Guaifenesin has no effect on sputum volume or sputum properties in adolescents and adults with acute respiratory tract infections

Guaifenesin (glyceryl guaiacolate ether [GGE]) has been studied as a cough suppressant and as an expectorant; however, published studies to date have failed to find a consistent benefit. An 8-day multi-center clinical trial was conducted to study the effect of two 600-mg extended-release GGE tablets...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Respiratory care 2014-05, Vol.59 (5), p.631-636
Main Authors: Hoffer-Schaefer, Agathe, Rozycki, Henry J, Yopp, Melissa A, Rubin, Bruce K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Dosage and administration
Double-Blind Method
Drug therapy
Elasticity - drug effects
Expectorants - pharmacology
Female
Guaiacol glyceryl ether
Guaifenesin - pharmacology
Health aspects
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Mucus - chemistry
Mucus - drug effects
Patient outcomes
Respiratory tract infections
Respiratory Tract Infections - complications
Respiratory Tract Infections - drug therapy
Rheology - drug effects
Sputum - drug effects
Surface Tension - drug effects
Viscosity - drug effects
Water - analysis
Young Adult
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Summary:Guaifenesin (glyceryl guaiacolate ether [GGE]) has been studied as a cough suppressant and as an expectorant; however, published studies to date have failed to find a consistent benefit. An 8-day multi-center clinical trial was conducted to study the effect of two 600-mg extended-release GGE tablets twice daily for 1 week on cold 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; and placebo, n = 190) who were otherwise healthy and had an RTI for up to 5 days before enrollment. Subjects suffered from at least 2 of 3 symptoms of cough, thickened mucus, and chest congestion. A total of 151 GGE and 144 control subjects completed the full protocol. 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 were measured, and 24-h collected samples from days 1 and 4 were analyzed for total volume and hydration. Symptoms in both the GGE 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 = .41), percent solids (P = .69), interfacial tension (P = .88), elasticity (P = .71), viscosity (P = .45), or mechanical impedance (P = .75). The recommended dose 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. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration NCT01046136.).
ISSN:0020-1324
1943-3654
DOI:10.4187/respcare.02640