The FDA had proposed removing phenylephrine, a widely used ingredient to treat nasal congestion, from over-the-counter cold medications. Here's what you need to know.

The agency made the proposal after finding that the ingredient, known as oral phenylephrine, doesn’t relieve stuffy noses.

The FDA says oral phenylephrine, used in many over-the-counter cough and cold medicines, "is not effective as a nasal decongestant."

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing the removal from the market of a common ingredient found in most oral over-the-counter cold medicines because it doesn’t work.

The US Food and Drug Administration has proposed to remove oral phenylephrine, widely used in cold and cough syrups, as an active ingredient in over-the-counter drugs for nasal congestion, stating it is not effective,

After what the agency called a thorough review of the data, the Food and Drug Administration has proposed ending the use of an ingredient of many cold and allergy medications because it doesn't work.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to officially remove a popular ingredient in many cold and allergy medications – oral phenylephrine.