Australian law firm JGA Saddler has launched a class action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, alleging the company misled consumers by marketing cold and flu medications containing phenylephrine as effective nasal decongestants.
Products like ‘Codral Day and Night’, ‘Sudafed PE’, and ‘Benadryl PE’ are under scrutiny after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared phenylephrine ineffective when taken orally.
Despite claims on product packaging and advertising, medical experts like Dr. Jo-Lyn McKenzie argue that phenylephrine is only effective as a nasal spray, with oral ingestion rendering it clinically ineffective due to inactivation in the body.
The law firm seeks compensation for Australian consumers who purchased these products since 2005, highlighting consumer frustration over being misled by a “trusted pharmaceutical giant”.
The controversy stems from the replacement of pseudoephedrine, a proven decongestant, with phenylephrine in 2006 due to regulatory restrictions aimed at curbing illegal drug production.
Lawyers and specialists say that this switch has left consumers relying on products that fail to alleviate symptoms, despite better alternatives being available.
JGA Saddler claims Johnson & Johnson prioritised profit over efficacy, misleading consumers into paying premium prices for medications that provide little more relief than paracetamol.
