# Robitussin - left out in car in 40 degree weather.  Ruined?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robitussin-left-out-in-car-in-40-degree-weather-ruined/399429>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 10, 2007, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robitussin-left-out-in-car-in-40-degree-weather-ruined/399429 "2007-04-10T02:29:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 10\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![FlyingCowOfDoom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyingcowofdoom/32/21776_2.png) [@FlyingCowOfDoom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingCowOfDoom)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robitussin-left-out-in-car-in-40-degree-weather-ruined/399429/1 "2007-04-10T02:29:39Z")

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I have a bottle of Robitussin that I just bought today that was left out in my car for about 4 hours. The bottle says to store it between 68-77 degrees F. Is it ruined? Does anyone know why it has to be stored about 68 degrees? Thanks!

–FCOD

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**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robitussin-left-out-in-car-in-40-degree-weather-ruined/399429/2 "2007-04-10T02:53:20Z")

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If it didn’t freeze (and Robitussin is mainly alcohol, it won’t at 40 degrees), it should be fine.

Why it says that? Because they only ran the required FDA tests on Robitussin that had been stored at room temp. Otherwise they would have to run those expensive test on bottles that had been stored at near freezing, or heated, etc. By adding this to the label, they restrict themselves to just testing in that temp range. It’s mainly a cost savings for the manufacturer, and it has little effect on sales – most people store it near room temp anyway.

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**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robitussin-left-out-in-car-in-40-degree-weather-ruined/399429/3 "2007-04-10T02:53:57Z")

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40 ˚C I would worry. 40 ˚F I’d say your fine. It’s heat that destroys things. If anything cold will make it last longer so long as it isn’t frozen. Most things would probably survive freezing, but complications can arise.

It also occurs to me that solubility could become an issue (not likely in your case). If stuff has crystalized out, it should go back in to solution on warming. If it doesn’t goo back into solution dump it.

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**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robitussin-left-out-in-car-in-40-degree-weather-ruined/399429/4 "2007-04-10T03:05:21Z")

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[QUOTE=Christopher]  
If it doesn’t goo back into solution dump it.  
[/QUOTE]

Mmmmm, free goo.

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**Author:** ![FlyingCowOfDoom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyingcowofdoom/32/21776_2.png) [@FlyingCowOfDoom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingCowOfDoom)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robitussin-left-out-in-car-in-40-degree-weather-ruined/399429/5 "2007-04-10T14:52:18Z")

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Thanks, everyone!

[QUOTE=t-bonham@scc.net]  
If it didn’t freeze (and Robitussin is mainly alcohol, it won’t at 40 degrees), it should be fine.  
[/QUOTE]  
I thought Robitussin was alcohol-free…maybe you’re thinking of Ny-Quil?

–FCOD

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**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robitussin-left-out-in-car-in-40-degree-weather-ruined/399429/6 "2007-04-10T19:29:05Z")

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[QUOTE=FlyingCowOfDoom]  
I thought Robitussin was alcohol-free…maybe you’re thinking of Ny-Quil?  
[/QUOTE]  
Nope.

“Robitussin: Each 5 mL of red, cherry-flavored syrup contains: guaifenesin 100 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: **alcohol** , caramel color, citric acid, flavor, glycerin, invert sugar, FD&C Red No. 40, sodium benzoate, sodium chloride and water. Energy: 15.3 kJ (3.7 kcal). Sodium: \<1 mmol (2.8 mg).”  
From [www.rxmed.com](http://www.rxmed.com)

Read the label to find out exactly how much (what proof) alcohol is in Robitussin. Note that it is classified as a “non-medicinal” ingredient, so it will only be listed in the tiny print somewhere.

* * *

Bartenders have a recipe for a ‘novelty’ drink called a ‘Robitussin’. It adds vodka and root beer schnapps.

