“Say Goodbye to Decongestants with Phenylephrine: CVS Health Cuts them Out!

In a major shift for the pharmacy and healthcare retailer, CVS Health has announced that it will no longer be selling decongestants containing the active ingredient phenylephrine. Many of the popular cold and flu remedies with this drug have been asked to remove it from their products because of potential health risks associated with using it. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that the use of phenylephrine, a nasal decongestant used in products like Sudafed and Tylenol Sinus Max, can be associated with high blood pressure and other significant health problems. The FDA has also noted that users of products containing the active ingredient can become vulnerable to additional serious health issues from prolonged use without consulting their doctor. CVS’ decision to discontinue selling products with phenylephrine is a step in the right direction for promoting public health and wellbeing. CVS Health’s aim is to make sure that their customers can have access to safe and effective healthcare products that do not contain any ingredients which can potentially cause significant harm. In addition, CVS Health has stated that it hopes its decision will prompt other drugstores to review their own inventory and consider removing such products as well. The elimination of phenylephrine-containing decongestants will be a welcome change for many customers, as it should help ensure that customers have access to safe and effective drugs and products. CVS Health’s removal of these items will be instrumental in encouraging other drug stores to do the same, and thereby ensuring the safety and wellbeing of customers.