A nationwide class-action lawsuit settlement could bring payments to consumers who purchased Robitussin cough medicine products that were falsely marketed as “non-drowsy.”
The $4.5 million agreement, reached with manufacturer Haleon, resolves allegations that the products contained an active ingredient known to cause drowsiness, despite claims on the packaging.
Newsweek reached out to Haleon for comment on Wednesday.
The Context
The class-action lawsuits—Calchi v. GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Holdings (US) LLC and Papalia v. GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Holdings (US) LLC—alleged deceptive marketing of the products. Though Haleon denied any wrongdoing, the company agreed to stop labeling these products as “non-drowsy” and to pay out the multimillion-dollar settlement to avoid further litigation.
The misleading label, according to plaintiffs, impacted consumer purchasing decisions. “They would not have purchased Robitussin products if they knew the truth about the products causing drowsiness,” reported Top Class Actions, which reviewed the legal filings.
Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
What To Know
Karin Price Mueller of NJ Advance Media noted in a piece for Lehigh Valley Live that the lawsuit accused Haleon of advertising, labeling and selling Robitussin as “non-drowsy,” while the presence of dextromethorphan (DXM)—a compound known to have sedative effects—contradicted the labeling.
The settlement covers numerous Robitussin products containing DXM, a common cough suppressant, that were sold as “non-drowsy” between February 16, 2016, and January 21, 2025.
Products covered in the settlement include various adult and children’s versions of Robitussin Cough+Chest Congestion DM syrups, liquid-filled capsules, honey and elderberry variants and 12-hour extended-release syrups in grape and orange flavors. The full list is available on the official settlement website, NonDrowsyRobitussinSettlement.com.
Eligible consumers have until May 12, 2025, to file a claim. Consumers can receive between $1.50 and $4.75 per claim, depending on how many claims are submitted. Proof of purchase is not required for the first claim, but households can file up to three claims if they can provide receipts or other documentation for each purchase.
The agreement not only ends the two consolidated lawsuits but also requires the company to revise its advertising going forward.
The final approval hearing is scheduled for June 30, 2025. Payments will be distributed after that date, pending the court’s final ruling and any appeals.
What Happens Next
Claimants must file either online or by mailing a printed form. ClassAction.org, which also detailed the terms, confirmed that no documentation is necessary for a single claim.
However, “each settlement class member can file one claim without proof of purchase or up to three claims per household with qualifying proof of purchase,” the site reported.
For assistance, consumers can contact the claims administrator by email at info@NonDrowsyRobitussinSettlement.com or call 1-855-466-6106.