[naijaboiler]

All professionals knew it did nothing. But the problem is by law FDA only needs to certify that OTC medications are safe not that they are effective. So drug companies go to town making billions off those old safe but useless medications

The real change is to add the mandate of efficacy to FDA for OTC medications.

[abfan1127]

you don't want to go down the road of the "FDA mandating efficacy". However, requiring "truth in medicating" i.e. demonstrable efficacy rates would be nice.

[ceejayoz]

> you don't want to go down the road of the "FDA mandating efficacy".

This has long been a thing already.

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-c...

> Many OTC medicines, including phenylephrine, are sold because they have an ingredient that FDA generally recognizes as safe and effective (GRASE) when used as recommended on the product labeling, which is documented in an “OTC monograph.” If FDA determined that oral phenylephrine is not effective, the agency would first issue a proposed order removing phenylephrine from this monograph.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generally_recognized_as_safe_a...

[lazide]

The funny thing is phenyl ephedrine is actually very effective - when given IV, or directly applied to mucus membranes. Which this OTC drugs will never be used for.

So it is an effective drug, overall. Just not when used this way.

So good luck nailing whichever bureaucrat approved this.

[kridsdale1]

Indeed. My Walgreens has a whole section of clearly and not-clearly labeled homeopathics for these symptoms.

People want to buy them and they won’t get hurt, let em, I guess.

[yjftsjthsd-h]

> People want to buy them and they won’t get hurt, let em, I guess.

I would qualify that as, if people know what they're buying and want to buy them.

[kstrauser]

And if they know what homeopathy is, they wouldn’t be buying it.

[lazide]

Oh man, good luck with that one. I’ve never had someone super into horoscopes that would stop being super into them, no matter how much you proved they were bullshit.

They will try to shiv you though if you keep trying.

[RugnirViking]

I've found the best approach is showing a genuine humility and interest in the "lore" and "vibe" of it, the sort of witchy mystical aesthetic while keeping a firm understanding that you're clear it has no predictive power. People don't usually initially get into these for it's effectiveness but for other reasons

[lazide]

I’m guessing you have fewer angry ex wives than I do, hah.

[kstrauser]

Alright, you got me there.