I got two sinus infections back to back this year and got to learn it the hard way. The doctor was like: “No, you gotta get the REAL stuff!”
It works to make meth.
Which is probably what most of it is used for.
edit: My mistake. Thanks for the corrections.
Wrong one.
pseudoephedrine is the meth-making one, and usually the one you now have to ask a pharmacist for.
Phenylephrine is the one they used to replace it, which many people knew didn’t work and complained about it.
Thanks for the correction.
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They’re talking about the stuff on the shelf, not the good stuff that’s locked up because it actually works.
Yeah, someone else also corrected me.
Thanks though, it was a throw away comment anyway.
You know what’s weird? I get severe sinus headaches and regular pseudoenepherine sudafed doesn’t help at all, but these phelylephrine ones do. I’ll even tell my wife “the little reds, not the whites”. Weird.
The power of placebo! It’s the nicest part about placebo too. The more you believe it the more your body does too.
No… You just spend more money on things that don’t work while convincing yourself that it does.
I actually doubt that. Phenylephrine does have systemic effects that might be beneficial for migraines. That’s not what it was decided to not be effective in with the FDA and not what folks generally use it for. Pseudoephedrine isn’t really that effective for migraines itself.
Nah, the drug is still a bio-active drug. It DOES do things, just doesn’t help most with the prescribed symptoms because its mechanism of effect is different.
Have you tried a migraine formulation for that? It sounds like you’re actually benefiting from the systemic effects (vasoconstriction) instead of the reduced mucous production. A formulation would include caffeine that also has vasoconstriction in case this is removed from the market.
Interesting, I’ll take a look
In my area the red ones are the pseudophedrine ones. Never seen the white ones, I just go to the counter because I am not making meth.
Weird, there are what I get in northern California
The real pseudoephedrines are also little red pills, at least where I am on the US East Coast.
It depends on the dosage. The 4hr pseudoephedrine are red. The 12hr are white.
Weird, here in my area of California the OTC ones are the reds, you have to go to the pharmacist for the white ones.
In my area both are red unless you get the 12-hour controlled-release caplets, those are white. It’s probably just different factories.
I forget but wasn’t it also advertised to have a painkilling effect? Maybe the thing it’s doing for you isn’t the decongestant but that?
When I had COVID and got really severe congestion, it was some of the worst sinus pain I’ve ever had in my life. I was at the point where I was trying to use a baby nasal bulb to relieve some pressure. The phenylephrine helped me a lot more than any other medication I was trying, including nasal sprays. I also take other sinus medications though, so I wonder if it’s a case of a medication not working well unless it’s used in conjunction with other things?
I guess it’s possible I experienced a placebo effect, but it seems weird it would do it when nothing else was.
i generally use dilute extracts of capsaicin to clear up congestion.
Melinda’s is the shitty, stolen, knock off version of Marie Sharpe’s.
In any case, yep habaneros will do that to you.
Representatives for the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, a group that represents OTC drug manufacturers, did not offer any new evidence to counter the FDA’s claims that the drug is ineffective during their presentation Monday.
The group instead said that if oral phenylephrine were not available over the counter, it would be a significant burden to consumers.
But it doesn’t work! Consumers are literally using something that’s no better than the naturopathic bullshit found in the next aisle over!
MAN I hate corporate lobbyists. Outright lying to try and save face.
“It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” -Upton Sinclair
It’s because the DEA restricted pseudoephedrine, which does work. Duck the war on drugs
Yes, I NEED this shit like 2-3 months of the year due to a severe winter cedar allergy. I can barely function without a strong decongestant and having to show my ID and jump through hoops at the pharmacy to get it instead of just grabbing some off a shelf is so frustrating.
it would be a significant burden to
consumersour share pricesLol, thinking that the naturopathic shit isnt sitting on the same shelves with almost identical packaging to real medicine.
Burden to consumers = burden to our profits for selling useless bullshit
My NP told me to avoid this stuff and just hand over my Photo ID at the back to get the real pseudoephedrine.
Yup, the good stuff is always that 20mg-30mg psedoephedraline they give you the third degree over buying. Worth it.
I keep both the 4 hour and the 12 hour time-released versions at home. There’s no substitute. I’ll gladly spend a few extra minutes at the pharmacy counter to obtain it.
not a huge fan of the 12 hour ones, but take them myself at times. Still, it just seems, at least to me that the 4 hour doses just work better.
Maybe I’m a lightweight, but pseudoephedrine makes me feel weird. I can’t put my finger on it, but maybe a bit jittery and kind of cold. Also hyper - like I’ll want to do chores when I take it
Works better than anything else for my colds, but it also makes me feel odd so I avoid it unless I’m feeling super trash.
It’s basically watered down meth. It’s no joke! That said, it doesn’t make me feel bad at all but everyone’s different and it is a powerful drug.
It’s crazy that enough people think this crap works that it’s a billion dollar industry…
Placebo effect is a real thing. Plus, if it just clears up a bit on its own, you might contribute it to the medicine.
I’m near certain that the companies that sell this useless crap are quite aware of how useless it is.
I could have guessed that. Pseudophedrine works great. You just have to ask for it behind the counter because of the whole meth thing.
This is not new news, in original studies it never outperformed placebo and has cardiovascular health risks. It’s simply never worked, it’s not a secret, it’s just preferred by governments that your access to pseudoephedrine is limited so this was rushed onto shelves
The news is that the FDA is acknowledging it.
I fucking knew it
I rely on pharmaceuticals for multiple problems, and they are very effective, but my god we are being scammed by pharmaceutical companies in so many ways.
Snake oil!
Super interestingly, in clinical trials it is less effective than the placebo.
With statistical significance?
Should I be investing in placebo allergy pills?
Legally acceptable snake oil I guess.
out loud? finally!
