CVS Removes Phenylephrine Cold Medicines from Shelves

CVS Health is removing decongestants containing phenylephrine as the only active ingredient from its shelves, following doubts raised by a panel of advisers to U.S. health regulators regarding the ingredient's efficacy. Last month, the panel refused to endorse the effectiveness of over-the-counter medicines with phenylephrine, stating that further trials were unnecessary. CVS will continue to offer other oral cough and cold products to meet consumer needs. Phenylephrine replaced pseudoephedrine in many non-prescription cold and allergy medicines after the latter was restricted due to abuse reports.