FDA Panel Finds Common Oral Decongestant Ineffective, Potentially Leading to Removal of Medications From Shelves

An FDA advisory panel unanimously found that the oral decongestant phenylephrine, used in many over-the-counter cold medications, is no more effective than a placebo.
The FDA will decide whether to remove oral phenylephrine products from the market, which could force drugmakers to reformulate popular cold and allergy medicines.
Phenylephrine replaced pseudoephedrine in many medications after the latter was restricted due to risks of illegal use.
Recent clinical trials and the FDA's own analysis found no evidence that oral phenylephrine relieves nasal congestion.
Nasal sprays containing phenylephrine were not evaluated and are considered effective alternatives.