CVS Health has announced that it will no longer sell decongestants with phenylephrine at their pharmacies. This follows research that has found evidence linking phenylephrine to an increased risk of arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm), stroke, and other serious medical complications.
Phenylephrine is a synthetic version of epinephrine, a naturally occurring hormone found in the human body. It is often used as an ingredient in decongestants, cough suppressants, and other over-the-counter medications to relieve nasal and sinus congestion. However, the new research suggests that the presence of phenylephrine could lead to an increased risk of developing serious medical complications, including arrhythmia.
In response to the findings, CVS Health has made the decision to remove decongestants with phenylephrine from their shelves. This includes all varieties sold under the store brand, as well as popular name-brands such as Sudafed and Claritin-D.
The research also suggested that patients should no longer take phenylephrine-containing medications for more than 10 days. Since many over-the-counter medications contain phenylephrine, this could mean that consumers need to be extra vigilant when purchasing decongestants.
The decision to remove phenylephrine from the shelves of CVS pharmacies is a step in the right direction, as it helps to protect consumers from potentially harmful medications. The knowledge that phenylephrine-containing medications could be linked to an increased risk of arrhythmia and stroke could also help bring greater public awareness to the issue, potentially motivating more people to take an active role in their healthcare decisions.