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From: amy on 23 Feb 2010 12:17
H have Hashimotos with a history of heart palpitations and SVT
episodes when I went through a little hyperactive stage. I also have
mild MVP. My TSH and other levels are in a happy state and I'm feeling
good alternating between 37.5 and 50mcg of Synthroid a day.

A couple weeks a go I started having a cough that wouldn't go away. I
went last weekend to the drugstore and bought some Mucinex DM (NOT
Mucinex D that has pseudoenephrine). Mucinex DM has Guaifenesin and
Dextromehtorphan. Unfortunately, I took the Maximum Strength version.
It was the only time I ever took it.

Within about five hours of taking it, about 2 a.m., I had a pretty bad
SVT episode (or racing heart/irregular heartbeat, whatever you call
it). My hands got hot and buzzy, I got the tremors pretty bad, and big
time hot flash. No anxiety, which was kind of weird actually. Anyway,
my heart wouldn't stop racing for like ten minutes and I was getting a
little scared about it. When I had these episodes before, they only
lasted two or three minutes. The only thing that could have caused it
was the medication and I was afraid it wasn't going to stop. Of
course, it did. I had a couple other short episodes that night and no
more since.

Now my question. I looked everywhere and I don't see anything that
said this medication would cause my reaction. I wonder if it could
have been a coincidence and just a little "thyroid moment." Anyone
else have a reaction like this to Mucinex DM or any of the ingredients
in it?
From: Rhonda Lea Kirk Fries on 23 Feb 2010 12:40
amy wrote:
<snipped>

> Now my question. I looked everywhere and I don't see anything that
> said this medication would cause my reaction. I wonder if it could
> have been a coincidence and just a little "thyroid moment." Anyone
> else have a reaction like this to Mucinex DM or any of the
> ingredients in it?

Read this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recreational_use_of_dextromethorphan

Dextromethorphan is bad.

I won't take anything that contains dextromethorphan as an ingredient after
a bad experience I had with Robitussin a few years ago. Passing out in
WalMart (following a bout of bad nausea and a pounding heart) is not my idea
of fun.

I use Mucinex D Maximum Strength during the day (to dry me up) and Mucinex
Maximum Strength at night when I get congested (i.e., when my cold
degenerates into bronchitis). I love the stuff, and I suffer no ill effects
from it. If you're afraid of pseudoephedrine, then I can assure you that
sticking with plain old Mucinex (in the maximum strength dosage, which has
1200 mg guaifenesin) should do the trick for you.

--
Rhonda Lea Kirk Fries

The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to
be taken seriously. Hubert H. Humphrey


From: deT notsuH on 23 Feb 2010 12:41
Best to check the label on the bottle, but if the following is any guide,
then you certainly aren't alone, (and, no, it probably has nothing to do
with the thyroid):

http://www.drugs.com/mtm/mucinex-dm.html
"Mucinex DM (dextromethorphan and guaifenesin) side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic
reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue,
or throat. Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you
have any of these serious side effects:

* severe dizziness, anxiety, restless feeling, or nervousness;
* confusion, hallucinations; or
* slow, shallow breathing.

Less serious side effects may include:

* dizziness;
* headache;
* skin rash or itching; or
* nausea, vomiting, or stomach upset.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to
FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088."

