October 5, 2023- A recent advisory by the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Nonprescription Drug Advisory Committee recommends a re-evaluation of the effectiveness of oral phenylephrine in over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold products has caused some confusion and uncertainty about products that contain phenylephrine, and what people can use to help manage congestion issues.
Phenylephrine is used for alleviating congestion. This re-evaluation of oral phenylephrine by the FDA is not an official drug recall, nor does it question the safety of the drug, it is solely to review its effectiveness. There are a variety of medication options available for congestion relief if a customer is looking for alternative products in place of oral phenylephrine, such as nasal spray forms, Sudafed, antihistamines, humidifiers, saline spray, etc.