You may have read some amazing stories of people who claim to have had a complete reversal of their fibromyalgia symptoms from taking something called guaifenesin. You may also wonder why it is not prescribed more often if it works so well. For almost two decades now, a controversy has raged over the guaifenesin protocol as a treatment for fibromyalgia. Here is the story in a nutshell.
Guaifenesin is an expectorant primarily used to treat chest congestion. It is found in some cough medicines and is the active ingredient in Mucinex. It can be purchased over-the-counter, is often found in health-food stores, or may be prescribed by a physician.
Guaifenesin Protocol – The Background Story
The guaifenesin protocol for treating fibromyalgia was developed by Dr. R. Paul St. Amand in the early 1990s. He believed that phosphate deposits throughout the body were the cause of FM and that FM symptoms could be reversed by removing excess phosphate from the body, which he claimed guaifenesin would do.
The protocol is not easy to follow – it involves much more than just taking a couple of guaifenesin tablets every day. You're also instructed that you cannot eat or use any topical product that has salicylates in it because, according to Dr. St. Amand, salicylates block the effectiveness of the guaifenesin. Since salicylates are found in many foods and most skin care products like lotions, shampoos, mouthwash, topical pain relievers, etc., it takes extraordinary vigilance to avoid them entirely.
The guaifenesin treatment plan is not for the faint-of-heart. One of the key markers that indicates you have reached the optimum dosage is that your symptoms will get worse. Of course, you are assured that if you continue to follow the protocol, you will gradually begin to have better days.
In 1995, Dr. Robert Bennett, a world-renowned fibromyalgia researcher and clinician, conducted a year-long study on guaifenesin for FM. Dr. St. Amand was the technical advisor for the study. The results of the study showed no significant FM symptom improvement nor was there a difference between those taking guaifenesin and those taking a placebo.
Dr. St. Amand now claims that the participants must have inadvertently used products with salicylates, which would make the study invalid. Of course, Dr. Bennet disagrees. And the controversy goes on.
Why Guaifenesin May Help Fibromyalgia
In the 20 years since Dr. St. Amand developed his theory, I don't know of a single study backing up his claim that phosphates cause fibromyalgia. Nor am I aware of any evidence showing guaifenesin to be an effective method of ridding the body of excess phosphates.
There are, however, other reasons why guaifenesin may be helpful for some fibromyalgia patients. I recently came across a very interesting article by Mark London, Systems Programmer/Analyst for the Plasma Science and Fusion Center at MIT. He has done a very in-depth study of guaifenesin and the guaifenesin protocol.
