Decongestant Phenylephrine Doesn't Work?

Hmm, wonder what else Doesn't Work? Marketing sure does. Decades of deception?
https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2024/11/07/fda-decongestant-cold-medicines.html

 

Go for Mom's chicken soup.

 

Yep, been that way for years. I had a doctor prescribe me a nasal decongestant, who told me about this close to 15+ years ago.

If you think about it, it's not a marketing or corporate issue, it's societal. The decongestant of today is formulated based on the inability to respond to the illegal drug market. That's your fault, and my fault, and everyone else's fault. Know of someone that takes meth? They, and others like them, changed the entire over-the-couner legal drug market. Next time you have a cold and can't get relief, thank an illegal drug user. It's up to you to shift the market back.

 

Writing's been on the wall a while, great backstory here.

https://arstechnica.com/health/2024...on-decongestant-for-being-completely-useless/

 

Interesting, years ago Sudafed used to dry out my nose so bad it would cause bloody noses, recently I have taken double the dose and had zero relief.

 

Yeah...that's right.

 

"Sudafed" is short for pseudoephedrine, which is the number one ingredient in meth. Stores could no longer sell products, over the counter, with pseudoephedrine due to the illegal drug market, so "Sudafed" had to be made with another ingredient, Sudafed PE, that isn't really effective. You could only get real "Sudafed" through a pharmacy, usually with a prescription. Some of those laws have changed recently, but for the most part OTC nasal decongestants haven't been made with active ingredients that control congestion for years.

ETA: here is a link to the issue, from the FDA:
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/informati...ucts-containing-pseudoephedrine-ephedrine-and

 

Sorry guys.

I was the one buying up all the Sudafed to make meth

 

I've never been one to take cold medicine. Blaming a meth head for the change in effectiveness because it's the base for a cook?
Yea I get that, it was the same thing when oxy was in the pharmacies. The theft was outta control. Looking at it overall, my logic is I don't want that shit in my system anyway. There are other treatments besides meth cold and flu pills.

 

Way to go Nimby! Now we suffer 'cause you wanna make a buck! Ha Ha

 

New user name?
@ "Jacked up" Jake?

 

You can still buy the real sudafed, you just have to show your ID to the pharmacist. It is still OTC, there's no prescription required.

The stuff you can buy in the aisles without talking to anyone? Yeah that stuff is basically useless.

 

If it's any consolation, I got extremely wealthy from the whole thing.

 

Party at Jake's house!

 

For readers here interested in OTC and herbal supplements please note there is no effective oversight on manufacturing. The FDA is a mess.
Even Brand names are suspect of not following "good manufacturing controls".
Also lots of products are actually produced offshore with indifferent component oversight.
The old adage " buyer beware" still seems appropriate.

 

You're conflating two different issues (FDA effectiveness vs. unregulated products).

The issue you're talking about with supplements (and vitamins, etc.), is that they are not regulated, so the FDA has nothing to do with them. This has always been the case, and these items have always been "buyer beware". You can reduce your risk by buying supplements that undergo voluntary third party review (such as through USP). I think NatureMade is one brand that does this, but you need to look on the box to be sure.

It's also important to keep in mind that the FDA doesn't determine if a drug is safe or effective; the manufacturers do that through their own clinical studies. The FDA reviews what the manufacturers submit to see if it makes sense, and base their approval on that. Then, the FDA periodically audits the manufacturer to make sure they're doing what they're supposed to (per their internal procedures). I can't speak to how well they're performing, but in my experience, they seem overworked and understaffed. But at least some oversight is better than none.

 

Could it be the FDA is as corrupt as the rest of the governmental agencies? Overworked and understaffed? Highly possible, but Im sure at times they likely review and pass what the highest bidder is offering. Imo, the shut down and subsequent censoring of common sense medicine puts the glaring light on what the American public always trusted as safe.
AMA, FDA, pharma, and the msm should NOT be trusted. Ever hear of Comirnaty? It was passed by the FDA, but at the time of the immunization push, it was not available. The FDA never approved what everyone was standing in line for.
Looks like the FDA is restructuring? Hmmm
https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/comirnaty

 

Yaaa and thank our OPEN BORDER for allowing all the ill-legal drugs in. And our BAD COUNTY ATTORNEYS for only slapping hands and letting the scum dealers back out to continue business.

