"It is the FDA's role to ensure that drugs are safe and effective," said Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, in a news release on Thursday. "Based on our review of available data ... we are taking this ...

An extensive review determined that the ingredient, oral phenylephrine, doesn’t actually relieve nasal congestion.

Products that include phenylephrine as an active ingredient include Sudafed PE, Vicks Sinex and Benadryl Allergy Plus Congestion. In fact, "it is important to note that some products only contain oral phenylephrine as a single,

A common ingredient found in most oral over-the-counter cold medicines should be removed from the market because it doesn’t work, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says. This follows an extensive review that found the drug ineffective for treating nasal congestion.