Pseudoephedrine

Meeting highlights from the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) 27-30 November 2023

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 18, 2023
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EMA’s safety committee, PRAC, has recommended new measures for medicines containing pseudoephedrine to minimise the risks of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES)…, Agenda Agenda of the PRAC meeting 27-30 November 2023DraftFirst published: 27/11/2023Reference Number: EMA/PRAC/477373/2023…, PRAC statistics: December 2023, Glossary:Safety signal assessments. A safety signal is information which suggests a new potentially causal association, or a new aspect of a known association between a medicine…, Ongoing referralsProcedureStatusUpdateHydroxyprogesterone-containing medicinal products – Article-31 referralUnder evaluationPRAC continued its assessment

Key Points: 


EMA’s safety committee, PRAC, has recommended new measures for medicines containing pseudoephedrine to minimise the risks of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES)…, Agenda Agenda of the PRAC meeting 27-30 November 2023DraftFirst published: 27/11/2023Reference Number: EMA/PRAC/477373/2023…, PRAC statistics: December 2023, Glossary:Safety signal assessments. A safety signal is information which suggests a new potentially causal association, or a new aspect of a known association between a medicine…, Ongoing referralsProcedureStatusUpdateHydroxyprogesterone-containing medicinal products – Article-31 referralUnder evaluationPRAC continued its assessment

Walgreens Honors Veterans, Active Duty Military and Families with Veterans Day Discount Friday, November 10 through Monday, November 13

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 2, 2023
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To celebrate the service and commitment of the nation’s military and honor those who serve the country, Walgreens is offering a four-day in-store discount to all veterans and active duty military personnel, as well as their family members.

Key Points: 
  • To celebrate the service and commitment of the nation’s military and honor those who serve the country, Walgreens is offering a four-day in-store discount to all veterans and active duty military personnel, as well as their family members.
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231102287319/en/
    To celebrate the service and commitment of the nation’s military and honor those who serve the country, Walgreens is offering a four-day in-store discount to all veterans and active duty military personnel, as well as their family members, on Nov. 10 through Nov. 13.
  • (Photo: Business Wire)
    On Friday, Nov. 10 through Monday, Nov. 13, veterans, military and their families will receive 20 percent off regular price eligible store items* at any Walgreens or Duane Reade drugstore nationwide.
  • *DISCLAIMER: Offer valid for veterans, military and their families from 11/10/23 thru 11/13/23, with myWalgreens™ and proof of service.

FDA advisory panel's conclusion that oral phenylephrine is ineffective means consumers need to think twice when buying cold and flu meds

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 26, 2023
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The ramp-up to cold and flu season is a bad time for consumers to learn that some of their most trusted go-to products don’t actually work.

Key Points: 
  • The ramp-up to cold and flu season is a bad time for consumers to learn that some of their most trusted go-to products don’t actually work.
  • The 2023 FDA advisory panel met to review growing evidence that oral phenylephrine is an ineffective treatment for nasal congestion.
  • Consumers may also question whether combination cough, cold and flu products will still be safe and effective for use at home.

The backstory

  • The most recent analysis is not the first time an FDA advisory panel has scrutinized oral phenylephrine.
  • A 2007 panel examining its use concluded that more studies were needed to make a final decision regarding the effectiveness of phenylephrine.

Safety concerns

  • No safety issues with oral phenylephrine alone were documented in the 2023 advisory panel conclusion.
  • However, researchers and advisory panel members have raised concerns about the possibility of products containing ineffective phenylephrine remaining on pharmacy shelves.
  • Even if oral phenylephrine is safe, taking an ineffective medication could cause consumers to spend money on products that work no better than a placebo.

The story behind pseudoephedrine

  • Luckily, the nonprescription oral nasal decongestant pseudoephedrine – which is known to be effective – has been commercially available for many years.
  • Pseudoephedrine is a nasal decongestant that is taken by mouth to relieve a stuffy nose.
  • If the FDA acts on the advisory committee’s conclusions that oral phenylephrine is not an effective nasal decongestant, pseudoephedrine may be the only remaining oral medication available without a prescription to treat nasal congestion.


