HPLC Analysis of NyQuil Active Ingredients

NyQuil is a widely used cough and cold medication manufactured by Procter & Gamble, containing acetaminophen, pseudoephedrine, doxylamine, and dextromethorphan. Traditional HPLC methods for analyzing such formulations often rely on ion-pairing reagents or gradient elution techniques.

Using Zodiac HST C mixed-mode chromatography, these four active ingredients can be efficiently separated with a short isocratic method, eliminating the need for complex gradients. The separation is achieved within 3 to 5 minutes, offering a faster and more convenient alternative.

This method can be adapted for the analysis of other multi-component cough and cold formulations, especially those containing common cough suppressants and analgesics. It is robust, reproducible, and currently undergoing validation across multiple pharmaceutical companies for routine quality control applications.