When you’ve taken an over-the-counter decongestant up to now 20 years, you’ve in all probability taken one thing with phenylephrine as the primary energetic ingredient. And you will have observed that, regardless of taking it, you’re nonetheless congested. A Meals and Drug Administration panel lately really helpful that or not it’s taken off cabinets as a result of it doesn’t work any higher than a placebo. However what occurred and why is it nonetheless accessible for buy?
Within the above video, Vox senior producer Phil Edwards chronicles the historical past of the FDA’s regulation of over-the-counter medicines. That course of is the rationale that, regardless of many years of proof that phenylephrine doesn’t work (particularly in typical OTC doses), it has remained a available possibility for clogged-up shoppers.
You could find the video above and the complete library of Vox’s movies on YouTube.
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