Pseudoephedrine should not be used in doses higher than those that are recommended on the label. Use of products containing pseudoephedrine should be stopped and a health care provider consulted if dizziness, nervousness or sleeplessness occurs.
Pseudoephedrine should not be used by consumers with heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, diabetes or an enlarged prostate without talking with a health care provider like a pharmacist or a physician.
Products with pseudoephedrine should not be used while taking, or within two weeks of stopping, a prescription monoamine oxidase inhibitor, which is most commonly used to treat for depression or Parkinson’s disease.

Other treatments

  • These products are sold under the brand name Afrin and others.
  • All of these non-drug approaches can help sooth the nasal passage to provide temporary relief from congestion.
  • If symptoms of congestion continue for more than two weeks, or if signs of an infection arise, go see your doctor.


Lucas Berenbrok is part owner of the consulting company, Embarx, LLC. Colleen Culley and Karen Steinmetz Pater do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Walgreens Honors Veterans, Active Duty Military and Families with Weekend Discount in Honor of Independence Day Saturday, July 1 through Tuesday, July 4

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 22, 2023
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Walgreens customers can maximize their savings by enrolling in the FREE myWalgreens loyalty program or applying for the myWalgreens Credit Card .

Key Points: 
  • Walgreens customers can maximize their savings by enrolling in the FREE myWalgreens loyalty program or applying for the myWalgreens Credit Card .
  • Walgreens stores will be open during regular business hours on Independence Day.
  • The Walgreens Store Locator, Walgreens.com/FindAStore, is updated frequently throughout the day to reflect store and pharmacy hours.
  • *DISCLAIMER: Offer valid for veterans, military and their families from 7/1/23 thru 7/4/23, with proof of service.

Walgreens Honors Veterans, Active Duty Military and Their Families in Honor of Memorial Day with Weekend Discount from Friday, May 26 through Monday, May 29

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
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View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230517005491/en/

Key Points: 
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230517005491/en/
    Offer valid for veterans, military and their families from 5/27/22 thru 5/30/22, with myWalgreens™ and proof of service.
  • *DISCLAIMER: Offer valid for veterans, military and their families from 5/26/23 thru 5/29/23, with myWalgreens™ and proof of service.
  • Offer is not combinable with buy 1 get 1 free, buy 1 get 1 50% off or buy 2 get 3rd FREE.
  • Offer does not apply to bulk orders, back-ordered items and out-of-stock items.

Watch out for dangerous combinations of over-the-counter cold medicine and prescription drugs – two pharmacoepidemiology experts explain the risks

Retrieved on: 
Friday, April 21, 2023
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When colds, flus and allergies hit, many people automatically turn to over-the-counter medications to push through and treat their symptoms.

Key Points: 
  • When colds, flus and allergies hit, many people automatically turn to over-the-counter medications to push through and treat their symptoms.
  • Nearly 70% of adults in the U.S. use over-the-counter medications as a first-line response for treating cold and flu symptoms.
  • We are a pharmacoepidemiologist and pharmacist team and we investigate adherence to medications and potential harms of medications associated with drug-drug interactions.
  • Another study estimated that every year, 26,735 people went to the emergency room for adverse events related to over-the-counter cold and cough medications.

The dangers of mixing medications

    • Pharmacists and physicians are typically knowledgeable about potential drug interactions, so it is very important for patients to ask their health care providers which over-the-counter medications are safe for them to use.
    • It is important to read the package ingredients of over-the-counter medications closely to avoid duplication of doses.
    • Cold medications are typically made up of multiple ingredients, including pain relievers, nasal decongestants and cough suppressants or expectorants.
    • Combining these decongestants with monoaminooxidase inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants could lead to very high blood pressure and heart rhythm problems.

Each person responds to drugs differently

    • As we age, our bodies begin to lose the ability to efficiently clear drugs, which increases the risk of adverse events and unintentional overdoses.
    • Some drugs can be dangerous for people who have particular health conditions.
    • In addition, since these drugs are associated with increased blood pressure, patients with hypertension, hyperthyroidism or heart disease should be careful when using them, or avoid them altogether.

