FDA Questions Effectiveness of Common Cold Medicine Ingredient Phenylephrine

FDA panel determined the decongestant phenylephrine is ineffective at treating nasal congestion, calling into question common cold medicines.
Phenylephrine became the main over-the-counter decongestant ingredient in 2006 when pseudoephedrine was restricted due to meth production.
Phenylephrine is found in many common brand name cold medicines like Sudafed PE, Mucinex, and Dayquil.
Unlike pseudoephedrine which is proven effective, phenylephrine has questionable efficacy based on studies by drug companies, not clinical trials.
The FDA may now demand drugmakers pull oral phenylephrine products, though an immediate impact on consumers is unlikely.

usatoday.com

Relevant topic timeline:

9/13/2023

FDA Panel: Widely Used Oral Decongestant Phenylephrine Ineffective, Waste of Money

An independent advisory committee to the US Food and Drug Administration has determined that the popular ingredient phenylephrine, found in many over-the-counter allergy and cold medicines, is ineffective in tablet form.

9/13/2023

FDA Panel: Phenylephrine Oral Decongestants Like Sudafed No Better Than Placebo, Recommends Removing From Store Shelves

The leading decongestant phenylephrine, found in popular medications like Sudafed, has been deemed no more effective than a placebo by government experts, prompting possible removal from store shelves.