FDA says common over the counter decongestant phenylephrine does not work in oral form

I think allergy suffers already have known this for years... The stuff that works is locked up because it can be used to make meth...

Yes, it's pseudoephedrine that you want. Somewhat ironic that Sudafed got its brandname from it, but you can't easily get the original version anymore.

Edited: corrected for availibility of the Sudafed - thanks Blue and Cubby.
- You can still get it, you have to go to the pharmacy in the back and give your ID though. Limited to like 5 packs a month which is more than plenty unless you're making meth with it
A frustrating outcome. I used to buy 14 day packs of allergy meds and sometimes didn’t qualify to buy more two or even four days after I ran out. I don’t know what aspect of their restrictions allow this to happen, but it’s bullshit. Also, good luck if you’re going overseas for a month and need a full supply. I believe a doc can prescribe a larger supply, but I shouldn’t have to pay more money and time for a doc appointment to get that.
- One thing I've realized about US healthcare is that it would rather restrict meds from those that need them than to give access to those that would abuse it.
Any backyard chemsit can make meth if they are skilled enough

Nile Red likely has the capability of doing that
- Nile Red is more than a backyard chemist lol he has a lab
Probably in the minority here but I didn't know that Benadryl straight up doesn't work as a decongestant. It knocks me the fuck out though, so I wonder if it's effective at making you drowsy as shit and not much else.
- The person you replied to was talking about pseudoephedrine, which is marketed as a decongestant. And boy does it get the job done.
  
  Benedryl (diphenhydramine), on the other hand, is an anti-histimine and it absolutely works for allergic reactions. That said, it's also marketed as a sleep aid (take a look at the active chemical in things like "ZZZQuil" or drug store brand "sleep aid," and compare it to the one in Benedryl. Same chemical), and believe me, it works very well for that.
  
  I dunno if I would use it as a decongestant.

Representatives for the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, a group that represents OTC drug manufacturers, did not offer any new evidence to counter the FDA’s claims that the drug is ineffective during their presentation Monday.

The group instead said that if oral phenylephrine were not available over the counter, it would be a significant burden to consumers.

But it doesn't work! Consumers are literally using something that's no better than the naturopathic bullshit found in the next aisle over!

MAN I hate corporate lobbyists. Outright lying to try and save face.

“It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” -Upton Sinclair
It's because the DEA restricted pseudoephedrine, which does work. Duck the war on drugs
- Yes, I NEED this shit like 2-3 months of the year due to a severe winter cedar allergy. I can barely function without a strong decongestant and having to show my ID and jump through hoops at the pharmacy to get it instead of just grabbing some off a shelf is so frustrating.
Lol, thinking that the naturopathic shit isnt sitting on the same shelves with almost identical packaging to real medicine.
it would be a significant burden to ~~consumers~~ our share prices
Burden to consumers = burden to our profits for selling useless bullshit

No shit. The fun part is it DOES have side effects. So it doesn't do what it's proclaimed to do, but is a drug. It should be pulled off the shelves.

I've been dehydrating myself for shits and giggles apparently lol

Super interestingly, in clinical trials it is less effective than the placebo.

With statistical significance?
- Should I be investing in placebo allergy pills?

I graduated pharmacy school 8 years ago. This was a thing that was taught in school. This is why you should talk to your pharmacist. Guaifenisin is another 'garbage drug' that does virtually nothing; just drink more water

Guaifenisin seems to clear my chest congestion up pretty quickly. If I'm placeboing myself, then lalalala I'm not listening.
omg are you serious? I always felt like sudafed PE didn't do much but I thought mucinex helped a bunch with sinus congestion. now I'm here not sure if anything is real.

Edit for those interested: "extended-release guaifenesin was found to have no effect on all 3 patient-related outcome markers analyzed as measured by the Daily Cough and Phlegm Diary, Spontaneous Symptom Severity Assessment score, and the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey."

Edit again with more: "The greatest effects of treatment with guaifenesin/pseudoephedrine were observed for nasal congestion and sinus headache. Time to overall relief was shorter with guaifenesin/pseudoephedrine (P = 0.038). Significantly more patients reported “the medication was helping during the day” on Day 2 with guaifenesin/pseudoephedrine (P = 0.002). Patient assessments of symptom relief showed a significant preference for guaifenesin/pseudoephedrine versus placebo"
I'm with the others. Guaifenisin seems to work pretty well. Even on it's own. And I'm a major skeptic.

Not as well as pseudoephedrine or ibuprofen or acetaminophen, but it's definitely better than dextromethorphan.

I can't even pretend to believe that last one does anything. Well, I think idiots use it to get high in a scary way.
Guaifenisin is definitely not a garbage drug, it's very effective for me in ways that prove it works.
- what does it do? I honestly dont know, I havent looked it up.
  
  just to say, you taking it and believing it has an effect is not proof. large, well regulated, double blind studies are proof.
  
  if you take it and it does something for you thats good and all you need to know, but it aint proof.
  
  thats reaaaal similar to people who took Ivermectin when they had covid who recovered from covid and say "thats proof Ivermectin cures covid"

Pseudoephedrine definitely works though right?

