Oral phenylephrine (PE; pronounced “fen-il-ef-rin”), considered a decongestant, is listed as an active ingredient in many common over-the-counter oral cough and cold medicines. There’s just one problem: the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it may not work.
On September 11th, FDA held a Non-prescription Drug Advisory Committee meeting and concluded that there is not enough evidence to support the use of oral PE as a decongestant. 1 in 3 St. Louis adults had heard the news about oral PE in the last 7 days, although White community members were more likely to have heard it than African American community members (42% vs. 27%).
With seasonal demand for cold and flu medicines likely to rise in the months ahead, health officials are concerned that some people might delay visiting their primary care doctor believing that their medicine will be effective. Organizations can help St. Louisans understand that some drug ingredients may not provide relief as expected. Sharing a list of cold and cough medicines containing PE could help St. Louisans make informed purchases.
Protecting Americans by assuring the safety and effectiveness of medicines is a core function of FDA. Although FDA expressed no safety concerns about oral PE, it concluded that there was not enough evidence to support its effectiveness as an oral decongestant. The FDA expressed no concerns about PE effectiveness when included as a nasal spray.
Explore these data and more at iHeardSTL.
This week’s report is based on responses from a panel of 157 St. Louis City and St. Louis County adult residents surveyed from Saturday, September 23, to Monday, September 25, 2023.
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The FDA recently advised that there is not enough evidence to support the use of oral phenylephrine as a decongestant ingredient in over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold products. To find and avoid this ingredient when looking at oral decongestant medicine this season, check the “Active Ingredients” label on the back of the package before buying.
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