I use Mucinex 3 times a week..It does leave your mouth dry...Drink plenty of water. How many of you COPD people have trouble breathing after doing something as simple as tying your shoes or putting a blouse or shirt on? Next time be aware if you are holding your breath when doing these simple things....I have had to teach myself to breath steadily when doing these things....Also, if you are feeling panicky when short of breath, it helps to calmly purse lip breath and count your breathes until you feel calm...Then the next you feel panic, you will know how long it takes to feel calm....Remember, COPD is not so much taking in oxygen, as it is getting the carbon dioxide out of your lungs....this makes room for the oxygen....Always breath with your stomach, not your chest....You should see your stomach going in an out when purse lip breathing..

We use musinex in our home for all of our colds ,we have a 78 me 75 ,daughter 48 ,grandkids 17 & 21 , 23 ,& 14 ..we all seem to be able to use it & it helps all of us .... Not sure if anything is better ,but this is working for us ...It was recommended by my lung dr after a bout of pneumonia in me ... Hugs ...

Barbara, there are a variety of tools to use in getting the mucous up, including Mucinex, which works to a point for most people. If you're really having a problem, I would suggest that you discuss several alternatives with your doctor. First there are a number of percussive devices that use percussion to help get the mucous up and out; one of them might work well for you.

If you are having frequent exacerbations (pneumonia counts!), talk with your doc about one or both of these treatments: daliresp, a pill that is designed to reduce the inflammation in the lungs, and thus reduce the mucous and resulting exacerbations; and/or prophylactic antibiotics, usually azithromycin, either once a day or three times a week. Both daliresp and the antibiotic treatment have been widely studied and proved to be effective for people with COPD who have frequent exacerbations. Their use is considered best practice for patients who have frequent exacerbations.

If your doc doesn't either bring these up or doesn't know about them, find a good pulmonologist who keeps current with his field.

I take Mucinex in the am and pm. I think it helps!

When I was very ill and had massive congestion in my lungs, the doctor put me on 1200mg of Mucinex twice a day. If I start feeling I'm getting congested now, I take 400mg of Mucinex twice a day. It is very helpful in thinning the mucus and bringing it up. I find it very helpful.