Simultaneous high-pressure liquid chromatographic determination of acetaminophen, guaifenesin, and dextromethorphan hydrobromide in cough syrup.

Acetaminophen (I), guaifenesin (II), and dextromethorphan hydrobromide (III) were separated and quantitated simultaneously in cough syrup by high-pressure liquid chromatography. A chemically bonded octadecylsilane stationary phase was used with a mobile phase of 48% (v/v) aqueous methanol. The mobile phase pH was stabilized to 4.2 by adding formic acid--ammonium formate buffer (approximately 0.4%). The internal standard was o-dinitrobenzene. Retention volumes were 4 ml for I, 6 ml for II, 11 ml for the internal standard, and 20 ml for III. Inactive syrup components did not interfere, permitting direct diluted sample injection. Results on active ingredients were essentially 100% of the claim, with standard deviations of +/- 1.5, 1.2, and 2.1% for I, II, and III, respectively.