Feeling stuffy and prepared to succeed in for NyQuil, Benadryl, or Sudafed PE?
Not so fast.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed phasing out the usage of oral phenylephrine, a standard ingredient in lots of cold and allergy medications — and a few pharmacies are already moving to tug the favored products from shelves.
Florida researchers have been studying the effectiveness of oral phenylephrine for 20 years. Back in 2005, researchers on the University of Florida College of Pharmacy suspected that this ingredient didn’t relieve nasal congestion, despite the fact that it is often used for this purpose. The researchers evaluated several studies on oral phenylephrine and combined them in a meta-analysis. They concluded that drugs containing this ingredient don’t work higher than placebo pills in patients with colds and allergic congestion.
“For 20 years we've been telling anyone who will listen that oral phenylephrine doesn't work,” he said Randy HattonProfessor on the University of Florida College of Pharmacy. “We taught pharmacy students that it doesn’t work. We hear from pharmacists who know it doesn't work. And we actually did something about it.”
Hatton and UF Professor, Dr. Leslie Hendelesbrought their findings to the FDA greater than once. Finally, the federal authority convened a committee in September 2023 and issued a proposed regulation.
“They looked at all the evidence we examined and made an in-depth assessment of what we had been investigating for years,” Hatton said.
The FDA is allowing the general public to comment for the subsequent six months before deciding whether to remove oral phenylephrine medications from the shelves. But some retail pharmacies aren't waiting. CVS stopped selling products containing phenylephrine last 12 months. Other major pharmacies, including Walgreens and Rite Aid, still carry products containing the drug but say they’re monitoring the FDA's actions.
So what options are there for Floridians who are suffering from congestion and don't have the medications of their alternative?
Hatton said phenylephrine nasal sprays are an option.
“In spray form, phenylephrine causes constriction of the nose and opens the nasal passages,” he said. “But only use the sprays for three to five days. People who continue to take them get rebound congestion.”
Doctors and pharmacists also recommend other options:
- Intranasal steroids reminiscent of Flonase and Nasonex or over-the-counter oxymetazoline nasal sprays reminiscent of Afrin and Zicam
- Saline irrigation devices, reminiscent of a neti pot, to assist flush out the sinuses (but only use distilled water, not tap water)
- Saline nasal sprays reminiscent of Sinex or Simply Saline, which also use a saltwater solution to flush the sinuses
- Products containing pseudoephedrine, the ingredient in Sudafed, will be found behind the pharmacy counter
- Oral antihistamines reminiscent of Zyrtec, Allegra, and Claritin, which clear nasal congestion related to allergies
“If you have any questions, ask the pharmacists. They are trained in over-the-counter medicines. Just ask: Does this work in traffic jams?” Hatton advises.
Those on the lookout for drug-free options can try:
- Spicy foods that may cause a burning sensation because of a chemical called capsaicin and cause a runny nose that drains mucus from the sinuses
- Steam from a hot shower or a warm compress on the nose
- humidifier
Originally published:
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