CVS Health, one of the world’s leading drugstore chains, recently announced that it will no longer be selling decongestants with phenylephrine, a stimulant found in many popular cold and flu treatments. This significant move is made in an effort to reduce the chances of misuse and abuse of the ingredient.
Phenylephrine can produce a stimulant-like high when taken in large doses, so it can be abused for its euphoric effects. CVS Health’s decision to remove the ingredient from their decongestants has come as a result of its growing concerns over the potential risks associated with misusing the stimulant. Since CVS Health operates nationwide, their decision could play an important role in safeguarding Americans from abuses of phenylephrine.
The risk of potential abuse from phenylephrine use is particularly concerning to medical professionals because of the potential for it to be diverted for recreational purposes or to be a gateway drug for more serious forms of addiction. The stimulant is particularly appealing to children and teenagers, making CVS Health’s decision to stop selling decongestants with phenylephrine even more crucial.
In addition to being mindful of potential misuse of Phenylephrine, CVS Health’s decision is also based on the fact that the effectiveness of the ingredient is often overstated. While it can be effective in relieving mild sinus symptoms, it’s not an effective treatment for severe congestion and can often do more harm than good. So, the company has done the responsible thing by removing products containing phenylephrine from their shelves.
CVS Health’s decision to stop selling decongestants with phenylephrine could serve as an important precedent for other drugstore chains and retailers to follow. Drug safety and misuse prevention campaigns can only go so far, so it’s up to big-name businesses like CVS Health to take responsibility and set the tone on these issues.