What are the dangers of taking Mucinex DM and Tylenol simultaneously?

Taking guaifenesen and dextromethorphan (Mucinex DM) with acetaminophen (Tylenol) should not pose a risk of drug-drug interactions, since the metabolism (clearance) of these products do not directly interfere with each other: Guaifenesin/Guaiphenesin Use as expectorant (thins mucus to make cough productive) Metabolized via hydrolysis: Unknown if metabolism via liver enzyme cytochrome P450 (CYP450) Dextromethorphan Use as a cough suppressant (anti-tussive) and pseudobulbar affect (uncontrolled crying/laughing) Metabolized via liver, CYP450 2D6 Acetaminophen/Paracetamol Use to reduce fever and pain Metabolized via liver, CYP450 2E1 The main dangers in these medications have to do with excessive concentration of the drug in your body, i.e. overdosing. Overdosing on dextromethorphan causes breathing problems including no breathing, blurred vision, coma, hallucinations, gastrointestinal spasms (see Dextromethorphan overdose: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia). Overdosing on acetaminophen causes liver damage serious enough to require transplantation or result in death. You should not take more than 4 grams or 4000 mg per day. Brand name Tylenol comes in doses of 500mg each pill or caplet, which means you should not take more than 8 pills or caplets per day. If you take 2 pills or caplets each dose, you can only take 4 two-pill doses each day to stay on the safer side of liver damage. Fortunately, guaifenesin toxicity is relatively low, but doses for an adult should not exceed 2400mg...
Source: NAKEDMEDICINE.COM - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Science and Research Source Type: blogs