CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Food and Drug Administration recently concluded that a popular over-the-counter decongestant phenylephrine is not effective.
This is the active ingredient in many cold medications including those sold under the CVS brand.
THE QUESTION
If you bought these products, would you be eligible for a legal settlement?
THE ANSWER
Yes, there are several class-action lawsuits against CVS, claiming the drug store chain manufactured and sold cold medicine in a false, misleading and deceptive manner.
OUR SOURCES
WHAT WE FOUND
When VERIFY looked online, we saw several law firms posting class-action lawsuits against CVS, including one that was filed in federal court in South Carolina. The plaintiff claims the phenylephrine drug sold at CVS stores under the CVS Health label was no more effective than a sugar pill.
Another class-action lawsuit filed in Illinois seeks to establish a national and multi-state consumer protection class action on behalf of consumers who purchased five CVS health products with Phenylephrine in them.
In September, the FDA panel refused to back the effectiveness of oral over-the-counter medicines made with phenylephrine and they said no more trials were required to prove otherwise.
When VERIFY reached out to CVS a company spokesperson said it does not comment on pending litigation.
However, the drug store chain told NBC News they are pulling the most common decongestants that have phenylephrine as the only active ingredient from their shelves.
VERIFY went to a CVS store in Charlotte and found there are still decongestants with phenylephrine as an ingredient, but not the only active ingredient.
Contact Meghan Bragg at mbragg@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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