Recently an FDA Advisory Group came out with a dictum to ban phenylephrine, saying that phenylephrine did not work. For those of you who might not be familiar with phenylephrine, it is the main ingredient in a number of nasal decongestants, such as Sudafed PE, Vicks Nyquil Sinex Nighttime Sinus Relief, and Benadryl Allergy Plus Congestion.
When I get a cold with its accompanying nasal congestion, I do take Sudafed, and guess what … for me, it works!
The other day I asked three other individuals if they ever took Sudafed when they had a cold. All responded, “yes,” and in addition, all three said … it works!
So there you have it. A pie-in-the-sky FDA advisory group is now advising that phenylephrine (Sudafed) be taken off the market. I would guess that this all-knowing advisory group does not take care of patients with colds. In fact I would guess that these “highfalutin experts” do not take care of patients at all.
This Sudafed absurdity reminds me of another banning of a drug that another highfalutin group said did not work. Years ago I would often prescribe Quinine for patients with nocturnal leg cramps. For the most part, my patients were happy with Quinine. Why? … because it worked!
Once Quinine was gone, I would advise individuals to drink tonic water to help alleviate their nocturnal leg cramps,and for the most part they were happy with that advice. Why? …because it worked! FYI: The main ingredient in tonic water is Quinine!
10/13/23