Shocked that this has happened.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-07/your-drugstore-nasal-decongestant-doesn-t-work-fda-says#xj4y7vzkg

Quote:

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A common ingredient in over-the-counter nasal decongestants is not effective, the Food and Drug Administration said, a change to the agency's position that could have major implications for some versions of Nyquil, Sudafed and Mucinex.

The FDA said phenylephrine, an active ingredient in many over-the-counter cold and cough medicines, is not effective at standard or even higher doses, according to a report Thursday. The agency did not identify safety issues with phenylephrine. The FDA's assessment comes ahead of a hearing next week in which an independent group of advisers will debate the consequences of pulling the ingredient from the market.

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Damn - Sudafed is one of the few drugs that works for me.....

That's been pretty obvious for quite a while.

I've been saying this for years and it's the reason why as soon as I'm sick I'll call a dr for a Rx.

I don't even mess with OTC sinus/cold meds anymore

Ag_07 said:

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I've been saying this for years and it's the reason why as soon as I'm sick I'll call a dr for a Rx.

I don't even mess with OTC sinus/cold meds anymore

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Did something change? I thought you could ask the pharmacist for 'real' Sudafed from behind the counter as long as you're not a tweaker...

I don't know. Never tried that

Like I said as soon as I feel like I need OTC meds I'll just call and do a telehealth visit and get a Rx.

Just skip the BS

Funky Winkerbean said:

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Rapier108 said:

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Phenylephrine never worked.

The only reason manufacturers switched to it was because the government almost completely banned pseudoephedrine, which actually does work.

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Correct. Buy the real Sudafed that they keep behind the counter.

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This is the only way. Unless you have really bad congestion and the dosage in the box is less than the days of the month.

Agree it has never been seen as effective. Pseudoephedrine that you have to show your ID for at the desk is pretty dang effective for sinus pressure and sore throat- just not the safest drug if you have high blood pressure.

Horse with No Name said:

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Ag_07 said:

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I've been saying this for years and it's the reason why as soon as I'm sick I'll call a dr for a Rx.

I don't even mess with OTC sinus/cold meds anymore

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Did something change? I thought you could ask the pharmacist for 'real' Sudafed from behind the counter as long as you're not a tweaker...

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you can, but they treat you like a criminal, limit the amount that you can buy, and take down your driver's license number. If you happen to buy more at a different pharmacy later, you might get a visit from the DEA.

member when ephedrine was legal. and actually worked gangbusters?

I 'member.

Ag_07 said:

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I've been saying this for years and it's the reason why as soon as I'm sick I'll call a dr for a Rx.

I don't even mess with OTC sinus/cold meds anymore

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And cost of healthcare goes up because the gov got involved to limit the only thing that worked.

Fireman said:

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Damn - Sudafed is one of the few drugs that works for me.....

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Well, then it still will.

Just don't buy the fake stuff that is the subject of this story

TexasAggie_02 said:

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Horse with No Name said:

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Ag_07 said:

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I've been saying this for years and it's the reason why as soon as I'm sick I'll call a dr for a Rx.

I don't even mess with OTC sinus/cold meds anymore

---

Did something change? I thought you could ask the pharmacist for 'real' Sudafed from behind the counter as long as you're not a tweaker...

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you can, but they treat you like a criminal, limit the amount that you can buy, and take down your driver's license number. If you happen to buy more at a different pharmacy later, you might get a visit from the DEA.

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The "limit" is pretty high for an individual

It's like 9g per month, or 300 30mg pills

Yeah I get it. We don't like limits But I've never run out before the end of the month. Not even close

300 pills is a lot

Ag_07 said:

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I've been saying this for years and it's the reason why as soon as I'm sick I'll call a dr for a Rx.

I don't even mess with OTC sinus/cold meds anymore

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Every doctor I've ever visited for sinus issues wants to prescribe me Mucinex which has been worthless. I keep telling them that but they keep on prescribing it. The health care industry has lost lost so much credibility for me over the last 10-15 years.

My CPAP takes care of my sinuses far more than any of that crap medicine ever has.

Ag_07 said:

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I don't know. Never tried that

Like I said as soon as I feel like I need OTC meds I'll just call and do a telehealth visit and get a Rx.

