The US Food and Drug Administration has declared several popular drugs ineffective and demanded a ban on their sale. As informs The Wall Street Journal called the flu drug Theraflu, the allergy remedy Benadryl, the cough medicine Mucinex, and the antipyretic Tylenol useless.
All these drugs are based on phenylephrine, which, as was believed, should help in the fight against the common cold. However, according to FDA experts, four studies have proven that this substance does not help patients in any way. However, it was recognized not only as useless, but also harmless. As scientists have found, phenylephrine is metabolized in the intestines and liver, which is why it cannot enter the bloodstream in sufficient quantities to dilate the vessels in the nasal cavity.
According to 2020 data published in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, phenylephrine is included in more than 260 drugs for the treatment of the common cold.
In the meantime, medicines for the symptoms of a cold in Russia were especially in demand due to the rampant swine flu virus.
