memories, very poor short-term memory, and more. Sometimes, to compensate for these inabilities, FMSers may have long-established problems with certain compulsions, behavior-modifications, a desire to appear 'normal', have deep seated insecurities which need to be worked out, or fear of not fitting in.

Neuro-Muscular, Fascia, Tendons, Ligaments: can become extremely symptomatic (various types of pain, weakness, stiffness, localized fatigue, incoordination, tremors, spasms, palpitations, inflammation, sensations, and more). While areas all over the body are affected, the initial culprits generally seem to be the upper & lower back, hips, knees, neck and shoulders, elbow areas, wrists, hands, fingers, torso.  Many people complain of unusual symptoms in areas of old (or new) injuries and of difficulty with 'getting going' upon awakening.  Restless Leg Syndrome (and other restless extremities) are common.  Locales surrounding lymph nodes may be excessively achy at times.  Many also report inability to coordinate movements.  This may prevent (or make very difficult) normal activities such as washing dishes, holding writing instruments, intricate activities such as pinning baby diapers, applying make-up, or picking up small items like dimes.  Muscle tension may be very loose or excessively tight.  Many people complain that they must concentrate to breathe correctly (or at all).  Shallow breathing seems to be common, possibly from painful torso, fatigue or other reasons.  Some people find wearing normal clothing (such as belts, waisted clothing, panties, bras, panty hose, shoes) impossible due to rubbing, chaffing, burning pain.  Small movements like coughing, sneezing, reaching, grasping, holding may trigger muscle spasms and/or contractions.  Fatigue or feelings of exhaustion in localized areas such as extremities may result in feelings of lead arms or concrete-filled legs. Many of these symptoms mimic flu symptoms.

Assorted Bowel, Genital, Bladder Problems: may include:
Bladder problems with or without infections including but not limited to frequent, burning (dysuria) and/or strong-smelling urine, bladder pain or spasms, interstitial cystitis (IC).

Assorted vaginal discomforts known as Vulvodynia or Vulvar Pain Syndrome: such as vestibulitis, vulvitis, spasms, yeast-like sensations (itching, throbbing pain), pain during intercourse (dyspareunia) generalized irritations similar to yeast infections; intense PMS with uterine cramping, inexplicable shooting, aching and other pain.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: encompasses such things as leaky gut, colitis, or spastic colon.  FMS'ers may encounter some or all of the following symptoms: itchy, sensitive, burning, stinging bowels & rectum, constipation, chronic diarrhea, nausea, cramping, indigestion, gas, bloating, and sometimes mucus in the stools.

Some women contend that their FMS symptoms worsen just prior to or during menstruation.  Some also experience the exacerbation of symptoms at menopause.

Topical/Skin/Scalp: Many FMS'ers report burning sensations on their skin, as though they have been sunburned or chemically-burned.  Also experienced are sensations of 'crawling' skin, sensations as though cold water is trickling down, or feelings like insect webs are 'tickling' across the skin, pins & needles, severe stinging (like bee stings or ant bites).  Sometimes it literally feels like the skin is crawling, tingling, burning, vibrating or has electrical current running through it.  Rashes of various sorts (raised or not) may appear, along with extreme pain, throbbing, itchiness, redness, hives, blotches, various skin bumps (tiny, hard or soft), eczema, dermatitis, and blisters.  Many FMS'ers report of sensitivities to temperatures, wind, humidity, coldness or heat. Frequent excessive perspiration may result with or without accompanying body odor in various locations of the body.

Visual: sporadic symptoms include (but are not limited to) burning eyes, blurry vision, stabbing pains in eye ball, excessive floaters, muscle spasms which cause 'ceiling fan' phenomena, bright lights in various colors even when eyes are closed (ocular migraines), itching, dry or tearing eyes, opaque & dark holes in vision.  Eyes may consistently feel tired regardless of sleep or rest.  Some FMS'ers report the sensation of something sharp 'scraping' the eye. Eyes may appear as though they are in a constant state of 'squinting' from generalized bodily pain or light sensitivity.

