Two decades ago, it became clear that Congress was intent on trying to curtail illicit methamphetamine production by restricting access to pseudoephedrine, a meth precursor that was also widely used as a decongestant in cold and allergy remedies such as Sudafed. Pfizer, the manufacturer of Sudafed products, responded by announcing that it would start selling alternatives containing a different active ingredient: phenylephrine.
What's the difference between pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine? "SUDAFED products with phenylephrine are available for over-the-counter purchase without restrictions," explains Johnson & Johnson, which acquired the brand from Pfizer in 2006, while "products that have pseudoephedrine as an active ingredient face restrictions." Johnson & Johnson does not mention another distinction that might be of interest to consumers: Pseudoephedrine works, while phenylephrine does not. Or so a unanimous panel of experts advised the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday.
