FDA Panel Finds Common Decongestant Ineffective, Potentially Leading to Reformulation of Numerous Cold Medications

An FDA advisory panel unanimously found the oral decongestant phenylephrine ineffective in multiple studies.
The FDA may propose removing phenylephrine from over-the-counter medications, pending public feedback.
If phenylephrine is removed, major brands like Tylenol and Advil would need to reformulate their cold medicines.
Phenylephrine became widely used after pseudoephedrine was restricted due to methamphetamine production.
The FDA's historical focus on safety over efficacy likely enabled ineffective phenylephrine to remain on the market.