CVS Well being pulls some cough-and-cold remedies with ingredient deemed ineffective by medical doctors

Enterprise

The drug retailer chain mentioned it’ll take away a small variety of oral decongestants that comprise phenylephrine as the one lively ingredient.

By TOM MURPHY, Related Press

October 20, 2023 | 11:02 AM

CVS Well being is pulling from its cabinets some cough-and-cold remedies that comprise an ingredient that has been deemed ineffective by medical doctors and researchers.

The drug retailer chain mentioned it’ll take away a small variety of oral decongestants that comprise phenylephrine as the one lively ingredient. CVS additionally mentioned it’ll nonetheless promote “many different oral cough and chilly merchandise to satisfy shopper wants.”

An organization spokeswoman declined to elaborate on what number of merchandise can be eliminated when contacted by The Related Press Friday morning.

CVS Well being runs greater than 9,000 shops in the US. Representatives of its nationwide rival, Walgreens, has not pulled any merchandise.

A Walgreens spokeswoman mentioned the corporate is monitoring the state of affairs and partnering with its scientific integrity workplace and suppliers “on applicable subsequent steps.”

U.S. Meals and Drug Administration advisers voted unanimously final month in opposition to the effectiveness of phenylephrine, which is present in widespread variations of Sudafed, Dayquil and different drugs stocked on retailer cabinets.

The FDA had requested its outdoors advisers to look at the long-questioned drug ingredient. Research performed up to now few years by the drugmakers Merck and Johnson & Johnson have proven no distinction between phenylephrine drugs and placebos for relieving congestion.

The FDA, which has not acted on the advice of its advisers, mentioned the drug seems more practical when utilized on to the nostril, in sprays or drops. These merchandise usually are not below assessment.

Phenylephrine had turn into the principle drug in over-the-counter decongestants when medicines with an older ingredient — pseudoephedrine — had been moved behind pharmacy counters. A 2006 legislation had compelled the transfer as a result of pseudoephedrine will be illegally processed into methamphetamine.

These authentic variations of Sudafed and different medicines stay obtainable with no prescription.

The CVS Well being announcement comes shortly earlier than one other cold-and-flu season begins in the US as winter units in. Final yr, an unusually quick begin to the season led to shortages of Kids’s Tylenol and different drugs prospects should purchase over-the-counter, or with no prescription.