What are the legitimate OTC uses for pseudoephedrine and ephedrine?
Pseudoephedrine is an FDA-approved OTC nasal decongestant and is sold as either a single-ingredient product or in combination cough/cold products. Ephedrine is an FDA-approved OTC bronchodilator for those suffering from asthma and is typically sold in combination with the ingredient guaifenesin. A large majority of over-the-counter decongestants used by millions of consumers every day for effective relief from the symptoms caused by colds, allergies, and asthma contain pseudoephedrine or ephedrine as their active ingredient. Both ingredients are recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as safe and effective medicines. These medicines serve an important healthcare need by bringing much needed relief to consumers conveniently and affordably. Each year, an estimated one billion Americans suffer from colds, according to the latest data from the National Institutes of Health. This translates into 38 million missed school days and more than 29 million lost workdays each year
