Tag: Ineffective drugs

In 2023, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee unanimously voted that oral phenylephrine is ineffective, finally clarifying the core of the public health debate around what is the problem with phenylephrine. For decades, this ingredient has been a staple in over-the-counter (OTC) cold and allergy medications, yet robust modern clinical data fails to prove its efficacy for nasal congestion. The issue centers on its poor absorption and metabolism when taken orally, rendering it essentially useless for its intended purpose.

In a unanimous 2023 vote, an FDA advisory panel declared oral phenylephrine ineffective as a nasal decongestant. This decision explains why is the FDA banning phenylephrine, prompting the agency to propose its removal from over-the-counter products after decades on store shelves.

In September 2023, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee unanimously concluded that oral phenylephrine, a key ingredient in hundreds of over-the-counter cold medicines, is ineffective at relieving nasal congestion [1.3.1, 1.3.3]. This article explains what nasal decongestant is being discontinued as a result and what consumers should use instead.