The (cold) drugs don’t work

In today’s Big Story Podcast, a recent FDA review found that one of the most most popular active ingredients in over-the-counter cold medications, phenylephrine, is basically useless when taken orally. And that, in general, it failed to outperform a placebo.

Mina Tadrous is a pharmacist and the host of the I’m Pharmacy podcast at the University of Toronto’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. He says that ineffective drugs may remain on shelves in part because the vetting process focuses more on safety than efficacy.

“[Phenylephrine] continues to be very safe, but the question is, does it work? And I think most of the data is pointing to it probably does not,” says Tadrous.

So how has this drug been approved and available for decades when evidence shows it doesn’t do what it’s supposed to? Why did it take us so long to realize it? Which medications actually will relieve congestion? And what should you do when the first cold of the fall hits your household?

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You can also find it at thebigstorypodcast.ca.