Generic Name: Cheratussin AC for Cough (codeine-guaifenesin)
Cheratussin AC for Cough Reviews
"I had a cold and bad cough for two weeks before I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with bronchitis. This has been amazing! It's bringing up the mucus that the OTC medicines weren't, and the cough is very minimal now. I take the dose on the lower end of the range prescribed, and it's doing the job. So glad I finally caved and went to the doctor."
"I was prescribed Cheratussin AC for a cough due to acute bronchitis. However, it seems to make the cough worse. My body wants to cough up phlegm, and the medicine tries to suppress the coughing reflex. That makes my body try even harder to cough up phlegm, and just ends up giving me a headache and a throat that hurts more."
"My 8-yr-old daughter had pneumonia, diagnosed 6 days ago, along with her Z-pack antibiotics. Cheratussin AC not only quieted her cough when it was hurting but helped to expel the congestion. No bad side effects, but hated the bitter taste."
"I have been taking this medicine for a week, and I am still coughing. I am finally getting some sleep, but I am still waking up with coughing fits. I have not had any side effects, but I can't say this medicine works."
"Had a cough for close to a year. I thought it was from congestive heart failure. Had been using Mucinex DM for the thick phlegm. It helped some but not enough. Then I got a cold and my cough and phlegm got much worse. My family insisted I see a doctor. The doctor prescribed this, what a relief it has been. Getting much phlegm out and cough is almost gone after 4 days on the syrup! Has been an answer to prayer so far! I had been battling this cough for a year, and it took so much out of me. Amazing to have it helped so much!"
"Like clockwork my allergy to Mountain Cedar starts around late October. Congestion, cough but no fever. My doctor prescribes Cheratussin syrup and it works great. I also take Mucinex DM with this and it stops the congestion and cough after about an hour. I couldn't make it without this."
"I took this medicine for coughing at night and had a very negative reaction to it. I seemed to have all of the classic signs of a heart attack - pain in the chest and back - it felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. Heart rate went down very low and blood pressure was low and then high."
"Been coughing for 3 weeks and this helped a lot. I am taking all sorts of over the counter pills, gels, capsules, hot water, cold water mixes with multiple active ingredients and Cheratussin AC syrup gave me better relief than anything else. I still couldn't sleep through the night and ended up taking middle of the night doses with the other things as it took over 4 weeks to get over my flu. When I was younger I got a codeine cough syrup and it didn't help but this time this did."
"I took this for a cough I was having in conjunction with a sore throat. Every time I coughed it just made my throat feel terrible. It did nothing for my cough at all, and it kept me up all night. The medicine and the cough, combined, made me lay awake. The codeine just didn't seem to knock me out. I had better luck with Theraflu Warming."
"My daughter and son were both prescribed this and it didn't work for either of them. In fact, they both complained that it gave them a bad headache about an hour after taking it and they are both still coughing all night long. Our pediatrician said this was just as good as Tussionex but much cheaper. I'd rather pay $40 co-pay for the Tussionex since I know it works. No relief for me or my children."
"Unfortunately, I had the same negative experience with this cough/codeine combination as another reviewer. My doctor said it should help me sleep, and not keep me up coughing all night. ( I was recently diagnosed with Viral Bronchitis) This did just the opposite! I took this at 11:00 p.m. and then laid awake until 3:30a.m! I had to get up and take some Nyquil just to get a few hours sleep, before having to get up for the day. Thought this may be a fluke, so I tried the same thing the next evening....sure enough...I laid awake again into the wee hours! I'll stick to the Over the Counter, Mucinex DM."
"This did little for my cough - still waking up in the middle of the night with coughing fits. Even when I take another dose at night, it doesn't help. In fact, I've now woken up every night while I've been taking this so will stop."
"I would have gave this medicine a 10 if it wasn't for the dull headache (may not have been due to the drug I was battling a sinus infection anyway) after I took this medicine. Cough was gone within an hour. Make sure you drink a lot of water. Maybe that's why I got the headache too. Also, I noticed that I was very sensitive after taking this drug. I actually cried a little bit because of the sinus pressure. When usually I just suck it up with pain and never cry. Stopped wheezing. Make sure to take a warm shower too after taking this drug it will also help clear the mucus."
"I’m awake for the 3rd night in a row now. This stuff tastes awful, but I could deal with that if it would work. My doctor used to give me Tussionex, but she has a new NP who seemed to think I needed this instead, even when I told her I’d like to go with what I know has worked in the past. I’d rather be using mussinex or Thera flu. At least with those options I can sleep through the night. This seems to make my cough worse."
"I was prescribed this for a sore throat and mild cough after I found out I had Mono, and Walking Pneumonia. It didn't do a THING! I couldn't feel it at all, and it made my throat itch as it went down. Plus it's so icky tasting."
"I was coughing and vomiting so much, I had to go to urgent care. I'd been vomiting so much, I knew when my Dr also prescribed pepsid and zolfran. I still can't eat, but I've been hydrating with water, broth and Popsicles! This medicine works well, especially in together with those other two, based on my cough with vomiting. I also took some Tylenol to deal with the pain in my neck and shoulders."
"Was prescribed this med for cough, and it did absolutely nothing except make my head hurt horribly bad and my throat tickle, which made the cough worse."
"I feel nervous and can't sleep after taking this"
"This stuff did not work at all!!! :( I needed sleep due to coughing all night and all this did was keep me wide awake."
"I was using Mucinex DM and just wasn't doing the trick for me. I wasn't sleeping at night. So got this and I am slowing getting back to sleeping without being interrupted with coughing."
"Do not drink alcohol when taking this medicine!"
"I had a severe cough and was prescribed this medicine. Not only did it not work on my cough, but it kept me up at night feeling jittery. "
"Cough medicine did not help my cough at all, I was coughing all night long, my chest and stomach hurts from all the coughing I am doing."
"I have bronchitis and was prescribed Cheratussin AC for chest congestion and cough. It might be helping a little with the cough, but it is not bringing up the phlegm. "
"Helped a lot. My cough was horrible and this helped me through the nights. I would recommend this."
More about Cheratussin AC (codeine / guaifenesin)
- Check interactions
- Compare alternatives
- Side effects
- Dosage information
- During pregnancy
- Drug class: upper respiratory combinations
Patient resources
- Cheratussin AC drug information
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