Many people are having success with this inexpensive non-prescription drug available online or at any drugstore.

Everything that's old is new again goes the saying.  In the 1500s, the guaicum plant was discovered and it was found to be useful in treating "rheumatism".  As recently as 1920, a study was published showing guaifenesin extracted from that plant to be an effective treatment.

About two years ago I received a message from a woman telling me about this drug that she said had made a big improvement in her fatigue.  My first thought was, "OK.  What's she selling?"  But as I read on I saw she wasn't selling anything.  She referred me to a web-site by an MD.  He was recommending a drug that could be ordered at any drugstore.  He was selling a book, but the site actually had enough information to make the book optional.

The web-site was by Dr. Paul St. Amand, M.D..  I was intrigued.

I know of many people who have both CFS and fibromyalgia.  According to Dr. St. Amand, these are really two variations of the same condition, something that made a great deal of sense to me.  Many people including myself who have CFS don't actually have fibromyalgia, but they do have bad backs and necks.  I believe this is really a mild form of fibromyalgia.  Dr. St. Amand believes both fibromyalgia and CFS are caused by a retention of inorganic phosphates.  He has found that guaifenesin is effective helping to eliminate these from the body.

As you know, I have had a great deal of success with vitamin D.  Lack of vitamin D has a major effect on the levels of phosphates in the body.  When vitamin D is low, the body does not absorb calcium from food.  The body then starts to produce parathyroid hormone (PTH).  PTH causes the body to take calcium and phosphate from the bones.

According to Dr. St. Amand's site, the patient must avoid a long list of medications and even skin creams containing salicylates, a common ingredient.  Many patients must also stick to a low-carb Atkins type diet.  It is unclear why, but often the medication does not work if the patient doesn't do this.  Personally, I have been doing well by continuing to follow a Zone diet.  Some people may not have to follow any special diet at all.

But before I continue, let me warn you about the bad news.  One study did seem to show that guaifenesin was not effective for fibromyalgia, however, Dr. St. Amand believes he can explain this.  He believes it is because the study did not use a low-carb diet and the patients did not avoid salicylates.

I had improved a great deal since I originally became ill, but I started slowly going down hill again.  I had fatigue nearly all the time again.  I have been using guaifenesin since early April, 2000 and I have seen significant improvement.  My neck became less stiff and my fatigue improved.

Guaifenesin Sources

Guaifenesin is found in small doses in many cough medicines.  Do not use these.  To get an adequate dose of guaifenesin would require an overdose of the other ingredients, some of which can be quite dangerous and even deadly.

Guaifenesin can be obtained at most pharmacies.  Capsules of 200mg or less do not require prescription.  Most pharmacies do not have it in stock, but can order it.  Dr. St. Amand's web-site also lists pharmacies that have 800 numbers who will ship it to you.  I recently ordered 1,000 capsules for only $137.

My Own Experience

I saw some significant improvement from guaifenesin.  It was certainly not a cure, but it did help.

I would later find that when I took vitamin D it would sometimes unsettle my stomach.  I found that 900 to 1500 mg of guaifenesin would settle my stomach!

I started taking guaifenesin in the beginning of April, 2000.  I noticed no difference for about ten days.  Then I woke up one morning with a very stiff neck and fatigue that was much worse.  My neck hurt from the base of my skull down to the mid-shoulder blades.  This stiff neck lasted a week, but the increased fatigue lasted only two weeks.  Dr. St. Amand's site warned that I would feel worse before feeling better, but I was getting really concerned.  I wondered if I hadn't made a terrible mistake.  Well, the fatigue finally went back to what it was before. It was not improved, but no worse either.

Nothing happened for two more weeks.  I decided to increase the dosage to Dr. St. Amand's second level, 1200mg per day.  A week later, my neck improved quite a bit and so did my fatigue.  My fatigue and my neck started slowly improving.

Three Month Mark

I upped the dosage to the third level of 1800mg per day in the hopes of speeding things up.  I am pleased to say that at the three month mark I suddenly had some more improvement.  Hey!  This was working.

Six Month Mark

In October, I awoke one morning with significantly less fog, but I was far more sleepy than before.  Luckily I was about to go on vacation, because I was having an impossible time just staying awake!  This lasted about two weeks and then it improved.

After that I didn't see anymore improvement.  I eventually discontinued it.

Warning!

Officially, according to the Physician's Desk Reference, guaifenesin has no known side effects, but in reality if you try guaifenesin, you will feel worse at times.  You may feel MUCH worse.  And it does take a long time to work.  It takes approximately two months for every year you have had chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia.  For these reasons, I strongly recommend that you read Dr. St. Amand's book before starting and work with a practitioner who has experience with the protocol.  The online support group is also helpful.

Again, with all supplements, discontinue them every few months to see if you feel better.  It is possible to develop a sensitivity to them.

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