Headaches: Diverse forms of, migraines, vascular, frontal, basal, all-over, pounding, searing, burning, throbbing, stabbing, aching.

Generalized Other Symptoms include: Dizziness or imbalance, nasal congestion and post-nasal drip, irritated tongue, peeling inside the mouth, overly-stimulated senses which may cause ocular migraines, visual sensitivities, ringing ears or sensitivity to noises.  Taste may be affected with metallic, burning, or saltiness.  Fingernail and toenail ridges, breakage, splitting, overgrown cuticles and hangnail development often occur.  Numbness and tingling anywhere on the body, weight gain, premature hair loss, bruising, low grade fevers or subnormal temperatures and swollen glands are also common.

Changes in Metabolism: Many FMSers report thyroid, hormonal, and digestive type bio-chemical changes in their bodies.  One area of interest is the body's inability to transform food into energy.  For a number of reasons, this process seems to decrease in many FMS'ers, resulting in weight gain, symptoms similar to Hypoglycemia (HG), and may even result ultimately in Type 2 Diabetes if not treated properly.  It has been written that possibly forty percent of fibromyalgic women and 20 percent of fibromyalgic men suffer both FMS & HG conditions simultaneously (What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibromyalgia by Dr. R. Paul St. Amand).  Fibromyalgics who follow appropriate diets contend that many overlapping, hypoglycemic-like tendencies such as tremors, sweating, heart palpitations, faintness and frontal headaches are alleviated.  It would appear that many individuals experience Insulin Resistance (IR) and Reactive Hypoglycemia (RHG) as well.  If a Guai'er has either of these, they  must be remedied or symptoms will remain, despite the reversal of fibromyalgia via guaifenesin.  Please click here and here to test if these might apply to you.

Reminder: The symptoms listed above may or may not be caused by FMS exclusively.  Some conditions overlap with FMS symptoms so errors in diagnosis can be made or one can have several conditions along side FMS, e.g. Sleep Apnea, Celiac disease, Hypoglycemia or Insulin Resistance (mentioned above) Hypothyroid, etc.  FMS is not the name many of us would choose as it doesn't adequately describe the many facets of the condition.

Can children and teenagers suffer from Fibromyalgia?
More physicians and parents are recognizing children who have Chronic Fatigue and/or Fibromyalgia.  Emerging research indicates these conditions are similar enough to have the same cause.  The only difference is in some of the symptoms experienced.  The diagnosis given a child may depend more on the specialist who gives it, because the symptoms of the diseases are very similar.

The symptoms (See list below) can come on gradually or linger after a case of the flu. You may suspect CFIDS/FMS if a parent has been diagnosed with one of the syndromes.  It is suspected that at least half of the children born to parents with one of the syndromes will also be affected.  It is hypothesized that forty percent of people with this syndrome also have reactive hypoglycemia. 

Children and teenages may have several or all of these symptoms of CFIDS/FMS

• Growing pains
• Frequent spells of not feeling well
• Attention Deficit Disorder
• Sleep disturbances/ insomnia
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome including gas, bloating or periods of alternating
• constipation and diarrhea or loose tools
• Urinary tract problems such as reduced bladder control, bladder infections or painful urination
• Deep aches in calf and other muscles
• Frequent severe headaches
• Lack of stamina
• Short term memory loss
• Neurological problems such as shooting leg pains, Restless Leg Syndrome (feeling a constant need to move the legs), muscle tics or twitches, or numbness
• Reactive hypoglycemia when symptoms may include racing heart beats, feeling shaky, blacking out, sweats, anxiety or panic attacks

From: St. Amand RP: Personal correspondence and Williamson ME: Fibromyalgia: A Comprehensive Approach, New York, 1996, Walker and Co.

"Attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common diagnosis given children today.  (See Characteristics of ADD or ADHD below).  In some cases ADD/ADHD may be a misdiagnosis, related more to the pain and/or sleepiness characteristic of FMS/CFIDS.  Children who have had pain for extended periods may not even recognize it is not normal. The persistent need to move around in order to relieve pain or stay awake might distract the child from work and give the appearance of ADD/ADHD.  The family medical history will give a clue.  If there are other family members with FMS/CFIDS it is quite possible the child has the same condition."

The above list of symptoms is from: ADD Medical Treatment Center of Santa Clara Valley.

More On Blood Sugar Blues
In the Guai-Support Group, we refer to the various forms of blood sugar instabilities, since it varies in individuals.  To make discussions more expedient, the abbreviation HG (for hypoglycemia) is used, although terms such as Insulin Resistance (IR) and Reactive Hypoglycemia (RHG) may also be used.  It is important to stress that many symptoms of these instabilities are the same as FMS symptoms.  If a person who has an 'HG' condition follows the protocol perfectly, reversing their FMS quite successfully, and does not take measures to control the blood sugar problems, then the non-FMS symptoms will continue.  So linked are these conditions and symptoms, it would behoove most FMS'ers to at least try a low carb, low GI or no amylose diet for a few weeks to see if they fall into these categories. During purging cycles these symptoms are often exacerbated and sometimes completely disappear when FMS is reversed.

What is a medical protocol?
Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary, 10th Edition, defines medical protocols as 'a detailed plan of a scientific or medical experiment, treatment, or procedure.'  For our purpose, in following the Guaifenesin Protocol, we are following an experimental and experiential treatment plan which has set rules and advice.  It's like following a semi-established procedure of sorts. There is no one study or proof that the Guaifenesin Protocol 'works' because the only study performed¹ did not have all the kinks worked out yet (realizing the importance of salicylates, reactive hypoglycemia, and proper dose adjustments.  Bennett continues to state that the protocol doesn't work.  he prefers exercise and stretching as a treatment.). 
 

What is the definition of Fibromyalgia for those following the Guaifenesin protocol exclusively?
R. Paul St. Amand, MD initiated the Guaifenesin Protocol while working with gout patients.  He said, 'We believe there is a genetically defective kidney enzyme, which causes phosphate retention to accumulate to critical levels within cells. This interferes with energy formation, a substance called ATP, and to a malfunction in susceptible tissues. Excess phosphate induces calcium retention, and together they cause all of the manifestations of fibromyalgia.  Fibromyalgia would be more appropriately named Dysenergism to better describe the overwhelming fatigue and the metabolic disturbances throughout body tissues.'  (Fibromyalgia White Paper January 1999).

How did the use of guaifenesin for FMS come about?
R. Paul St. Amand, MD., a California Endocrynologist, treated FMS patients with the gout medications probenecid and sulfinpyrazone. In 1995, he switched to a weaker and more benign urocosuric medication called Guaifenesin because of its safe effectiveness, even for children. The original Guaifenesin Protocol primarily used the Sustained Action (or Long-Acting) forms of guaifensin. These typically came in 600mg tablets. Individuals would begin the protocol by breaking one of these tablets in half and taking 300mg in the morning and 300mg in the evening. After a week, if an increase in some symptoms did not occur, then the medication was increased to 600mg morning and evening, and so forth, until the correct 'cycling dose' was determined by a 'tolerable' increase in symptoms. (see link for guai treatment protocol). Medical professionals utilizing the original protocol claim that 70% of their patients 'cycled' on the 600mg or 1200mg regimen, and 30 percent required higher doses.   Many are now using quick acting (regular release) guaifenesin tablets/powder/capsules/topical cream and finding they need lower doses to purge phosphates and recover from the FMS symptoms.  For further information regarding this please see Guai Product Troubleshooter

What is cycling, how does it feel, and how long does it last?
Fibromyalgics who do not have a single traumatic event (such as accident, infection, surgery or emotional trauma) which 'triggers' FMS, usually experience a series of exacerbating symptoms over time. These exacerbations are often called 'flares' or 'cycles'.  They may be few and far between. They can be negligible to debilitating. Sometimes, after a flare/cycle, the offending symptom disappears. Usually, however, the patient experiences a compromised state of health after each episode, with a weakening of muscular strength, abilities and cognitive functions. These cyclic exacerbations usually occur until the fibromyalgic has fewer and fewer good days and we describe this as 'full blown' fibromyalgia.

