Compare Alka-Seltzer Plus Day Severe Cold And Flu vs. Mucinex D
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Relieves cold and flu symptoms.
Alka-Seltzer Plus Day Severe Cold And Flu (Acetaminophen / Dextromethorphan / Guaifenesin / Phenylephrine) is okay for multiple cold symptoms, but it's more medicine than you need if you only have one symptom.
Breaks up mucus and relieves congestion.
Mucinex D (Guaifenesin / Pseudoephedrine) is good if you have a stuffy nose and a cough with mucus, but it could keep you up at night.
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3.8/ 5 average rating with 1249 reviewsforMucinex D
Upsides
- Alka-Seltzer Plus Day Severe Cold And Flu (Acetaminophen / Dextromethorphan / Guaifenesin / Phenylephrine) is a combination medicine that relieves multiple cold symptoms. It's good to use if you have a stuffy nose, a cough, fever, and pain.
- The decongestant (phenylephrine) has fewer side effects than other decongestants. It doesn't raise your blood pressure and heart rate as much, or cause as much trouble falling asleep.
- The cough medicine (dextromethorphan) works well and has very few side effects.
- The pain reliever (acetaminophen) is easier on your stomach and has fewer drug interactions than other pain medications like aspirin or ibuprofen.
- Mucinex D (Guaifenesin / Pseudoephedrine) is a combination medicine that relieves multiple cold symptoms. It's good to use if you have sinus and chest congestion.
- Helps loosen the mucus in your airways so that you can cough it up more easily.
- Works well to clear nasal congestion and help you breathe better.
Downsides
- If you don't really need all of the medications in this combination, you're taking extra medicine and might have extra side effects for no reason.
- Guaifenesin isn’t useful if you have a dry cough without chest congestion.
- Phenylephrine doesn't last as long as other decongestants like pseudoephedrine.
- You shouldn't use it if you have high blood pressure.
- To avoid hurting your liver, you have to keep track of the total amount of acetaminophen (APAP) you're taking since it's a very common ingredient in pain and cold/flu combination medicines.
- Pseudoephedrine, the decongestant in Mucinex D (Guaifenesin / Pseudoephedrine), can make your heart race or make you feel anxious and restless.
- Doesn't work as well if you use it for more than 4 days at a time.
- Although you don't need a prescription to get Mucinex D (Guaifenesin / Pseudoephedrine), you need to show a photo ID to buy it in the drugstore.
- Mucinex D (Guaifenesin / Pseudoephedrine) isn’t useful if you have a dry cough.
Used for
Dosage forms
- Powder
- Liquid
- Pill
- Extended release
Price
No pricing information available
Lowest price
$11.00
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Reviews
Not enough review data.Leave a review
1249 reviews so far
76%
saidit'sworth it
41%
saiditworked well
7%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Mucinex D (Guaifenesin / Pseudoephedrine)?
Leave a reviewSide effects
The Alka-Seltzer Plus Day Severe Cold And Flu (Acetaminophen / Dextromethorphan / Guaifenesin / Phenylephrine) FDA package insert doesn’t have numbers about how common side effects are.
The Mucinex D (Guaifenesin / Pseudoephedrine) FDA package insert doesn’t have numbers about how common side effects are.
Risks and risk factors
- Liver damage
- Drinking more than 2 alcoholic beverages a day
- Taking with other Tylenol-containing medicines
- History of liver disease
- High blood pressure
- History of high blood pressure
- Taking MAO inhibitors
- Chronic cough from an infection
- History of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- History of smoking
- Serotonin syndrome
- Using other medications that affect serotonin
- High blood pressure
- History of high blood pressure
- Heart problems
- History of heart problems
- Age 65 years or older
- Nausea and vomiting