phenylephrine

American  

[fen-l-ef-reen, -rin, feen-] / ˌfɛn lˈɛf rin, -rɪn, ˌfin- /

noun

Pharmacology.

1. an alpha-adrenergic stimulant, C 1 9 H 1 3 NO 2 , used chiefly as a nasal decongestant.

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Etymology

Origin of phenylephrine

First recorded in 1945–50; phenyl + (epin)ephrine

Example Sentences

Most over-the-counter cough and cold remedies contain the oral decongestant phenylephrine, which the Food and Drug Administration recently admitted is ineffective.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 6, 2024

Competitor Walgreens is waiting on further guidance from the FDA regarding phenylephrine before making a decision on the products, according to a Q&A page on their website.

From Washington Times • Oct. 20, 2023

CVS Health will remove from its shelves certain oral cough and cold products with phenylephrine as the only active ingredient, the U.S. pharmacy chain said on Thursday.

From Reuters • Oct. 20, 2023

The popular decongestant phenylephrine is not effective, an FDA panel found.

From Scientific American • Oct. 4, 2023

University of Florida pharmacy researchers who reviewed testing of the pills asked the FDA, in a citizen’s petition filed in 2015, to remove phenylephrine from the list of approved over-the-counter medicines.

From Slate • Sep. 13, 2023