Hey Paul if you want to knock that mucus out of you without any long term side effects Try cayenne pepper. We use it all the time for that. I'd never take the stuff your taking go natural don't got by way of the doctors!
Go to your local natural food store and buy the cayenne there. you don't want the stuff from the regular stores that stuff is second rate trash. Take about a table spoonful and but it in a sandwich baggy shake it up to create a dust in the bag with your nose take a sniff of the dust. Try to hold back the sneeze so you let it work. so when you do sneeze you will explode. so have paper towel ready kleenex won't be able to handle the first load

If you really want to clean yourself out take a deep breath with a somewhat clear noes and get it down in your lungs. It's a little nasty but it will clean the trash out of your lungs as well. After while you get use to it. My husband uses it like snuff. He takes a pinch puts it on the back of his hand sticks his nose in it and takes a short quick hard sniff. One note when doing this NEVER use the back of your hand to wipe your eyes in the event that they tear up

OUCH!! P.S If you do get it in your eyes make sure your wife is there to laugh at you

(I've always enjoyed it)..............Sandy