amy wrote:
> H have Hashimotos with a history of heart palpitations and SVT
> episodes when I went through a little hyperactive stage. I also have
> mild MVP. My TSH and other levels are in a happy state and I'm feeling
> good alternating between 37.5 and 50mcg of Synthroid a day.
>
> A couple weeks a go I started having a cough that wouldn't go away. I
> went last weekend to the drugstore and bought some Mucinex DM (NOT
> Mucinex D that has pseudoenephrine). Mucinex DM has Guaifenesin and
> Dextromehtorphan. Unfortunately, I took the Maximum Strength version.
> It was the only time I ever took it.
>
> Within about five hours of taking it, about 2 a.m., I had a pretty bad
> SVT episode (or racing heart/irregular heartbeat, whatever you call
> it). My hands got hot and buzzy, I got the tremors pretty bad, and big
> time hot flash. No anxiety, which was kind of weird actually. Anyway,
> my heart wouldn't stop racing for like ten minutes and I was getting a
> little scared about it. When I had these episodes before, they only
> lasted two or three minutes. The only thing that could have caused it
> was the medication and I was afraid it wasn't going to stop. Of
> course, it did. I had a couple other short episodes that night and no
> more since.
>
> Now my question. I looked everywhere and I don't see anything that
> said this medication would cause my reaction. I wonder if it could
> have been a coincidence and just a little "thyroid moment." Anyone
> else have a reaction like this to Mucinex DM or any of the ingredients
> in it?
--
deT notsuH bass-ackwards ude.hcimu(a)pcird
If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked
something.
From: deT notsuH on 23 Feb 2010 16:24
Rhonda Lea Kirk Fries wrote:
> I use Mucinex D Maximum Strength during the day (to dry me up) and Mucinex
> Maximum Strength at night when I get congested (i.e., when my cold
> degenerates into bronchitis). I love the stuff, and I suffer no ill effects
> from it. If you're afraid of pseudoephedrine, then I can assure you that
> sticking with plain old Mucinex (in the maximum strength dosage, which has
> 1200 mg guaifenesin) should do the trick for you.

Any drug that has pseudoephedrine will have a label warning regarding use
with "a thyroid disorder." The issue here is that pseudo"fed" will raise
blood pressure. If you aren't sure how your ticker is doing, well... But
since it will be behind the counter (in the US anyway) because of that
ingredient, one can ask the pharmacist for any thoughts on the matter....
--
deT notsuH bass-ackwards ude.hcimu(a)pcird
If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked
something.
From: Herman Family on 23 Feb 2010 23:42

"amy" <amyinthewoods(a)gmail.com> wrote in message
news:205f61b5-0c12-4f71-9ff3-97b67bb15098(a)c10g2000vbr.googlegroups.com...
>H have Hashimotos with a history of heart palpitations and SVT
> episodes when I went through a little hyperactive stage. I also have
> mild MVP. My TSH and other levels are in a happy state and I'm feeling
> good alternating between 37.5 and 50mcg of Synthroid a day.
>
> A couple weeks a go I started having a cough that wouldn't go away. I
> went last weekend to the drugstore and bought some Mucinex DM (NOT
> Mucinex D that has pseudoenephrine). Mucinex DM has Guaifenesin and
> Dextromehtorphan. Unfortunately, I took the Maximum Strength version.
> It was the only time I ever took it.
>
> Within about five hours of taking it, about 2 a.m., I had a pretty bad
> SVT episode (or racing heart/irregular heartbeat, whatever you call
> it). My hands got hot and buzzy, I got the tremors pretty bad, and big
> time hot flash. No anxiety, which was kind of weird actually. Anyway,
> my heart wouldn't stop racing for like ten minutes and I was getting a
> little scared about it. When I had these episodes before, they only
> lasted two or three minutes. The only thing that could have caused it
> was the medication and I was afraid it wasn't going to stop. Of
> course, it did. I had a couple other short episodes that night and no
> more since.
>
> Now my question. I looked everywhere and I don't see anything that
> said this medication would cause my reaction. I wonder if it could
> have been a coincidence and just a little "thyroid moment." Anyone
> else have a reaction like this to Mucinex DM or any of the ingredients
> in it?

Sounds like the dextramethorophan at work.

SVT or Supraventricular tachycardia is a heart rate over 125 bpm. It
doesn't imply that it will be irregular, but it does tend to bother the
patient. I've heard of a few things causing it, including possibly
anesthesia. There are a few treatments for it, including adenosine given
rapidly via IV.

I'd lay off the Mucinex DM for now. It sounds like it doesn't agree with
you. If you need it, take half doses up to twice as often, or quarter doses
up to four times as often. A little less relief (or less overmedication)
probably won't hurt too much.


Michael


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