FDA says decongestant in many cold medicines doesn't work. So what does?

apnews.com FDA says decongestant in many cold medicines doesn't work. So what does?

The most popular nasal decongestant on U.S. pharmacy shelves may not be there much longer. The Food and Drug Administration recently announced plans to phase out phenylephrine, the key ingredient some cold and allergy pills.

Summary

The FDA has proposed phasing out oral phenylephrine, a common decongestant in cold medicines like Sudafed PE and DayQuil, after studies showed it is no more effective than a placebo.

The drug, ineffective when swallowed due to breakdown in the stomach, remains usable in nasal sprays.

Alternatives include pseudoephedrine, nasal sprays, and steroid treatments like Flonase.

The regulatory process to remove phenylephrine could take over a year, but experts argue removing ineffective options will help consumers choose better remedies for congestion. Drugmakers are expected to challenge the proposal.

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60 comments

This stuff is a miracle here in the UK:

First time I tried the Micromist nasal spray I was 100% blocked up and had no expectations of it working. After a couple of minutes my nose was completely unblocked.
I still use it now and then as my nostrils alternate being blocked and some days I just can't put up with it or struggle to sleep. But you have to take long breaks from using it as you get "blowback" where symptoms come back hard if you use it for too long and then stop.
- This is sold as Afrin in the US. Can confirm it works amazingly well. Can also confirm that long term use (more than a few days) will mess you up pretty badly due to rebound congestion.
  
  Yeah I know people essentially addicted to affrin because of that rebound congestion. Its best used only when absolutely necessary
  
  In my experience, it does more harm than good.
  
  I've been able to use it when thinfs are really bad for just one or two days but then I have to stop
  
  Try (the generic versions of) 4-Way. Oral phenylephrine doesn't work at all, but nasal PE is about as good as oxymetazoline, with much, much less rebound congestion.
- Oxymetazoline reduces congestion in seconds, but causes terrible rebound congestion.
  Phenylephrine doesn't work when taken orally, but it is extremely effective nasally, with far less rebound congestion than oxymetazoline nasal sprays.

60 comments