From Monday May 3, 2004, the legal alcohol limit in NSW for all learner and provisional licence holders became zero. The zero alcohol limit applies to ALL.
The
Roads and Transport Authority website makes the following recommendations regarding checking product labels for alcohol content.
“Some medicines, mouthwashes and foodstuffs may contain alcohol. Learner and Provisional license holders should check labels for alcohol content (which is sometimes labelled as ethanol). All such products containing alcohol should be avoided by licence holders subject to the zero alcohol limit if they plan to drive”.
Due to this new legislation, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare Pty Ltd has received a large number of enquiries from pharmacists, doctors and the public regarding what the alcohol reading could possibly be if they did take a dose of Robitussin liquid as per the recommended dosage instruction.
Four adults of different body weight participated in this study using two screening and one evidential breath analysers. The study was supervised by a suitably qualified professional.
Objective
The objective of this study was to determine the alcohol reading after a recommended dose of Robitussin had been taken.
| Product Name |
Active Ingredient per 10ml |
Alcohol (96%) Content per 10ml |
| Robitussin EX |
Guaiphenesin |
200mg |
399mg |
| Robitussin ME |
Guaiphenesin
Bromhexine |
200mg
8mg |
Less than 3mg |
| Robitussin PS |
Guaiphenesin
Pseudoephedrine |
200mg
60mg |
319.5mg |
| Robitussin DX |
Dextromethorphan |
30mg |
120.75mg |
| Robitussin DM |
Dextromethorphan
Guaiphenesin |
30mg
200mg |
399mg |
Alcohol Breath Testing Units
Two types of screening instruments were used:
- SD2 Alcolmeter (SD2)
- Alcolizer LE (Alc)
One type of evidential instrument was used:
- Drager Alcotest 7110 (Dra)
| Dose of Robitussin Administered |
| Product |
Dose |
Amount of Alcohol Ingested |
| Robitussin DX |
10ml |
120.75mg |
| Robitussin PS |
10ml |
319.5mg |
| Robitussin DM |
10ml |
399mg |
| Robitussin EX |
20ml |
798mg |
| Time Point |
Robitussin DX |
Robitussin PS |
Robitussin EX |
Robitussin DM |
| |
Alc |
SD2 |
Dra |
Alc |
SD2 |
Dra |
Alc |
SD2 |
Dra |
Alc |
SD2 |
Dra |
| Pre Dose |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
| Immediately* |
0.000 |
0.015 |
- |
0.063 |
0.105 |
- |
0.064 |
0.120 |
- |
0.040 |
0.075 |
- |
| 5 minutes* |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.005 |
0.000 |
| 10 minutes* |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
| 15 minutes* |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
0.000 |
* after taking Robitussin dosage
Conclusion
Whilst a breath alcohol reading was registered immediately after taking a dose of Robitussin, at 5 minutes for all, except Robitussin DM, the reading was zero. By 10 and 15 minutes the breath alcohol tests results were all negative for a positive alcohol reading.
It is recommended that patients do not drive straight after taking a dose of Robitussin. They should wait approximately 10 to 15 minutes before driving.