Just skip the BS

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Just get the stuff behind the counter. You don't need a doctor for a cold.

Rapier108 said:

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Phenylephrine never worked.

The only reason manufacturers switched to it was because the government almost completely banned pseudoephedrine, which actually does work.

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This

I love me some Advil C&S when I'm stuffed up and feeling crappy like now actually. Stuff is great at making me feel better however it definitely will keep me up if I have it past about 7 or 8.

CardiffGiant said:

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I love me some Advil C&S when I'm stuffed up and feeling crappy like now actually. Stuff is great at making me feel better however it definitely will keep me up if I have it past about 7 or 8.

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We're all different or I'm just exhausted but it doesn't keep me up and I sleep deeper because I can breathe better.

ETA: Buy the HEB or Walmart brand. Exact same medicine but much cheaper.

Captain Pablo said:

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TexasAggie_02 said:

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Horse with No Name said:

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Ag_07 said:

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I've been saying this for years and it's the reason why as soon as I'm sick I'll call a dr for a Rx.

I don't even mess with OTC sinus/cold meds anymore

---

Did something change? I thought you could ask the pharmacist for 'real' Sudafed from behind the counter as long as you're not a tweaker...

---

you can, but they treat you like a criminal, limit the amount that you can buy, and take down your driver's license number. If you happen to buy more at a different pharmacy later, you might get a visit from the DEA.

---

The "limit" is pretty high for an individual

It's like 9g per month, or 300 30mg pills

Yeah I get it. We don't like limits But I've never run out before the end of the month. Not even close

300 pills is a lot

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"Regular" Sudafed, the small red pills, are indicated for up to 6 doses a day. At 2 pills a dose, 300 pills comes out to a 25 day supply.

Should someone be taking the maximum dose every day for days on end? That's a different question.

American Hardwood said:

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Ag_07 said:

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I've been saying this for years and it's the reason why as soon as I'm sick I'll call a dr for a Rx.

I don't even mess with OTC sinus/cold meds anymore

---

Every doctor I've ever visited for sinus issues wants to prescribe me Mucinex which has been worthless. I keep telling them that but they keep on prescribing it. The health care industry has lost lost so much credibility for me over the last 10-15 years.

My CPAP takes care of my sinuses far more than any of that crap medicine ever has.

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My old doctor from a few years back (now retired) called Mucinex 'expensive water'. He basically said anything the drug does for you can be replicated with drinking extra water above the norm.

Seeing this reminds me the FDA has never completed, or at least released, the final results of their testing on the COVID vaxxes. They were supposed to be completed by March of this year, and they probably are completed. My guess is it won't be released since the Dems need to push the big fear for mail-in ballots again.

The FDA gave their "emergency" approval because they needed it to keep up the pharma stock prices (which all of the politicians had put in their money) and the narrative was already cast.

Somebody needs to do a FOIA, get it rejected (which it will be), sue, and then get it released sometime in the summer of 2025.

Phenylephrine works fine as nasal spray for short duration. And we still use it intravenously in critical care for low blood pressure.

When taken orally, it's not an effective decongestant, is what the FDA announced. Bit we knew this.

Pseudoephedrine (original Sudafed) is effective yet behind the counter because it's the base ingredient for meth.

Rapier108 said:

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Phenylephrine never worked.

The only reason manufacturers switched to it was because the government almost completely banned pseudoephedrine, which actually does work.

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Exactly. I always get the real deal from the pharmacist when I need Sudafed. The fake stuff is useless.

Huh. Mucinex works for me as long as I get the extra strength one.

What about one of these new fangled nasal machines that basically wash you out and empty your passages....do those work?

YouBet said:

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Huh. Mucinex works for me as long as I get the extra strength one.

What about one of these new fangled nasal machines that basically wash you out and empty your passages....do those work?

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Navage- absolutely works.

AggieDruggist89 said:

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Phenylephrine works fine as nasal spray for short duration. And we still use it intravenously in critical care for low blood pressure.

When taken orally, it's not an effective decongestant, is what the FDA announced. Bit we knew this.

Pseudoephedrine (original Sudafed) is effective yet behind the counter because it's the base ingredient for meth.

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Which it should not be, who gives a F about meth