Phenylephrine Products
Class Action

September 14, 2023 -- Attention: consumers who have purchased decongestants containing orally administered Phenylephrine.

A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel recently found that an ingredient commonly used in oral decongestants (phenylephrine) does not work as advertised. The efficacy of orally administered phenylephrine as a nasal decongestant has been in dispute for at least 15 years. It has been claimed by researchers that orally administered phenylephrine is no more effective than placebo in decreasing nasal congestion, that plasma concentration data from pharmacokinetic studies indicate a lack of effectiveness due to orally administered phenylephrine having low oral bioavailability, and that minimal effects on blood pressure further suggest a lack of orally administered phenylephrine effectiveness.

A significant amount of money is spent by consumers every year on the purchase of products containing at least one ingredient (oral phenylephrine) that may not be effective. This alone has caused significant monetary harm to consumers. In addition to the increased costs of taking a product with no benefit and increasing of overall healthcare costs, other potential harm to consumers as a result of purchasing a product containing ineffective oral phenylephrine include but are not limited to: delay in care due to taking a drug that has no benefit, increased risks of potential allergic reactions or other side effects related to use of oral phenylephrine in combination products, the inherent risks (especially for combination therapies) of taking more in order to seek some benefit, the risks of medication use in children, and missed opportunities for use of more effective treatments (including seeing a doctor if needed).

Commonly used over-the-counter products containing oral phenylephrine include: Advil Sinus Congestion & Pain; Benadryl Allergy Plus Congestion for Sinus Pressure & Nasal Congestion Relief; DayQuil Cold & Flu; Flonase Headache & Allergy Relief; Mucinex Maximum Strength Sinus-Max Pressure, Pain & Cough Liquid Gels; Nyquil Severe Cold & Flu; Robitussin Nighttime Severe Multi-Symptom Cough, Cold + Flu Syrup; Sudafed PE Sinus Congestion; Theraflu Daytime Severe Cold Relief Berry Bursts Flavor Hot Liquid Powder; Tylenol Sinus + Headache Non-Drowsy Daytime Caplets for Nasal Congestion Sinus Pressure & Pain Relief.

If you have purchased an orally administered decongestant containing phenylephrine, and would like to participate in a class action lawsuit regarding this product, please submit your information via the form on this webpage.