2023-09-12 19:38:49
A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel unanimously concluded Tuesday that a decongestant commonly used in many cold medications is ineffective.
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The ingredient in question, phenylephrine, could thus possibly be banned by a vote of the agency.
Products containing the decongestant would then be removed from store shelves, reports the New York Times.
A trade group, however, warned that if the FDA did move forward with ordering the recall of the affected products, there could be widespread shortages.
Cold and flu remedies like Tylenol, Mucinex and Benadryl do indeed contain phenylephrine and may become unavailable.
On Monday and Tuesday, the FDA’s panel reviewed several existing studies and largely agreed that the research determined the ingredient was unnecessary and no better than a placebo.
According to them, the drug not only does not benefit patients, but delays them in their search for effective treatment.
“I think we clearly have better over-the-counter options to help our patients, and the studies don’t support that this is an effective drug,” said Maria Coyle, chair of the group and associate professor of pharmacy. at Ohio State University.
Phenylephrine, however, is still widely considered effective as a nasal spray, or when used in surgery, or to dilate the eyes.
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