Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:
Hello Rich,

I am glad to hear that the symptoms have decreased. Guaifenesin is a relatively safe medication, and it should be safe to take for another few weeks. The Zantac is hopefully taking care of the underlying problem that is causing your body to make more mucus and you may need to continue it for 4-6 weeks.

There is no problem with taking both medications as long as the guaifenesin isn't upsetting your stomach creating a continuous cycle. It sounds as though that hasn't been an issue.

Did your doctor have a look at your throat and tongue at your yearly physical (was it today)?

Also, here is a full list of recommended lifestyle changes for people with acid reflux from UpToDate, which compounds the latest medical literature for physicians.

"Weight loss for patients with GERD who are overweight or have had recent weight gain.

Elevation of the head of the bed in individuals with nocturnal or laryngeal symptoms (eg, cough, hoarseness, throat clearing). This can be achieved either by putting six- to eight-inch blocks under the legs at the head of the bed or a Styrofoam wedge under the mattress. We also suggest a corollary to this recommendation: refraining from assuming a supine position after meals and avoidance of meals two to three hours before bedtime. (See "Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux in adults", section on 'Clinical features' and "Laryngopharyngeal reflux", section on 'Clinical manifestations'.)

Dietary modification should not be routinely recommended in all patients with GERD. However, we suggest selective elimination of dietary triggers (fatty foods, caffeine, chocolate, spicy foods, food with high fat content, carbonated beverages, and peppermint) in patients who note correlation with GERD symptoms and an improvement in symptoms with elimination.

Other measures that have a physiologic basis but have not consistently been demonstrated to improve reflux symptoms include [12,19-21]:

●Avoidance of tight-fitting garments to prevent increasing intragastric pressure and the gastroesophageal pressure gradient. (See "Pathophysiology of reflux esophagitis", section on 'Gastroesophageal junction incompetence'.)

●Promotion of salivation through oral lozenges/chewing gum to neutralize refluxed acid and increase the rate of esophageal acid clearance.

●Avoidance of tobacco and alcohol as both reduce lower esophageal sphincter pressure and smoking also diminishes salivation.

●Abdominal breathing exercise to strengthen the antireflux barrier of the lower esophageal sphincter."

If the increased throat mucus is from acid reflux rather than from allergies or respiratory irritants, then with continued use of Zantac for the next month, the symptoms should resolve.

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Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the update, Rich.

If there is any question about allergies, things you can consider that are non-medical are to buy dust mite covers for your bedding and to wash your linens and blankets in hot water once a week. Use fragrance free laundry detergent and no dryer sheets or fabric softener. Have someone else dust once a week. And keep pets out of the bedroom. These are all things that I do as I have respiratory allergies. I get my barrier covers (for pillows, mattress, and box spring) from Lifekind.org as they are washable in hot water and sturdy - expensive but last a long time.

Hopefully the Zantac and lifestyle changes will take care of the problem.

Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD

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