With cold and flu season in full swing, a pharmacist has revealed which medications to avoid.
Dr. Grant Harting, licensed pharmacist and founder of CrushCost, says Theraflu tops their list.
Dr. Harting explains that while the Severe Cold and Chest Congestion Relief Syrup, which is priced at $11.99, has the name “flu,” “unfortunately it’s not really useful.”
Looking at the list of active ingredients on the back of the bottle, he notes that the concoction contains a simple mixture of the mild painkiller paracetamol, guaifenesin which is used to treat chest congestion and “does absolutely nothing”, and dextromethorphan, which is a cough suppressant.
‘Now, how is that supposed to help a cold?’ he jokes while returning the Theraflu bottle to its shelf in a TikTok video.
Next, Dr. Harting purchases a pack of Vicks NyQuil Liquid Capsules for Severe Colds and Flu, which are priced at $16.99 for a pack of 24.
He says the cold remedy, which is also “everyone’s favorite,” has “great packaging,” but the ingredients won’t do much to cure his illness.
Dr. Grant Harting, licensed pharmacist and founder of CrushCost, walks into a Walgreen’s to show which popular over-the-counter medications are a “waste of money.”
Like Theraflu, NyQuil capsules contain a combination of acetaminophen and dextromethorphan, with the addition of doxylamine (an antihistamine) and phenylephrine, which Dr. Harting says does “literally nothing” as a decongestant.
As he sweeps his camera around the shelves to show the different NyQuil options available, Dr. Harting exclaims, “And look how many different variations there are, my goodness!”
He continues, as he examines row after row of product: ‘I mean this is almost comical. It’s like I’m watching a dystopian pharmacist’s nightmare… Just kidding, this is real life.’
Highlighting a few other products, Dr. Harting considers Mucinex “also rubbish,” while Delsym “isn’t much better.”
He pointed to a recent study testing it in adolescents and adults with respiratory infections such as bronchitis.
The research found no difference in cough relief compared to a placebo.
The doctor, who has more than 600,000 followers on TikTok, says all of the aforementioned cold and flu medications are “just weird combinations of the same things.”
Meanwhile, Delsym, which is a liquid medication that costs between $15 and $28, contains dextromethorphan to relieve coughs.
Before finishing his rant, Dr. Harting calls Boiron Oscillococcinum (priced at $17.99 for six doses) “the worst” cold remedy out there.
First on your ‘chopping block’ is Theraflu Severe Cold and Chest Congestion Relief Syrup, which is priced at $11.99.
Before finishing his rant, Dr. Harting calls Boiron Oscillococcinum (priced at $17.99 for six doses) “the worst” cold remedy out there.
The homeopathic flu medicine was invented by French doctor Joseph Roy in the early 20th century and is made from the heart and liver of wild ducks.
Today, sales in the United States are worth more than $20 million a year.
But Mr Harting is not convinced of the natural remedy, telling viewers: “This is literally nothing.” I bought it and I’m going to try it this flu season and show everyone that it doesn’t do any good.’
Finally, Sudafed ‘PE’ is also thrown into the ‘garbage’ pile.
In her video, Hartings purchases a $21.99 package designed to combat congestion and mucus.
Medical experts highlight that ‘Sudafed PE is different from Sudafed’.
While it says Sudafed containing the decongestant pseudoephedrine is “good,” Sudafed PE made with the antihistamine phenylephrine is ineffective.
Backing Mr. Harting’s stance on phenylephrine, the FDA recently announced that it wants to remove common cold and flu medications from pharmacies after studies found that phenylephrine, the main ingredient, was useless in relieving symptoms when It was taken orally.
The agency proposed suspending the use of phenylephrine – found in common medications such as Vicks Sinex, certain types of Sudafed and Benadryl – in over-the-counter products because “it is not effective.”
The FDA began reviewing the use of phenylephrine in March 2023 and concluded that it was no more effective than a placebo when taken orally in pill form.
When metabolized in the intestine, phenylephrine cannot reach the bloodstream in sufficient levels, making it useless in providing relief.
This is only a “proposed order” and will not have an immediate impact on the medications.
Backing Mr. Harting’s stance on phenylephrine, the FDA recently announced that it wants to remove common cold and flu medications from pharmacies after studies found that phenylephrine, the main ingredient, was useless in relieving symptoms.
Only a ‘final order’ will affect the products sold, which could have a significant impact on the $1.8 billion in sales generated by these drugs.
The FDA added: “The proposed order is based on efficacy issues, not safety issues.”
Instead of popular cold and flu remedies, Dr. Harting recommends “pure, uncut zinc oxide” at the end of his video.
Some studies have suggested that zinc supplements may reduce the severity and duration of common cold symptoms.
However, the Mayo Clinic notes that zinc has not worked in all studies.
He concludes: ‘Researchers can’t say why zinc works in some studies and not others. There are still questions about which type of zinc works best. Research also doesn’t show what amount of zinc is best.
‘The limit for zinc for adults is less than 40 mg per day, unless otherwise directed by their healthcare providers.
“The safest option is to talk to your provider before using zinc when you have a cold.”