The FDA says oral phenylephrine, used in many over-the-counter cough and cold medicines, "is not effective as a nasal decongestant."

Summary

The FDA has proposed removing oral phenylephrine, a common ingredient in over-the-counter cold medicines like NyQuil and Sudafed, due to evidence that it is ineffective as a nasal decongestant.

The proposal follows a unanimous vote by FDA advisers last year, and recent studies showing less than 1% of the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream when taken orally.

The public comment period ends on May 7, after which the FDA may finalize the ban.

  • Nottalottapies@aussie.zone
    11·
    14 days ago

    About time. Thankfully in Australia we can still get access to the ones containing psuedoephedrine, which works amazingly well.

    Can’t believe it has taken this long to see the inefficacy of these.

    • Mercuri@lemmy.world
      4·
      14 days ago

      In the US, you can still get the stuff containing pseudoephedrine but you have to go to the pharmacy and ask for it and then show your ID. Out of curiosity, what’s the process in Australia?

      • TrippaSnippa@lemm.ee
        1·
        13 days ago

        It’s the same here. The Therapeutic Goods Administration, our equivalent to the FDA, generally follows along with FDA regulations (though I don’t think that will continue from next year somehow).

        • Mercuri@lemmy.world
          2·
          13 days ago

          (though I don’t think that will continue from next year somehow).

          Yeah, might be hard to follow FDA regulations when the FDA gets dismantled and no longer exists… eye twitch