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**Author:** ![Engywook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bc8723/32.png) [@Engywook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engywook)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robitussin-left-out-in-car-in-40-degree-weather-ruined/399429/7 "2007-04-10T20:07:15Z")

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[QUOTE=t-bonham@scc.net]

“Robitussin: Each 5 mL of red, cherry-flavored syrup contains: guaifenesin 100 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: **alcohol** , caramel color, citric acid, flavor, glycerin, invert sugar, FD&C Red No. 40, sodium benzoate, sodium chloride and water. Energy: 15.3 kJ (3.7 kcal). Sodium: \<1 mmol (2.8 mg).”  
From [www.rxmed.com](http://www.rxmed.com)

[/QUOTE]

There are a lot of different preparations of Robitussin, though, and (I can’t say for sure, but I think) the same label may have different inactive ingredients depending on which country you buy it in.

From a description of Robutussin DM at [Drugstore.com](http://www.drugstore.com/qxp11152_333181_sespider/robitussin_dm/cough_suppressant_expectorant_syrup.htm):

> [@](#):
>
> **Active Ingredients:** Each teaspoonful (5ml) contains: Guaifenesin USP (USP 100 mg), Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide (USP 10 mg)
> 
> **Inactive Ingredients:** Citric Acid, FD&C Red 40, Flavor, Glucose, Glycerin, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Saccharin Sodium, Sodium Benzoate, Water

Note that this preparation differs in that it contains Dextromethorphan HBr, a cough suppressent, in addition to Guaifenesin (that’s an expectorant). Also note that there’s no alcohol in this.

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**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robitussin-left-out-in-car-in-40-degree-weather-ruined/399429/8 "2007-04-10T20:29:06Z")

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[QUOTE=FlyingCowOfDoom]  
I have a bottle of Robitussin that I just bought today that was left out in my car for about 4 hours. The bottle says to store it between 68-77 degrees F. Is it ruined? Does anyone know why it has to be stored about 68 degrees? Thanks!

–FCOD  
[/QUOTE]

That bottle of Robitussin has probably spent quite a bit of time sitting on unheated shipping docks or in trucks in the mid-day sun. It’s likely experienced some major temperature shifts. Don’t worry about it unless it’s marked perishable and stored in a cooler.

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**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robitussin-left-out-in-car-in-40-degree-weather-ruined/399429/9 "2007-04-10T20:38:14Z")

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[QUOTE=Engywook]  
There are a lot of different preparations of Robitussin, though, and (I can’t say for sure, but I think) the same label may have different inactive ingredients depending on which country you buy it in.

From a description of Robutussin DM at [Drugstore.com](http://www.drugstore.com/qxp11152_333181_sespider/robitussin_dm/cough_suppressant_expectorant_syrup.htm):

Note that this preparation differs in that it contains Dextromethorphan HBr, a cough suppressent, in addition to Guaifenesin (that’s an expectorant). Also note that there’s no alcohol in this.  
[/QUOTE]  
Well, that is contradicted by the RxMeds site:  
“Robitussin DM: Each 5 mL of red, cherry-flavored syrup contains: guaifenesin 100 mg and dextromethorphan HBr 15 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: **alcohol** , citric acid, flavors, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 6, glycerin, invert sugar, sodium benzoate and water. Energy: 12.4 kJ (3.0 kcal). Sodium: \<1 mmol (0.8 mg). Bottles of 100 and 250 mL.”

There are many versions of Robitussin, with very similar names. The version Robitussin DM Infant Drops does not seem to contain alcohol. Is that what you’re taking?

I repeat, read the label fine print to be sure of the ingredients, if having an alcohol-free version is important to you.

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**Author:** ![RedSwinglineOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@RedSwinglineOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedSwinglineOne)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robitussin-left-out-in-car-in-40-degree-weather-ruined/399429/10 "2007-04-10T20:59:06Z")

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[QUOTE=FlyingCowOfDoom]  
The bottle says to store it between 68-77 degrees F. Is it ruined? Does anyone know why it has to be stored about 68 degrees?

–FCOD  
[/QUOTE]

Real answer: That’s probably just their polite way of saying store this stuff in the house, not out in the shed with your tools, under the porch etc.

Sarcastic answer: Why would it go bad? Its **cold medicine**! 😉