MDose · Veterinary drug reference
GUAIFENESIN
Favorites and recent references stay on this device. No patient data is stored.
Choose the species
One selection filters the source overview, clinical facts, reports and dose calculator. Literature references are not species-filtered.
Choose one species for its overview and dose calculator, or all species to browse the full evidence.
Source overview
Recorded excerpts for one species. Each dose remains a separate source entry; no regimen is selected.
Choose one species to view its source overview. All-species evidence remains available below.
View full clinical evidence and sources ↓Clinical evidence
Pending clinical review (PROPOSED)Rule-based (RULE_BASED)— applies to the facts and dose entries in this species selection; individual source records retain their own status.
Indications3
Muscle relaxation adjunct for induction/maintenance anesthesia (with α2 + ketamine); field anesthesia rescue for "too light/too tense"
HorseExtra-label (EXTRA_LABEL)1 source record · View provenance
- Horse · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 597–599 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Muscle relaxation adjunct for induction/maintenance anesthesia (with α2 + ketamine); field anesthesia rescue for "too light/too tense" — Extra-label (IV); infusion products availability-limited
- Horse · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 597–599 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Expectorant (mucolytic-lite) in cough formulas
DogCatExtra-label (EXTRA_LABEL)2 source records · View provenance
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 597–599 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Expectorant (mucolytic-lite) in cough formulas — OTC/extra-label
- Cat · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 597–599 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Original excerpt: Expectorant (mucolytic-lite) in cough formulas — OTC/extra-label
- Dog · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 597–599 — Indications table · Not applicable · Extra-label (EXTRA_LABEL) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Dose regimens5
This calculator performs arithmetic only on the sourced dosing field shown for each result — it does not verify the field's accuracy, does not select which field to use for a patient, and does not replace a veterinarian's order. Not for clinical use. Confirm every result against the primary source before dispensing.
Choose one species above to view its dose calculator.
Adverse effects104
Mild hypotension + ↑HR — Usual-dose physiology
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 597–599 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Thrombophlebitis / perivascular reaction — IV-discipline related
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 597–599 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Hemolysis (>5% in ruminants) — Concentration error
CattleNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Cattle · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 597–599 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Apnea at overdose (toxic: dog 415–830 mg/kg — hypothermia/tremors/ataxia) — Massive overdose
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 597–599 — Side Effects / Adverse Effects table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
These are counts of spontaneously reported events, not proven adverse effects, causal relationships, or incidence rates.
Bars compare report counts within each species; they do not show incidence.
More reportsFewer reportsDog
- Cough12 reports
- Vomiting9 reports
- Death by euthanasia8 reports
- Diarrhoea8 reports
- Lack of efficacy - NOS7 reports
- Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in Neurological)7 reports
- Nasal discharge7 reports
- Ataxia6 reports
- Death6 reports
- Lethargy (see also Central nervous system depression in 'Neurological')6 reports
- Other abnormal test result NOS6 reports
- Abnormal radiograph finding5 reports
Monitoring1
Anesthesia plane (GG doesn't deepen it — only relaxes), BP/HR, catheter site, hemolysis watch (ruminants)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 597–599 — Monitoring Parameters · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Contraindications1
Physostigmine co-use (manufacturer — the listed contraindication)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 597–599 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Precautions4
Ruminant 5% ceiling; not a solo anesthetic (relaxation ≠ sleep ≠ analgesia)
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 597–599 — Contraindications & Warnings table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
"Triple drip" is the drug's identity: GG + ketamine + xylazine (or detomidine) = field anesthesia for horses where inhalant machines don't exist — GG contributes ONLY relaxation.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 597–599 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
The 5%-ruminant hemolysis rule and the physostigmine contraindication are the two quirky must-knows.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 597–599 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
The Jekyll-Hyde molecule: same drug is an OTC human expectorant (Mucinex) and an IV anesthetic adjunct — route and dose define the drug.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 597–599 — Clinical pearl · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Interactions3
Physostigmine — Contraindicated pair
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 597–599 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Ketamine/α2 (deliberate) — The GKX/GKD design
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 597–599 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Other depressants — Additive
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 597–599 — Drug Interactions table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pharmacokinetics3
Mechanism — Central muscle relaxation (cord-level) — NOT an anesthetic or analgesic: part of balanced cocktails for relaxation only
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 597–599 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Hemolysis — >5% solutions (ruminants esp.) — practical formulation ceiling
Other speciesNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Other species · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 597–599 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Availability — IV product scarce (Green-Book legacy listings) — compounding/availability era issue
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 597–599 — Pharmacokinetics table · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Pregnancy / lactation considerations1
Human FDA category C — anesthetic-context use.
Species not recordedNot applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE)1 source record · View provenance
- Species not recorded · Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 7th ed., p. 597–599 — Pregnancy & Lactation · Not applicable · Not applicable (NOT_APPLICABLE) · Pending clinical review (PROPOSED) · Rule-based
Literature references19
References are linked to this drug. Species applicability is not recorded here, so the species filter does not narrow this list. Imported dates do not retain their original precision; confirm dates in the original citation.
- Propofol with ketamine following sedation with xylazine for routine induction of general anaesthesia in horses.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Comparison of xylazine-ketamine-guaifenesin and xylazine-tiletamine-zolazepam protocols for constant rate infusion anesthesia in horses undergoing field castration.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Effects of anesthetic protocol, procedure, and recovery stall and interval on the quality of recovery in repeatedly anesthetized horses.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Propofol-sparing and hemodynamic effects of guaifenesin in sheep.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
- Gambian children's deaths due to contaminated cough syrups are a mutual responsibility.
Study summary not available in the imported record. Open the original citation to review the study.
Sources: PubMed, National Library of Medicine; openFDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Plumb DC. Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook. 7th ed. PharmaVet Inc; 2011.
Owner information handout
Plain-language medication information to review with the owner. Open the handout to print it or download a PDF.