Living Well

Don't Wait for the Ban on Cold and Flu Medicine

As usual, the government is falling far behind when it comes to protecting American consumers...

More than a year ago, I told readers:

Instead of buying over-the-counter drugs to treat your stuffy nose this fall, just throw your money in the garbage.

The results will be the same, except you won't be fattening the billfold of Big Pharma...

Back then, I had written about an over-the-counter ("OTC") drug called phenylephrine. It's a decongestant that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") approved in 1976. And this stuff is in many OTC cold and flu medicines... popular ones from brand names like Vicks, Sudafed, Theraflu, Mucinex, Tylenol, and Advil.

But new research at the time showed these drugs were basically useless. I knew the FDA would be slow to act. As I said last September, "I'm hoping these products will come off the shelves soon (but I'm not holding my breath)."

Go into a grocery store or pharmacy today and you'll still see shelves lined with medicines containing phenylephrine.

Well, last Wednesday (and just in the nick of time for cold-and-flu season), the FDA made another small move against the drug by announcing a proposal to ban the stuff.

So today, let's take a closer look as to why buying meds with this ingredient is draining your wallet (while lining the coffers of Big Pharma). I'll also warn you about another downside to common combination cold meds – one that can put your health in serious jeopardy. And I'll share a few of my favorite tips on cold relief that are way easier on your wallet.

Forget the Phenylephrine

Last September, the FDA's Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee unanimously voted that phenylephrine is ineffective when popped as a pill or taken in liquid form.

Apparently, studies showed that much of the drug didn't even make it to the schnozz. Compared with the placebo, phenylephrine hardly made a dent in doing what it was supposed to do: shrink swollen blood vessels in your nose so you can breathe easier.

The uncertainty around phenylephrine's efficacy came into the spotlight starting in 2007, when an FDA reevaluation of the drug concluded that more studies were needed. The organization's wish was granted in the form of three big clinical trials with hundreds of patients. All showed that phenylephrine was a dud in relieving congestion as it didn't perform any better than the placebo. Don't even think about upping the dosage either because doing so can raise your blood pressure.

And get this... A recent systematic review of phenylephrine studies (including randomized-controlled trials – the "gold standard" of clinical trials) concluded that the drug "did not offer substantial relief from nasal congestion compared to a placebo in adults." Researchers went through more than 660 studies published from 1998 to 2023, selecting four high-quality randomized trials involving 1,532 adults.

So if you see meds containing this ingredient in the store, don't waste your money...

You Need to Read

We have a culture of convenience here in America, whether it's in the form of a Big Mac or a 7-Eleven. So combination cold meds seem like a no-brainer... an all-in-one wonder drug that can cure you of your "sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head, and fever, so you can rest." (Sound familiar to any fans of DayQuil or NyQuil?)

Whether you're shopping for cold meds for your sick, miserable, bleary-eyed self or picking up meds for a sick loved one, pause and take a few moments to peer at that black-and-white label listing the "Active Ingredients."

That's because many combination cold medicines contain a painkiller called acetaminophen (brand name: Tylenol).

Sure, it might not put you at risk of serious cardiovascular problems like heart attack or stroke or lead to gastrointestinal problems like stomach ulcers the way nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs do. But overdoing the acetaminophen can overtax the organ that processes this drug: your liver. Worse, you could end up with serious liver damage if you take more than 4,000 milligrams in a day.

So if you've decided to take a combination cold medicine, be vigilant of the ingredient label.

Try These Before Skipping Off to the Pharmacy

Roughly 81% of American adults resort to OTCs at the first sign of a malady – even minor ones. I'm not saying to forsake medications completely... Though, I recommend you check to make sure you've tried these other no-nonsense tips first.

  • Drink plenty of fluids. Thanks to the extra water you chugged or tea you sipped, your thick mucus will get thinner – and easier to cough up, so you won't have to rely on guaifenesin for your symptoms of chest congestion. (That's a common "expectorant" in combo cold meds.) Warm beverages can help keep the mucus flowing, too.
  • Try sitting up and sleeping. That way, postnasal drip (or the liquid snot) won't just pool up in your throat, leaving your sore throat feeling worse or leading to more coughing.
  • Get plenty of rest. The common cold is caused by a virus that your body has to fight off (whereas antibiotics only work on ailments caused by bacteria). There's no better way to recharge your immune system than by getting a good night's sleep.

Know exactly what you're putting into your body instead of blithely just taking in things.

What We're Reading...

Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,

Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
November 14, 2024