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The Uselessness of Phenylephrine (2022)

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Re: The Uselessness of Phenylephrine (2022)

#31

Post by jacobsimon »

buildsjets wrote: post #9

The fact that phenylepherine is ineffective is quite old and has been common knowledge for many years. What is news is that the FDA is finally acknowledging it. I've maintained my own reserve of pseudoephedrine for years. https://gizmodo.com/report-many-over-the-counter-decongestan... https://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddisalvo/2015/10/26/the-pop... https://www.newscientist.com/article/2089555-breaking-bad-sn...

I just came here to say that I actually find phenylephrine nasal spray quite effective - but I use it for a different use case: stopping nosebleeds quickly. It's quite effective at that and came recommended by an ENT, so I do believe it's an effective vasoconstrictor when applied locally and I'm glad it's available.

Re: The Uselessness of Phenylephrine (2022)

#32

Post by scarface_74 »

Kirby64 wrote: post #28
no-dr-onboard wrote: post #10

phenylepherine is the otc version of pseudoephedrine, what Sudafed was originally created with. If you need Sudafed that works, go to the phamacist and ask for "real sudafed". You might have to scan your ID if you live in certain states and you actually need a Rx if you're in Oregon (lol), but for most free states you're good to just purchase it at the counter.

Psuedophedrine requires an ID to purchase and must be kept behind the counter in any state in the US. It's a federal requirement. Stores are also required to keep a record of purchases for 2 years. If you were able to purchase Sudafed without having someone get it from the back or out of some locked cabinet, and also hand over your ID, it wasn't psuedophedrine.

He said “at the counter”.

Re: The Uselessness of Phenylephrine (2022)

#33

Post by jawns »

I laughed out loud when I read about the lobbyists who are trying to keep phenylephrine from being taken off store shelves.

In one article about the FDA panel vote, a lobbyist said that most consumers hate the alternatives -- nasal sprays because of the discomfort and pseudoephedrine because it's stored behind the pharmacy counter -- and so depriving them of a hassle-free option is anti-consumer.

The fact that the hassle-free option has been shown to be ineffective was, as you might guess, never mentioned.

Re: The Uselessness of Phenylephrine (2022)

#34

Post by m463 »

greatpostman wrote: post #5

Probably will get downvoted for this, but a bunch of my family members are pharmacists. Their quiet opinion is that most pharmaceuticals don’t work. Even the ones that are thought effective. The data is anecdotal, but is over 15 years of watching people come in for prescriptions. The other aspect, is they say it’s mind boggling to see what kind of drugs people are on.

I think american medicine just chooses prescribing medication first.

Patients are definitely more likely to take a medication than change their behavior. Patients also ask for medication. And then there's the whole pharmaceutical system.

My personal experience is that many older people I've known have a startling number of bottles of medication they take every day.

I also know some older people that have exercise and eating right as part of their regimen and rarely take any medication.

Re: The Uselessness of Phenylephrine (2022)

#36

Post by 1MachineElf »

buildsjets wrote: post #9

The fact that phenylepherine is ineffective is quite old and has been common knowledge for many years. What is news is that the FDA is finally acknowledging it. I've maintained my own reserve of pseudoephedrine for years. https://gizmodo.com/report-many-over-the-counter-decongestan... https://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddisalvo/2015/10/26/the-pop... https://www.newscientist.com/article/2089555-breaking-bad-sn...

It helps me a lot with post-nasal drip.

Re: The Uselessness of Phenylephrine (2022)

#38

Post by selimthegrim »

jawns wrote: post #33

I laughed out loud when I read about the lobbyists who are trying to keep phenylephrine from being taken off store shelves. In one article about the FDA panel vote, a lobbyist said that most consumers hate the alternatives -- nasal sprays because of the discomfort and pseudoephedrine because it's stored behind the pharmacy counter -- and so depriving them of a hassle-free option is anti-consumer. The fact that the ha…

My understanding is the nasal spray version works, but the oral just gets metabolized ineffectively?

Re: The Uselessness of Phenylephrine (2022)

#39

Post by anamexis »

cheald wrote: post #27
buildsjets wrote: post #9

The fact that phenylepherine is ineffective is quite old and has been common knowledge for many years. What is news is that the FDA is finally acknowledging it. I've maintained my own reserve of pseudoephedrine for years. https://gizmodo.com/report-many-over-the-counter-decongestan... https://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddisalvo/2015/10/26/the-pop... https://www.newscientist.com/article/2089555-breaking-bad-sn...

Indeed. I've known that phenylepherine is worthless for a long while, and just make it a point to buy a pack of the real stuff every 6 months or so, so that I always have it on hand when I need it. In my state, it's controlled - you have to get it from a pharmacist (though you can do so without a prescription) - they take your driver's license and don't allow you to purchase it too often.

That is a US federal law (the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005)

Re: The Uselessness of Phenylephrine (2022)

#40

Post by nimish »

jeffbee wrote: post #17
buildsjets wrote: post #9

The fact that phenylepherine is ineffective is quite old and has been common knowledge for many years. What is news is that the FDA is finally acknowledging it. I've maintained my own reserve of pseudoephedrine for years. https://gizmodo.com/report-many-over-the-counter-decongestan... https://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddisalvo/2015/10/26/the-pop... https://www.newscientist.com/article/2089555-breaking-bad-sn...

> I've maintained my own reserve of pseudoephedrine for years. Synthesizing it from widely-available and affordable street drugs, I assume. https://improbable.com/airchives/paperair/volume19/v19i3/Pse...

Easily the best example of why the stupid federal law limiting access to a useful decongestant backfired.
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