[xtiansimon]

Sorry you're having allergy problems. I only experience mild symptoms, so can't provide any more information than you've prolly found for yourself.

> "...suppose to try the dozen different gobbledegook ingredients on the shelf before figuring which one isn't bullshit..."

When you say "on the shelf" i presume you're specifically referring to OTC medication and not prescription medication, right? A common sense question deserves a common sense answer. Yes. Companies will happily take your money and sell you snake oil (nominally, so long as the consequences are near zero). Caveat emptor. Phenylephrine as the non-regulated version of pseudoephedrine is the perfect example.

IMHO the only way to buy OTC medication (or food for that matter) is to read the labels and understand the ingredients. (I hate palm oil and sugar. yuck)

[fl4regun]

I don't think caveat emptor means that companies should be able to sell products they know do not work.