FDA Panel Concludes Decongestant in Cold Medicines is Ineffective
TL;DR
An advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has unanimously agreed that phenylephrine, a common decongestant ingredient used in many over-the-counter cold medicines, is ineffective. This decision may lead to a ban on the ingredient, resulting in the removal of products containing it from store shelves. The panel reviewed existing studies and concluded that phenylephrine was no better than a placebo. If the FDA orders its removal, popular products like Tylenol, Mucinex, and Benadryl cold and flu remedies may become unavailable until companies reformulate them.
- A Decongestant in Cold Medicines Doesn't Work at All, an F.D.A. Panel Says The New York Times
- Decongestant in Cold Medicines Found Ineffective - WSJ The Wall Street Journal
- Popular OTC medicines for colds and allergies don’t work, FDA panel says CNN
- Decongestant found in many cold, allergy medicines doesn’t actually work, FDA advisors say CNBC
- FDA panel says common over-the-counter decongestant phenylephrine doesn’t work NBC News
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