 

BIG PHARMA does at it pleases.....can you say "MAJOR KICKBACKS"! Just like the CANCER INDUSTRY, if their wasn't so much money in the CANCER BUSINESS it would be cured tomorrow.

 

https://fortune.com/2024/06/11/cvs-recalls-generic-drugs/

I'm putting this here less as an indictment of CVS-brand medication specifically (although it does look bad) but more as a highlight of the risk that store-brand/generic OTC medications can have over brand-name due to a discrepancy in regulation and who is liable.

---

On a slightly different note, there is insufficient resources allocated to test all the medications regularly. There are labs that medications can be sent to by an end-user for analysis but an overseas factory cutting corners on certain batches will be hard to detect if the problems don't cause enough trouble to attract attention or are caught.

But of course oversight, cleanliness, enforcement, etc. costs money.

 

That's my experience with the auditors. No idea about the approval process. Although yes, there is money changing hands in the form of lobbying, which certainly can have the effect of playing favorites.

So, the anti-FDA stance is completely new to me (only started hearing it this past week). For those in the know, what is the proposed alternative? No drugs at all? Or no regulations?

I'm hearing conflicting arguments (even from the same people) that are both against unregulated drugs, and against the regulating agency.

Or maybe it's frustration with the current agency, and think the regulation could be done better? Maybe in a completely different way?

 

My guess would be that the people complaining about the FDA have no idea what they do or how and why they do it. I know several people who work for the FDA. They aren't taking kickbacks from the pharma industry or any of the other conspiracy bordering rubbish that this thread may turn into.

Bashing the FDA was something that I saw hit the news after the election. Now the talking heads and repeaters of social media are running with it

 

Bring back accountability first of all. But, that said, there is no easy answer. I am merely pointing out that we all need to be leary of the fact that most of these factions do not have our best interest at heart like they claim. The individual person may, but the agencies and companies do not.
I watched a pharma weight control commercial last night. Just a self administered subcutaneous injection combined with diet and exercise will help you lose weight?
So it won't work without diet and exercise? Whats the Fucking point then?
The marketing shit has this country hypnotized. Look at the Broadway musical commercial for Jardiance. Everyone is dancing and happy, oh yea, gimme some of that.
Look up a dude named Edward Bernays, the king of propaganda. Freud's nephew. Marketed cigarettes to pregnant women. Classy guy. The template is still in place, and you'll turn it on every evening when you get home.

 

I'm not sure which point you were trying to make, but this is a strong argument for the FDA (or an equivalent). Because the pharma companies really do care about profit over everything else (like any for-profit corporation), so we need someone checking to make sure they're not selling us snake oil.

 

The advertising should absolutely be regulated more, I totally agree it's ridiculous. Why should I, an uneducated rando, suggest a drug to my doctor because I saw a happy actor on TV?

 

Just as I said the individual is not taking kick backs, the government effects policy for the FDA, so that would be where the money lands from the food companies and pharma lands. No I have no idea what they do, but just because your friends say so, doesn't mean it's not happening. Ever hear of non-disclosure agreements upon hiring an employee? I'm sure the pharm has them. Talk about it and you're fired, charged, and discredited. Hence the term whistle blower.
And I will say that I have seen WAY more truth on SM than the msm lately.

 

I don't think it is the WORKERS of FDA....it is their bad leadership.

 

@FN2187 call it what you want. The difference between conspiracy and fact is about six months. I was told numerous times that I was going to die and was killing people with my theories about medical procedures and the fact I WOULD NOT Bow to them a couple years ago. Hmmm turns out I was right. Conspiracy theory indeed. I'm still Fucking here.

 

@FN2187 I apologize. Sorry to get riled. I shouldn't take it out on your viewpoint.

 

No worries, I have thick skin (amongst other appendages ).

I'm not going to go into detail about what I know or how I know it, and I agree - to everyone else I'm just another internet rando who could be making up lies. But personally, based on what I know, I believe the FDA does the best they can given the laws/acts/regulations they are forced to operate under.

It seemed like there was discontent about things labeled as supplements (vitamins, herbal remedies, etc) but it was already pointed out that the FDA isn't allowed to review or regulate those. This is why those suppliments have the fine print that says "these claims have not been evaluated by the FDA". They essentially can make any claim they want - so you shouldnt blame the FDA