Yeah man you gotta go to the counter and sign a log book to get the good stuff, thanks methheads. Don't fall for the PE version on the shelves, that's a noob trap.
Yes. I have a few months a year where I have to get some type of decongestant and the most cost effective is generic Pseudoephedrine. It works. My mother bought me phenylephrine a few times when I was younger and it just didn't do anything. Not surprised about this article one bit.
It works very well in my experience
Yes

out loud? finally!

It’s crazy that enough people think this crap works that it’s a billion dollar industry…

I’m near certain that the companies that sell this useless crap are quite aware of how useless it is.
Placebo effect is a real thing. Plus, if it just clears up a bit on its own, you might contribute it to the medicine.

You know what's weird? I get severe sinus headaches and regular pseudoenepherine sudafed doesn't help at all, but these phelylephrine ones do. I'll even tell my wife "the little reds, not the whites". Weird.

Have you tried a migraine formulation for that? It sounds like you're actually benefiting from the systemic effects (vasoconstriction) instead of the reduced mucous production. A formulation would include caffeine that also has vasoconstriction in case this is removed from the market.
- Interesting, I'll take a look
The real pseudoephedrines are also little red pills, at least where I am on the US East Coast.
- Weird, here in my area of California the OTC ones are the reds, you have to go to the pharmacist for the white ones.
- It depends on the dosage. The 4hr pseudoephedrine are red. The 12hr are white.
I forget but wasn't it also advertised to have a painkilling effect? Maybe the thing it's doing for you isn't the decongestant but that?
In my area the red ones are the pseudophedrine ones. Never seen the white ones, I just go to the counter because I am not making meth.
- Weird, there are what I get in northern California
When I had COVID and got really severe congestion, it was some of the worst sinus pain I've ever had in my life. I was at the point where I was trying to use a baby nasal bulb to relieve some pressure. The phenylephrine helped me a lot more than any other medication I was trying, including nasal sprays. I also take other sinus medications though, so I wonder if it's a case of a medication not working well unless it's used in conjunction with other things?

I guess it's possible I experienced a placebo effect, but it seems weird it would do it when nothing else was.

My NP told me to avoid this stuff and just hand over my Photo ID at the back to get the real pseudoephedrine.

Yup, the good stuff is always that 20mg-30mg psedoephedraline they give you the third degree over buying. Worth it.
- I keep both the 4 hour and the 12 hour time-released versions at home. There's no substitute. I'll gladly spend a few extra minutes at the pharmacy counter to obtain it.
Maybe I'm a lightweight, but pseudoephedrine makes me feel weird. I can't put my finger on it, but maybe a bit jittery and kind of cold. Also hyper - like I'll want to do chores when I take it

Works better than anything else for my colds, but it also makes me feel odd so I avoid it unless I'm feeling super trash.
- It's basically watered down meth. It's no joke! That said, it doesn't make me feel bad at all but everyone's different and it is a powerful drug.

This is not new news, in original studies it never outperformed placebo and has cardiovascular health risks. It's simply never worked, it's not a secret, it's just preferred by governments that your access to pseudoephedrine is limited so this was rushed onto shelves

The news is that the FDA is acknowledging it.

I could have guessed that. Pseudophedrine works great. You just have to ask for it behind the counter because of the whole meth thing.

I got two sinus infections back to back this year and got to learn it the hard way. The doctor was like: "No, you gotta get the REAL stuff!"

Legally acceptable snake oil I guess.

This explains why this weekend taking this shit did nothing at all for me

I'm with you that it doesn't work.

Pseudoephedrine, however, does work.

Just sign your live away and get the real stuff.

Not sure why the Lemmy headline says "pill form" -- the article says "oral form" does not work.

So if you're reading this and wondering about pill vs liquid, then you're missing the actual message.

Changed :)

Yeah they said it like decades ago. Theres never been evidence it works.

It works to make meth.

Which is probably what most of it is used for.

edit: My mistake. Thanks for the corrections.

They’re talking about the stuff on the shelf, not the good stuff that’s locked up because it actually works.
- Yeah, someone else also corrected me.
  
  Thanks though, it was a throw away comment anyway.
Wrong one.

pseudoephedrine is the meth-making one, and usually the one you now have to ask a pharmacist for.

Phenylephrine is the one they used to replace it, which many people knew didn't work and complained about it.
- Thanks for the correction.

And in other news water is just dihydrogen monoxide

Um, I've heard that's actually wrong
- Hydroxic acid actually sounds worse and completely not like plain water at all. I'm going to start using that one...

Well, at least I was right about what I always suspected.

I rely on pharmaceuticals for multiple problems, and they are very effective, but my god we are being scammed by pharmaceutical companies in so many ways.

Snake oil!