Fibromyalgia Treatment Center / Guaifenesin Protocol

The Blocking Test

The blocking test is a tool to help determine if you are blocking your guaifenesin with exposure to salicylates. It will be less accurate if you have just started your guaifenesin (because your cycles are still severe) or if you have been on guaifenesin a long time (because you should have less to flare). Bear in mind that it is to be used as a clue--additional information.

Here's how you do a blocking test:

Double your dose of guaifenesin

If the increase in dosage causes an increase in any of your symptoms you are NOT blocked.

If however you DON'T experience any increase in symptoms you MAY be blocked.

To ascertain if this is the case, stop using any non-essential products and check all your products for salicylates.

If you have any question about your products contact Dr. St. Amand's office or a member of the Admin Team via the Guai Group.

If you now experience change--you feel worse-- when you eliminate products-- then you were blocking because of those products. If your didn't experience any change, then it's likely you were not blocking--or one of the products you are still using is a blocker. You need to check those more carefully.

If you were blocking you can continue using any products which were confirmed as Salicylate Free and go back to your previous dose of guaifenesin.

Discontinue using any of your other products which cannot be confirmed as completely Salicylate Free and continue focusing on your experience.

Don't add any product to your daily regimen unless it can be ruled salicylate free.

NOTE -- For those on the higher doses the blocking test isn't as definitive and will require a longer test period and any changes will be subtle. (The higher your guaifenesin dose the less responsive you are to the medication)