For those following the Guaifenesin Protocol, 'cycling' is a word used to explain the action of Guaifenesin via the kidneys on FMS. It refers to the exacerbation or increase of one or more symptoms and/or even the appearance of previously unexperienced symptoms. Cycling occurs because of the work Guai does in the kidneys.  Dr. St. Amand found that an increase of certain wastes can be found in urine through the guaifenesin therapy.  These are: 60% phosphates, 30% oxalates and 30% calcium.  He also found that blood calcium loss is not problematic.  Neither has he found any onset of osteoporosis due to the protocol.

In further explanation of cycling: Guaifenesin Protocol supporters claim that normal kidney activities include the elimination of excess phosphates and other wastes from the body through the urine. FMS'ers have some sort of defect which prevents this elimination process on a regular basis. The body determines to store the wastes and phosphates which are not expelled appropriately into various tissue cells throughout the body, ultimately forming little (often growing into 'big') lumps throughout the body. As Guai enables the kidneys to flush out the excess phosphates and wastes which have been stored in the body, pain, fatigue, fibro fog and other symptoms can result temporarily.  This 'flushing' process is dubbed 'cycling' by those following the Guai Protocol.  It has been suggested that cycling doses are determined genetically, and that family members suffering from FMS may have similar cycling doses.  Members have found this to not always be the case.

There are many factors which determine the duration of a 'cycle'. These can be attributed (but not limited) to the extent of symptoms a person has, whether the person is a 'low' or 'high' 'doser', how long they have been using Guai and how much successful reversing has occurred, genetics, overlapping symptoms from other health conditions & medications, and tolerance to symptoms.

After several successful cycles, most Guai'ers will notice gradual improvement in their lifestyles.  Ideally, cycles lessen in intensity and length, while good days between cycles become longer and better. The goal is to have mostly good days with only occasional cycling symptoms.  While cycles do lessen the FMS lumps, gradually causing them to disappear, it is possible that certain damaged tissues will not be reversible.  St Amand estimates that for every two months of proper, *Sal-Free dosing, one year of FMS accumulations is eliminated.  So the longer a person has had FMS, the longer it will take for them to clear the deposits.  Quite often we've found that it takes much longer for good days to appear and for any improvement to be gained than St Amand states and full recovery has not proven to be the case for everyone.  The experience is different for everyone but it is well worth giving it a good long trial because many experience some degree of improvement and others quite a lot.

What is mapping, why is it needed, and how does it feel?
Although standard procedure for diagnosing FMS is for a Rheumatologist to perform a pressure point examination, where at least 11 of 18 tender points must be painful, a more objective exam would be for a properly-trained technician to record the lumps found on the body. Dr St Amand determined that a patient's 'map of lumps' is a good way of determining a more accurate and subjective diagnosis.  Mapping is tool for titration of dose and confirms subjective feelings of 'significant but tolerable' exacerbation of symptoms.  Once having achieved the correct dose it can also confirm suspicions of blocking with salicylates.  Any objective map of the body that is always carried out by the same person can be utilized.  Run the fingers with moderate pressure over the body, feeling for 'swellings (lesions) within muscles, tendons and ligaments.' The lesions are drawn on a map of a person's body  so that future maps may be compared to note progress.  While mapping lumps is a more objective method of determining a person's progress, other medical professionals determine progress by the patient's general wellness feeling.  Because painful sites 'move' in FMS'ers from day to day, it is recommended to log only lumps on a person's map, and not subjective painful areas.  However, it may be beneficial for Fibromites to maintain a diary of the more subjective symptoms and painful areas, so they may review progress over time. To view some sample maps of members, please click here. To obtain a blank map for yourself, please click here.

