This Decongestant In Popular Cold Medicines Doesn’t Work, FDA Panel Says
LOADINGERROR LOADING Phenylephrine, a popular ingredient found in many over-the-counter cold medicines, is an ineffective decongestant when taken orally and works no better than a placebo, an independent advisory committee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday. The 16-member panel voted unanimously that the ingredient — found in some versions of common products […]
FDA OKs Over-the-Counter Gel for Erectile Dysfunction
The FDA has granted over-the-counter marketing authorization to MED3000 (Eroxon), the first nonprescription topical gel for treating erectile dysfunction (ED), maker Futura Medical announced on Monday. According to the company, MED3000 has “a 10-minute onset of action” that sets it apart from prescription PDE5 inhibitors such as sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis), which typically require […]
OTC Narcan Approval Opens New Doors in Fight Against Opioid Crisis
This week’s FDA approval of the first-ever over-the-counter (OTC) naloxone product (Narcan) for the treatment of opioid overdoses was broadly praised, but medical and industry experts expressed caution about expanding access and its potential to address the overdose crisis. “We have nearly 200 Americans dying every day as a result of opioid-involved overdose,” said Smita […]
FDA Authorizes First At-Home Test That Can Detect Flu And COVID-19
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the first over-the-counter at-home test to detect and differentiate influenza (commonly known as the flu) and COVID-19. The test, made by California-based Lucira Health, works similarly to standard at-home COVID tests where users swirl a self-collected nasal swab in a vial and place it in a test unit. […]
FDA Authorizes At-Home Test for Both Flu and COVID
The FDA has authorized the first over-the-counter (OTC) home test to detect both influenza A and B and COVID-19, the agency announced Friday. The Lucira COVID-19 & Flu Test is a single-use at-home test kit that provides results in about 30 minutes. The test is designed for those with symptoms of a respiratory tract infection. […]
How Can I Get Rid of a Cold While Breastfeeding?
The safety of giving infants and children over-the-counter (OTC) cold and cough medicine is important for caregivers to understand. While there is no “gold standard” recommendation for giving infants and children OTC cold and cough medicine for fever, aches, cough, and runny nose, a few standards have been recommended. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends […]
Here’s When You Should Consult A Doctor About Your OTC Medication Use
Over-the-counter medications come in handy for many short-term health woes, from allergies and headaches to minor injuries. And if you’ve been turning to OTC options since the pandemic started instead of going to the doctor, you’re not alone. “Many of my patients haven’t seen their primary care physician or even certain specialists in almost two […]