Eight lots of Robitussin Honey CF Max Adult Day and Night are being recalled due to contamination concerns, according to a voluntary recall notice from Haleon posted on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website Wednesday.
According to the recall, no illnesses have been reported so far, but immunocompromised people could be susceptible to “serious or life-threatening adverse events” from the microbial contamination. There should be no risk of serious illness for most consumers, but since the risk of infection “cannot be completely ruled out,” Haleon said, the affected batches would be recalled.
An example of the daily version of the packaging for the recalled drug.
Robitussin
All recalled products are intended for people ages 12 and older to treat “severe colds, flu, and sore throats.” The names of the products are Robitussin Honey CF Max Day Adult and Robitussin Honey CF Max Nighttime Adult. Only select batches of Robitussin “honey” are being recalled, so other brand medications are not affected.
This recall follows news that some popular cold medicines were deemed ineffective after an FDA panel found in September that the main ingredient in many over-the-counter medications, phenylephrine, was no more effective than a placebo in making people feel better. This did not affect the safety of these products, but did result in some pharmacies withdrawing the medications themselves, causing general consumer confusion. (Robitussin Honey CF Max does not contain phenylephrine.)
Here are more details about the recall, what to look for in effective cold and flu medications, and how to fight a virus naturally at home.
Here's how to know if your cough medicine is being recalled and how to find a replacement
The recalled lots of Robitussin honey have an expiration date of May 31, 2025 through October 31, 2025 and are available in either 4- or 8-ounce bottles. The affected batch numbers are:
- T10810
- T08730
- T08731
- T08732
- T08733
- T10808
- T08740
- T08742
To find the batch number and expiration date, look at the bottom of the bottle. There you will find the numbers printed next to the label. If the details of your medicine match the information in the published recall, do not use it and call your doctor if you have any problems related to taking the medicine. You can also contact the company that initiated the recall, Haleon, at [email protected].
The recalled batches of Robitussin contain paracetamol, a pain reliever and fever reducer. The medicine also contains the antihistamine diphenhydramine in the “night” version and the cough medicine dextromethorphan in the “day” version. If this medication works for you, you may want to look for other over-the-counter medications that treat the symptom you are treating or similar multisymptom cold and flu medications.
However, keep in mind that although many cold and flu medications do not require a prescription, they are still medications: Always ask your doctor or pharmacist if you plan to take more than one medication. as some ingredients can interact with each other. (It is also a good idea to consult a doctor before taking an over-the-counter product if you are already taking a prescription medication or are pregnant.)
Although not a clinical ingredient, the recalled Robitussin drug also contains honey. Consuming some honey or adding it to tea is a good home treatment tip that can help soothe a sore throat.
And as always, if you are at higher risk of contracting a common virus such as RSV (which causes cold symptoms), the flu, or COVID-19, it is important that you seek medical attention sooner rather than later. so that they can contact you with the right treatment. For example, antiviral treatment for COVID-19 is available for people at higher risk, but must be started within five days of symptoms appearing. Antiviral flu medications are also available for people at increased risk.
Read more: How to Get More Free COVID Tests (While You Still Can)
What about ineffective decongestants?
Aside from recalled medications, when looking for a cold or flu medicine, you should also keep in mind that phenylephrine, the decongestant ingredient in many popular products, is not actually effective when taken orally, according to a panel of FDA experts that recently met September. (In the form of a nasal spray, it is still considered effective.)
The experts we spoke to last fall told us that pseudoephedrine is a more effective decongestant than phenylephrine, which means you're better off going to the pharmacy and asking about medications that contain pseudoephedrine if your goal is to to relieve the swelling. (Due to drug laws, you can't pick up pseudoephedrine off the drugstore shelf like many other cold or flu medications.)
However, many medications that contain phenylephrine also contain other active ingredients that relieve other viral symptoms – one of the reasons they may still be on the shelves. Dr. Geoffrey Rutledge, co-founder of telemedicine website HealthTap, described the residual effectiveness of phenylephrine-containing products as “the power of the placebo and the power of the other ingredients.”
So consider this information as another caveat about cold and flu medications: Know what symptoms you're trying to treat when looking for an over-the-counter medication, and ask your doctor or pharmacist for recommendations if you're unsure.
Natural cold and flu treatments
If you want to get through your battle with a virus at home without drugs or medication, there are natural ways to relieve your symptoms from the comfort of your own home.
For decongestion, You can relieve symptoms by using a humidifier or rubbing menthol on your chest.
For a sore throat, Adding honey to your tea or eating a spoonful of it can soothe a sore throat. (However, it is not safe for small babies.)
According to GoodRx, in addition to fighting bad breath, gargling with warm salt water can also be a great way to relieve inflammation in your throat.
When coughing, Healthline reports that peppermint and ginger teas are some of the better home therapies.
For more information, learn how to naturally relieve viral symptoms in children, sleep hacks that can help you beat the flu, and how to safely use essential oils during flu season.