What are Salicylates?
The 'nitty gritty': The Guaifenesin Protocol is not as easy as 1-2-3. Finding one's cycling dose is only one of the issues to be faced.  Please see the Basic Treatment Protocols document for help.  After ruling out other conditions, the most important thing, before beginning Guai, is to eliminate topical and concentrated, ingested salicylates.  Salicylates are produced by plants as a defense mechanism against bacteria & viruses found in soil.  Different plants 'store' salicylates in various parts such as the root, bark, leaf, seed, flower, stem, etc.  Salicylates are inherent in some plants and not in others.  They are in larger quantities in some plants than others also. Salicylates are found in a number of everyday products such as cleaning solutions, make-up, hair products, shaving items, soaps, 'natural remedies', herbal teas and more!  Salicylates 'block' the benefits of the guaifenesin.  Guaifenesin molecules 'park themselves' in kidney tubule receptors.  However, it appears that salicylic acid molecules are 'stronger' than guai molecules. Salicylates may take up the receptors and thus eliminate that option for Guai.  This stalls the [guaifenesin] recovery process because stored phosphates are not excreted.  

For a list of ingredients that are free from salicylates [Sal-Free^TM] please click here. 
For a list of Sal-Free^TM Products please click here.
To verify salicylate content for Medications or supplements, please
click here.
 

How much success an FMS'er actually experiences may be dependent on maintaining their cycling dose, remaining Sal-Free^TM, and if necessary, following a low-carb diet.  Other undiagnosed or untreated health issues may also mask a person's progress in following the protocol, as many FMS symptoms overlap symptoms of other conditions.  Many medical professionals suggest mild forms of exercise, stretching, and even some aerobics for optimum health.  If one follows all the instructions for the protocol and still finds progress is slow or non-existent, it may be time to add another treatment to your regimen.  See the Even More Resources page for research and some interesting treatment protocols.

What types of guaifenesin are available?
Various forms of Guaifenesin are used by those who follow the protocol.  These include Long-acting (LA - also known as Sustained-action [SA] Sustained-release [SR] Extended-release [ER]) and Regular-release (RR - also known as Quick-Acting [QA] Immediate-release [IR] Fast-acting [FA] Fast-release [FR]).  

Guaifenesin is available in powder, liquid (often found in cough syrup formulations but most of these also contain other ingredients we should not use for the protocol so be sure to choose one which only contains Guaifenesin), granules, pressed pills and tablets (most common), compounded capsules and topical formulations.  Even home-made topical lotion is being experimented with.  It is available without a prescription these days, although one is needed for specially compounded products (the original protocol called for long-acting, 600mg tablets). Usually, if scored (which at the time of writing none exist), they can be broken in half, and still retain their LA properties. 

It is important to obtain Guai Medication which does not contain other medical ingredients such as pain relievers, antihistamine and so forth. Generally it is believed Guaifenesin is a safe (benign) medication which may be taken at the same time as other medications such as pain relievers, blood pressure pills, etc; however, it should not be combined with other cough, allergy or sinus remedies prior to consulting with your pharmacist or physician.  It is always wise to consult with a pharmacist prior to mixing medications.

In choosing the best formulation for you, please read:
LA or QA Guai       -       Long-acting vs Short-acting

Speeding up the Guaifenesin Reversal Process:  Variable Higher Doses (VHD)

Guaifenesin Brands and Types: An Alternative View

Reading the FAQ on the Guai Troubleshooter page is helpful as well.

And lastly, check out the Guai Sources page.

The Guaifenesin protocol we at Guai-Support follow & discuss uses a synthetic chemical compound.  We have no information on how people do on Guaiacum, the homeopathic Guaifenesin, nor the Guaiacum Wood, but anyone wishing to discuss their use of it is welcome in our forum.  Click  here for more information and sources.

