The agency said an extensive review of available data determined that the ingredient, oral phenylephrine, doesn’t actually relieve nasal congestion. It comes more than a year after advisors to the FDA unanimously reached the same conclusion.

Cold and flu season is upon us and Americans will be flocking to pharmacy shelves to pick up some medicine to alleviate their symptoms. But the ingredients list on many of these products might start to look very different based on new guidance from the Food and Drug Administration.

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.

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.