When in the throes of a serious cold or struggling with blocked sinuses, many people reach for a decongestant. Phenylephrine is a common ingredient added to several over-the-counter cold medicines to relieve nasal congestion. However, the FDA has recently concluded that medicine containing phenylephrine does not work. Individuals are filing phenylephrine decongestant lawsuits, alleging companies made false claims about the effectiveness of these decongestants.
The Lake Law Firm is helping individuals who have purchased phenylephrine-based cold medicine recover compensation through class actions filed against companies that made or distributed phenylephrine products.
Phenylephrine is a nasal decongestant that reduces swelling of the blood vessels in the nasal passages. You can find several well-known brands of cold medicines on store shelves that contain phenylephrine. In cold medicine, phenylephrine alleviates nasal discomfort, sinus congestion, and pressure.
Phenylephrine drugs are typically available in pill or liquid form and as nasal sprays.
In 2005, phenylephrine enjoyed a rise to become the leading OTC nasal decongestant after the Combat Methamphetamine Act. The act pushed pseudoephedrine, a highly effective nasal decongestant, behind the counter since it was used to make methamphetamines. Therefore, manufacturers switched up their formulas, replacing pseudoephedrine with phenylephrine.
However, the effectiveness of phenylephrine has been questioned for years. On September 12, 2023, an FDA Advisory Panel unanimously agreed 16-0 that phenylephrine is ineffective. The panel noted that phenylephrine performed no better than a placebo in relieving congestion when taken orally. Surprisingly, the Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee (NDAC) reached a similar conclusion about phenylephrine back in 2007.
Although, the final decision rests with the FDA on whether to remove oral phenylephrine products from the market.
Since the limitations placed on pseudoephedrine in 2005, phenylephrine has secured a spot at the forefront of nasal decongestants. In fact, the FDA stated that over 250 products contain phenylephrine and generated approximately $1.8 billion in sales in 2022 alone. Below are just a few OTC cold medicines that contain phenylephrine:
If you used any of the following products, you may be eligible to take part in a phenylephrine oral decongestant lawsuit.
Following the FDA panel’s review of phenylephrine, individuals began filing phenylephrine oral lawsuits against companies for allegedly deceiving consumers. Plaintiffs argue that companies knew or should have known about the ineffectiveness of phenylephrine. Instead, companies continued to market and falsely claim that phenylephrine products are reliable nasal decongestants.
You may be entitled to financial compensation if you take phenylephrine-based cold medicines. Contact The Lake Law Firm today to see if you qualify for a phenylephrine oral decongestant lawsuit.
Given the large over-the-counter cold medicine market, various companies have been accused of misleading consumers, including:
If you purchased useless phenylephrine cold medications, you may qualify to take part in a phenylephrine oral decongestant lawsuit. The Lake Law Firm has extensive experience taking on large pharmaceutical companies for case types like Zantac, Ozempic, Tylenol, and more.
Call (888) 525-3529 today or fill out the free case evaluation on this page to speak with a team member about your potential claim.
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