Alternatives for children

    • The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not recommend giving cold medications to children under age 4.
    • Because of a variety of factors, young children have a higher risk of accidental overdose and adverse events that could lead to death.
    • Research has shown that honey can be helpful for reducing cold and flu symptoms in children older than age 1.

Pregnancy best practices

    • Acetaminophen is the doctor-recommended over-the-counter medication for management of pain and fever at any stage of pregnancy.
    • Any other pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medicine such as ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen and aspirin should not be taken during pregnancy without a doctor’s approval.
    • For symptoms such as nasal congestion during pregnancy, a decongestant called oxymetazoline in its intranasal form is the drug of choice.

China Pharma Holdings, Inc. Announced that several products are included in the Catalogue of Medicines for People Infected with COVID-19

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 15, 2022
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Recently, China has completely ended its strict quarantine and zero case policies in response to COVID-19 pandemic in the past three years.

Key Points: 
  • Recently, China has completely ended its strict quarantine and zero case policies in response to COVID-19 pandemic in the past three years.
  • Out of concern about the spread of the epidemic, people began to hoard many related drugs.
  • The Chinese government has issued the Catalogue to guide people to take drugs accordingly.
  • In addition, the Company has a broad and expanding nationwide distribution network across all major cities and provinces in China.

Walgreens Honors Veterans, Active Duty Military and Families with Veterans Day Discount Friday, November 11 through Monday, November 14

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 1, 2022
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On Friday, Nov. 11 through Monday, Nov. 14, veterans, military and their families will receive 20 percent off regular price eligible store items* at any Walgreens or Duane Reade drugstore nationwide.

Key Points: 
  • On Friday, Nov. 11 through Monday, Nov. 14, veterans, military and their families will receive 20 percent off regular price eligible store items* at any Walgreens or Duane Reade drugstore nationwide.
  • Additionally, through the myWalgreens customer loyalty platform, members can enjoy additional benefits such as earning one percent Walgreens cash rewards storewide and five percent on Walgreens branded products.
  • Walgreens stores will be open during regular business hours on Veterans Day.
  • *DISCLAIMER: Offer valid for veterans, military and their families from 11/11/22 thru 11/14/22, with myWalgreens and proof of service.

Electrolit Welcomes Christian Patiño Webb as New Chief Executive Officer

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, August 17, 2022
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CERRITOS, Calif., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Electrolit the preferred, premium hydration beverage made from pharmaceutical quality grade ingredients - is pleased to welcome Christian Patio Webbas the company's new Chief Executive Officer.

Key Points: 
  • CERRITOS, Calif., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Electrolit the preferred, premium hydration beverage made from pharmaceutical quality grade ingredients - is pleased to welcome Christian Patio Webbas the company's new Chief Executive Officer.
  • "It is an exciting opportunity to lead a brand with the legacy and momentum that Electrolit has and even more with the potential moving forward," said Christian Patio Webb.
  • Earning his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Universidad Anhuac and his MBA from Duke University, Patio Webb has the educational background for this role.
  • Working at Procter & Gamble for 7 years, Patio Webb gained experience with American multinational consumer goods.

Dr. Reddy’s Announces the First-to-Market Launch of Over-the-Counter, Store-Brand Equivalent of Allegra-D® 24 Hr in the U.S. Market

Retrieved on: 
Friday, July 22, 2022
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This first-to-market launch is a testament to our deep capabilities and our continued efforts to bring high quality, affordable store-brand alternatives for our customers and patients.

Key Points: 
  • This first-to-market launch is a testament to our deep capabilities and our continued efforts to bring high quality, affordable store-brand alternatives for our customers and patients.
  • It temporarily relieves sneezing; runny nose; itchy, watery eyes; and itchy nose or throat due to allergies.
  • Allegra-D 24 HR had U.S. retail sales of approximately $45 million as of May 2022 according to IRI*.
  • Dr. Reddys offers a portfolio of products and services including APIs, custom pharmaceutical services, generics, biosimilars and differentiated formulations.