Phenylephrine ineffective in relieving nasal congestion
A new study published in the current issue of the Journal Of Allergy and Clinical Immunology has concluded that phenylephrine, at doses of up to 40 mg every 4 hours, 'is not significantly better than placebo at relieving nasal congestion in adults with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR).
Phenylephrine is contained in a large number of unscheduled and Schedule 2 cold tablets marketed in Australia for the relief of the symptoms of the common cold including nasal congestion. While the study specifically looked at patients with nasal congestion due to SAR it is certainly possible if not likely that the results apply equally to patients with nasal congestion due to the common cold.
The study randomized 539 adults with SAR (but otherwise healthy) to 7 days of treatment with either phenylephrine 10mg tablets at fixed doses of 10, 20, 30, or 40 mg or placebo. The primary efficacy end point was the mean change from baseline over the entire treatment period in daily reflective nasal congestion score.
None of the phenylephrine treatment groups had a statistically significant change from baseline in instantaneous or reflective nasal congestion scores compared with the placebo group.
The authors suggest that the phenylephrine section of the Food and Drug Administration monograph on over-the-counter cold, cough, allergy, bronchodilator, and antiasthmatic products should be revised accordingly.
Comment from Noranda Pharmacists - that is why it is important to come into your local Pharmacy for effective nasal congestion relief as the only effective ingredients are in the Pharmacy Only medicines that your Pharmacist can advise you on.
Phenylephrine products are usually those sold in supermarkets where there is no advice as that advice would be not to use this supermarket product but to go to the Pharmacy.
