Popular OTC medicines for colds and allergies don’t work, FDA panel says

Washington, D.C. – September 13, 2023 – An independent advisory committee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed that a popular ingredient in many over-the-counter (OTC) allergy and cold medicines, phenylephrine, is ineffective in tablet form.

The committee's decision is based on a review of the latest scientific evidence, which found that phenylephrine is no more effective than a placebo in relieving the symptoms of a cold or allergies. The committee also noted that phenylephrine can have side effects, such as anxiety, insomnia, and high blood pressure.

The FDA is not required to follow the advice of its advisory committees, but it often does. It is expected that the FDA will take action to remove phenylephrine from OTC cold and allergy medicines in tablet form.

The decision is a blow to the pharmaceutical industry, which has marketed phenylephrine-containing products as a safe and effective way to relieve cold and allergy symptoms. However, the decision is welcomed by consumer advocates, who have long argued that phenylephrine is a useless drug.

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"This is a victory for consumers who have been duped into buying ineffective and potentially harmful drugs," said Dr. Sidney Wolfe, a consumer advocate and director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group. "The FDA should move quickly to remove phenylephrine from OTC cold and allergy medicines."

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The FDA is expected to make a decision on phenylephrine in the coming months. In the meantime, consumers should be aware that phenylephrine is not effective in treating cold and allergy symptoms. If you are looking for relief from these symptoms, talk to your doctor about other options.

In addition to the above, you can also include the following information in your article:

• The history of phenylephrine as an OTC medicine.
• The reasons why phenylephrine is ineffective in tablet form.
• The side effects of phenylephrine.
• The potential impact of the FDA's decision on the pharmaceutical industry.
• The advice for consumers who are looking for relief from cold and allergy symptoms.</li>