Guaifenesin-Codeine Coupons & Prices

A guaifenesin-codeine coupon from Rx.com can lower what you pay at the pharmacy counter for this prescription cough syrup, which is dispensed almost entirely as a generic today. Cash prices for the same bottle can differ a lot from one pharmacy to the next, even across the street, so it pays to compare before you fill. Rx.com checks prices at more than 60,000 pharmacies nationwide. Enter your ZIP code above to see today's price near you.

What is guaifenesin and codeine, and how does it work?

Guaifenesin and codeine phosphate is a prescription combination cough syrup. It pairs two different medicines that work in two different ways. Codeine is an opioid that acts centrally on the cough center in the brainstem to quiet the urge to cough. Guaifenesin is an expectorant that thins and loosens mucus in the airways, which can make a cough more productive and easier to clear.

It is used for temporary relief of cough caused by minor throat and bronchial irritation, such as from a common cold or inhaled irritants, along with loosening phlegm and bronchial secretions. In January 2018 the FDA required labeling changes to limit prescription cough and cold medicines containing codeine or hydrocodone to adults 18 and older, after concluding the risks outweigh the benefits in children younger than 18. FDA had already made codeine contraindicated for cough in children under 12. Labeling across marketed products has not been updated uniformly, and some older labels still show dosing for younger ages, so follow your prescriber's direction. It is not intended for long-term or chronic cough. Most brand names you may have heard of, such as Cheratussin AC, Guaiatussin AC, Robitussin AC, Virtussin AC and Brontex, are discontinued, and the product is filled almost entirely as a generic.

What guaifenesin and codeine costs without insurance, and how to pay less

Because this is a generic cough syrup, there is no manufacturer copay card for it. What you actually pay in cash varies widely by pharmacy, by the size of the bottle your prescriber writes for, and by where you live. Two pharmacies in the same town can quote very different prices for the identical product, which is exactly why comparing matters instead of just filling at whichever counter is closest.

To find the lowest price near you, enter your ZIP code above. Rx.com compares cash prices across more than 60,000 pharmacies and shows a free coupon you can hand to the pharmacist. A few practical notes:

• Ask the pharmacy to quote the cash-with-coupon price and compare it to your insurance copay. Sometimes the coupon is lower, sometimes insurance is. Use whichever costs you less.
• Prices are per bottle size, so check the price for the exact quantity on your prescription.
• This is a Schedule C-V controlled substance, so some pharmacies may not stock it. Call ahead before you drive over.

Alternatives and related cough medicines

Which cough medicine is right depends on your cough and your health history, and that decision belongs to you and your prescriber. Options people commonly ask about include:

• Guaifenesin alone, an expectorant that loosens mucus without an opioid.
• Benzonatate, a non-opioid prescription cough medicine.
• Promethazine and codeine, another prescription codeine cough syrup that pairs codeine with an antihistamine rather than an expectorant.
• Hydrocodone and homatropine, a different opioid-containing prescription cough product.
• Guaifenesin, pseudoephedrine and codeine, which adds a decongestant.

Opioid-containing cough products carry real risks that non-opioid options do not, so many prescribers try a non-opioid first. Do not switch products on your own. This page is information, not medical advice.

Safety information you should know

Codeine is an opioid, and the FDA-recognized risks of the opioid class apply to any product that contains it. Those risks include addiction, abuse and misuse, and life-threatening respiratory depression, especially when starting therapy or after a dose increase. Accidental swallowing by a child can be fatal, so keep the bottle up and away and out of sight. Codeine is converted to morphine by the CYP2D6 enzyme, and people who are ultra-rapid metabolizers can have dangerously slowed breathing at usual doses; the FDA has reported deaths in children. The FDA recommends against codeine use in breastfeeding mothers, because morphine passes into breast milk and infant deaths have been reported. Prolonged use of an opioid during pregnancy can cause neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome.

The FDA has limited prescription codeine-containing cough medicines to adults 18 and older, and codeine is contraindicated for cough in children under 12. Taking codeine with benzodiazepines, alcohol or other CNS depressants can cause profound sedation, slowed breathing, coma and death. Other risks described for opioids include serotonin syndrome with serotonergic drugs, adrenal insufficiency and severe low blood pressure, along with common effects such as constipation, dizziness, drowsiness and nausea. The Drug Facts labeling on marketed guaifenesin-codeine syrups also says not to use it if you have chronic pulmonary disease or shortness of breath, or for a persistent or chronic cough such as one from smoking, asthma, chronic bronchitis or emphysema, or a cough with a lot of phlegm, unless a doctor directs it, and codeine-containing preparations are not recommended in children under 2. Tell your prescriber and pharmacist about every medicine and supplement you take. This is a summary, not medical advice.