Dr. Leslie Hendeles has been advocating for the rejection of a decongestant in cold medicines for many years. He first began his efforts when he had red hair and Bill Clinton had just become president. Now, at the age of 80, he testifies as an expert before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with his hair now white. Recently, the FDA’s advisory panel voted unanimously to declare the decongestant ineffective. This news prompted consumers to check their medicine cabinets and discover that the decongestant, phenylephrine, is listed in over 250 common cold and flu remedies. However, experts say that the ingredient still works when used as a nasal spray. While the drug is considered safe, there is no need to throw away products containing it, as they also contain other effective ingredients. The FDA will need to review the panel’s decision, seek public comments, and likely give drug makers time to adjust their products before any action is taken. Some experts still believe that phenylephrine is effective to some extent and may oppose banning it altogether. The story of how phenylephrine remained on the market despite decades of studies and questions involves outdated regulations and procedures within the FDA. The process of evaluating phenylephrine has taken approximately sixty years. Dr. Hendeles and a group of pharmacy professors at the University of Florida have been pressuring the FDA to take action for the past thirty years. Their research revealed that the drug was no better than a placebo, and they petitioned for a ban. However, the FDA’s over-the-counter division, which was understaffed, faced numerous challenges that delayed any action. Recently, increased agency staffing and procedural changes led to a renewed interest in the decongestant, culminating in the advisory panel’s decision. Some experts, including former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb, believe that more study is needed before declaring phenylephrine ineffective.