FDA Moves to Ban Ineffective Cold Medicine Ingredient

The FDA has proposed removing oral phenylephrine from over-the-counter cold medicines, citing ineffectiveness as a nasal decongestant.

Phenylephrine, a common ingredient in many cold medications, is deemed ineffective by the FDA after extensive data review.
The proposal targets oral phenylephrine, which is widely used in products like Sudafed PE and DayQuil, but not in nasal sprays.
The FDA's decision follows studies showing oral phenylephrine performs no better than a placebo in relieving congestion.
Manufacturers may continue selling phenylephrine products until a final order is issued, allowing time for reformulation.
The FDA's move could significantly impact the multi-million-dollar cold medicine industry, prompting changes in product formulations.