US regulator says phenylephrine is ineffective as a decongestant
By 
Julia Robinson2023-10-03T08:56:00
FDA will begin consultation on removing the drug from hundreds of over-the-counter remedies
On 14 September, the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) non-prescription drug advisory committee (NDAC) unanimously agreed that orally administered phenylephrine does not work as a nasal decongestant. The decision kicks off a long process of consultation on the drug’s continued use.
Phenylephrine is included in hundreds of over-the-counter (OTC) cold and flu remedies worldwide, but doubts around its effectiveness – specifically when taken orally – have been circulating for almost three decades.