The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Nov. 7 that it is proposing to remove oral phenylephrine, a widely used active ingredient in over-the-counter (OTC) cold medications, from the market.
After an extensive review of scientific data, the FDA concluded that oral phenylephrine is ineffective for relieving nasal congestion.
Oral phenylephrine is present in numerous OTC products, both as a standalone ingredient and in combination with others like acetaminophen or dextromethorphan.
Several over-the-counter medications contain oral phenylephrine as a nasal decongestant, including brands such as Sudafed PE, Vicks DayQuil, Tylenol Sinus Congestion & Pain, and Robitussin Peak Cold Nasal Relief….