Thursday, May 14, 2026
Health - LEVEL2

FDA Bans Controversial Ingredient in Top Decongestants

By aimee yang
FDA Bans Controversial Ingredient in Top Decongestants

You may have seen Sudafed, Mucinex, Benadryl, and other well-known brands in the cold and flu aisle. But did you know that some of these products may not work as well as they claim?

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is thinking about removing a common ingredient called oral phenylephrine from many cold and flu medicines. This ingredient is found in about four out of every five oral decongestants on the market.

If the FDA makes this change, it could affect popular products like Advil Sinus Congestion & Pain, Sudafed PE Nasal Decongestant, and Vicks DayQuil. Research shows that oral phenylephrine doesn’t actually help clear a stuffy nose.

Although the FDA hasn’t made a final decision yet, they are considering removing oral phenylephrine from these medicines in the future. This change would not apply to nasal sprays or eye drops, which are more effective at delivering the drug.

For more information about oral decongestants with phenylephrine, you can visit this website.

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Vocabulary List:
6 words · tap to reveal
ON

Accent

Decongestant/ˌdiː.kənˈdʒɛs.tənt/noun
A medication that relieves nasal congestion.

Phenylephrine/ˌfɛn.ɪlˈɛf.rɪn/noun
A common ingredient used in oral decongestants.

Aisle/aɪl/noun
A passage between rows of seats or shelves.

Effective/ɪˈfɛk.tɪv/adjective
Successful in producing a desired or intended result.

Research/ˈriː.sɜːrtʃ/noun/verb
The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources.

Consider/kənˈsɪd.ər/verb
To think about carefully.
Vocabulary Learning

How much do you know?

What is the common ingredient that the FDA is considering removing from many cold and flu medicines?
Oral diphenhydramine
Oral phenylephrine
Oral pseudoephedrine
Oral guaifenesin
Approximately how many oral decongestants on the market contain oral phenylephrine?
One out of every two
Two out of every three
Three out of every four
Four out of every five
Which of the following popular products could be affected by the potential removal of oral phenylephrine?
Tylenol Cold & Flu
Benadryl Allergy
Vicks DayQuil
Robitussin DM
Which type of products would not be impacted by the removal of oral phenylephrine?
Nasal sprays and eye drops
Oral pain relievers
Topical creams
Inhalers
According to research, what is the finding about the effectiveness of oral phenylephrine in clearing a stuffy nose?
Highly effective
Moderately effective
Slightly effective
Not effective
Where can individuals find more information about oral decongestants with phenylephrine?
FDA official website
CDC website
WebMD
Health Direct website
The FDA has already decided to remove oral phenylephrine from cold and flu medicines.
Oral phenylephrine is more effective than nasal sprays in clearing a stuffy nose.
Nasal sprays and eye drops are mentioned as alternative delivery methods that could be more effective at delivering oral phenylephrine.
All popular cold and flu products contain oral phenylephrine.
Research indicates that oral phenylephrine has no impact on reducing nasal congestion.
The potential removal of oral phenylephrine does not apply to oral pain relievers.
Oral phenylephrine is found in about four out of every five oral on the market.
If the FDA removes oral phenylephrine, it could impact popular products like Advil Sinus Congestion & Pain, Sudafed PE Nasal Decongestant, and .
Nasal sprays and eye drops are more effective at delivering the drug compared to oral .
The FDA is considering removing oral phenylephrine from these medicines in the future, not from nasal sprays or .
For more information about oral decongestants with phenylephrine, individuals can visit the Health Direct .
This question is required
aimee yang
aimee yanghttps://esl-news.com

Test Your Understanding

Start Quiz
Vocabulary List:
6 words · tap to reveal
ON
Accent
Decongestant/ˌdiː.kənˈdʒɛs.tənt/noun
A medication that relieves nasal congestion.
Phenylephrine/ˌfɛn.ɪlˈɛf.rɪn/noun
A common ingredient used in oral decongestants.
Aisle/aɪl/noun
A passage between rows of seats or shelves.
Effective/ɪˈfɛk.tɪv/adjective
Successful in producing a desired or intended result.
Research/ˈriː.sɜːrtʃ/noun/verb
The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources.
Consider/kənˈsɪd.ər/verb
To think about carefully.
Vocabulary Learning

How much do you know?

What is the common ingredient that the FDA is considering removing from many cold and flu medicines?
Oral diphenhydramine
Oral phenylephrine
Oral pseudoephedrine
Oral guaifenesin
Approximately how many oral decongestants on the market contain oral phenylephrine?
One out of every two
Two out of every three
Three out of every four
Four out of every five
Which of the following popular products could be affected by the potential removal of oral phenylephrine?
Tylenol Cold & Flu
Benadryl Allergy
Vicks DayQuil
Robitussin DM
Which type of products would not be impacted by the removal of oral phenylephrine?
Nasal sprays and eye drops
Oral pain relievers
Topical creams
Inhalers
According to research, what is the finding about the effectiveness of oral phenylephrine in clearing a stuffy nose?
Highly effective
Moderately effective
Slightly effective
Not effective
Where can individuals find more information about oral decongestants with phenylephrine?
FDA official website
CDC website
WebMD
Health Direct website
The FDA has already decided to remove oral phenylephrine from cold and flu medicines.
Oral phenylephrine is more effective than nasal sprays in clearing a stuffy nose.
Nasal sprays and eye drops are mentioned as alternative delivery methods that could be more effective at delivering oral phenylephrine.
All popular cold and flu products contain oral phenylephrine.
Research indicates that oral phenylephrine has no impact on reducing nasal congestion.
The potential removal of oral phenylephrine does not apply to oral pain relievers.
Oral phenylephrine is found in about four out of every five oral on the market.
If the FDA removes oral phenylephrine, it could impact popular products like Advil Sinus Congestion & Pain, Sudafed PE Nasal Decongestant, and .
Nasal sprays and eye drops are more effective at delivering the drug compared to oral .
The FDA is considering removing oral phenylephrine from these medicines in the future, not from nasal sprays or .
For more information about oral decongestants with phenylephrine, individuals can visit the Health Direct .
This question is required

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