Which brand of guaifenesin is best for me?
It has been said that 'brands' do not matter in choosing a medication. However, formulation is very important for many individuals.  Each of our bodies reacts differently to the various binders, fillers, and dyes used in medicinal preparations.  It only makes sense that we may have reactions to some of the ingredients found in certain Guai preparations.  Some lactose-intolerant members have reported side affects when discovering their Guai meds contained lactose,.  Others have reported developing sensitivities to dyes in their medications. Patients experiencing absorption problems might do better using 'purer' guai which does not contain fillers, binders or dyes.  And so forth.  Some protocol followers prefer the pure powder formulations, while others enjoy the ease of LA medicines.

How does one choose the 'right type' of Guai?  Perhaps, if a person has no preferences or sensitivities, it would be most advantageous to begin with the least expensive, most readily available type of Guai preparation, and proceed from there.  If lactose intolerance or certain sensitivities are problematic, then a protocol follower would want to eliminate products which contain those ingredients.  Some other things to consider are price, absorption, and convenience.

Is the Guaifenesin protocol the same for children?
Yes.  In my view, even if one titrates according to the standard format for one's self, one should definitely start titrating the dose as per the Guai-Support format to ensure the child doesn't suffer intolerable exacerbation of symptoms (cycling).

What if I have a problem or need help?
As with all protocols or programs, some people respond readily, in classic 'text book' fashion. Others require more detailing - a sort of 'custom-designed' regimen to follow.   Having support is crucial for those who 'fall through the cracks', or who periodically (or even chronically) experience those 'NON-text-book' type reactions and responses.

Some individuals develop tolerances; that is, their bodies become accustomed to brand or dose of medications.  This is even experienced by many people with non-medicinal products such as shampoos and deodorants.  A change in brand, type or quantity may periodically become necessary in order for the protocol to continue its effectiveness.  Some Guai'ers have reported 'stalling' in their progress.  When making a change in the guai formulation, their progress resumes.

Often, reporting experiences to our group members (the Guai-Support Group - affectionately called the GG [Guai Group] will reveal reasons for lack of progress, and/or help Guai'ers continue their journey with support.  

1. (Dr. Robert Bennett of Oregon conducted a double-blind study of the guaifenesin treatment in 1993-94 under Dr St Amand's advisorship.  "Dr. Bennett claims the study shows that guaifenesin has no more effect than a placebo on fibromyalgia. The results of his study were presented as a poster at the annual meeting of the Rheumatology Association in Orlando, FL, in 1996.")

Not a member yet?  Click here to Join Guai-Support   

Members are not only knowledgeable, but extremely helpful and kind.
 

If list mail is too heavy there are various options for limiting it and yet still have access to the archives for sal (& other information).

Click here for more information regarding subscribing, signing off, setting mail options, changing address etc.

Click here for assistance with joining issues.

Home
Network Disclaimer

Member Resources
To join GG, click here
To sign off GG, click here
(An alternate option is to set NOMail to retain access to archives but not receive mail - click here for directions & more account options)

To get Admin Help, click here

Members click here to register a password

Posting Guide
(includes step-by-step directions, link to topics info., etc.)
How The Mailing List Works

Mailing List Topics

List Posting Mentor

Afraid To Post?
Support Team
Abbreviations Used
Description-History-Philosophy
Management Notices
Detailed Member Guide

Guai-Support Archives
Members can check previous
discussions & read their mail
here after setting NOMail.
        -----ooooo-----
Closed daily for M'ce midnight
EST (US) approx. 45 mins downtime
Help with GG Archives

New members will receive
this Membership Welcome

Members can visit the
Live Chat Forum

Resources for ALL

And More Resources For All

    
Guaifenesin Treatment
(gwye-FEN-eh-sin)
Basic Treatment Instructions
FAQ: Guai Treatment
Blocking Test
Alternate Guai Scenarios
Treatment Troubleshooter
FAQ: Guai Product Troubleshooter
LA or QA Guai?
An evolving Protocol
Guai Product Report
Troubleshooting Progress Issues

Variable Higher Doses (VHD)
Testing Urine For Phosphates
Guaifenesin Sources

How to split capsules & tablets