The One Cold Medicine You Should NEVER Take
Cold and flu season is here – and when you’re dealing with a stuffed-up nose and hacking cough, you’ll do anything for relief.
And, unfortunately, that’s exactly what the drug companies count on.
The cold and flu market is full of snake oil and products that are backed by shaky evidence, at best.
But there’s one product that really takes the cake.
We’ve known for years that it doesn’t deliver any real relief… and our own government even proposed banning it.
But, amazingly, it’s still on store shelves – and this is one product you need to steer clear of this cold and flu season.
It’s been more than a year since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed a ban on oral phenylephrine as a decongestant.
Why?
Because it doesn’t work.
Despite being the main decongestant ingredient in OTC brands like Sudafed PE, Tylenol Cold & Flu, and NyQuil, phenylephrine has repeatedly been shown to be ineffective at clearing nasal passages when taken orally.
According to the FDA and independent studies, this ingredient is no better than a placebo. In other words, it might as well be a sugar pill for all the good it does for congestion.
The FDA initially approved phenylephrine back in the 1970s, relying on industry-backed studies. But in the years since, independent research has questioned these findings.
By the mid-2000s, multiple studies revealed that phenylephrine doesn’t reach nasal passages effectively when taken in pill form. Most of it is broken down in the gut before it has a chance to work.
So we’ve known for ages that phenylephrine doesn’t work… and somehow it’s still on store shelves right now.
That’s because the FDA’s proposal to ban it is just that… a proposal that’s been collecting dust for over a year.
Our government may be slow to act, but you don’t have to be. Ignore phenylephrine products this cold and flu season.
For congestion, consider natural products like N-Acetylcysteine (NAC). It’s a powerful antioxidant that helps break down mucus, making it easier to expel from the respiratory system. It’s particularly effective for people dealing with thick, stubborn mucus that won’t seem to budge.
And remember to get sun exposure every day to build up your vitamin D levels and set your circadian rhythm for the day – two important steps toward protecting your immune health.
View Sources
Castillo, J. L., Flores Valdés, J. R., Orellana, M. Met al., (2023). The Use and Efficacy of Oral Phenylephrine Versus Placebo Treating Nasal Congestion Over the Years on Adults: A Systematic Review. Cureus, 15(11), e49074.
