The Food and Drug Administration proposed removing an ingredient in common over-the-counter cold medicines from store shelves yesterday.
Oral phenylephrine is found in hundreds of cold medicines, including Benadryl, NyQuil, Mucinex, and Sudafed. Since coming to market in the 1990s, it was thought to relieve congestion by reducing blood vessel swelling in nasal passages (see ingredient's history, w/video). Last year, however, an FDA advisory panel found the ingredient, while safe, is ineffective when administered orally. The medicines are widely popular, generating nearly $1.8B in sales for CVS and Walgreens in 2022. More than 50% of US households used an oral decongestant over the past year.
The proposal now goes to public comment before companies may be forced to reformulate products. In the meantime, consumers can check to see if their cold medicines include other active ingredients (with or without phenylephrine). They may also consider nasal spray versions of phenylephrine, which are still considered effective.
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