The FDA wants these cold medicines off the shelves. Should Canada follow? – National [Video]

Cold and cough medications containing oral phenylephrine, a common ingredient found in many over-the-counter remedies, may soon disappear from U.S. shelves after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently declared it ineffective.

Many may now wonder whether Canada could be pressured to do the same.

“Health Canada has a mandate to look after what is on the Canadian market, and even though the over-the-counter medications are a little looser than prescription drugs, if you are absolutely positive (the medication) does not work, then you probably have a duty to act,” said Dr. Michael Rieder, a pediatric clinical pharmacologist and professor in the department of pediatrics at Western University.

On Nov. 7, the FDA proposed to remove phenylephrine as an active ingredient used in over-the-counter medicine for the temporary relief of nasal congestion.

Phenylephrine is found in popular decongestants such as Sudafed, Benadryl, Dayquil and other medications stocked on drugstore shelves.

It is also an ingredient …