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2024 edition includes 30+ new product categories evaluated, new dermatologist expert panel reviewers. WASHINGTON, March 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in health care rankings and consumer advice, today published the second annual Best OTC Medicine & Health Products. The latest edition of the rankings features 132 categories, with 33 brand new over-the-counter product categories included this year. The brands with the most No. 1 products among the 2024 rankings are Nature Made, followed by CeraVe and Neutrogena; the companies with the most No. 1 products are Kenvue Inc., followed by Haleon plc and Pharmavite LLC. "With hundreds of thousands of over-the-counter health products on the market in the U.S., the U.S. News annual Best OTC Medicine & Health Products rankings help consumers choose the best OTC products for themselves and their families," said Sumita Singh, general manager of Health at U.S. News. "Continuing our commitment to offer consumers trusted, data-backed ratings and rankings to help with their health care decisions, the 2024 evaluation features statistically 'best' brands evaluated by hundreds of pharmacists and dermatologists." In partnership with global market research firm The Harris Poll, U.S. News surveyed 354 pharmacists and 122 dermatologists practicing in the United States regarding 132 product categories such as adult and children's cough suppressants, men's and women's multivitamins, fish oil/omega-3 supplements, baby formula, face washes and cleansers, and retinol creams and serums. This was the first year that dermatologists were included in the survey, which was administered online in February 2024. To determine the rankings, panelists selected their top three recommended brands within each product category assigned to them. The brands that were highly ranked most often were ranked No. 1 for the corresponding product categories. U.S. News awarded the designations of Best OTC Medicine & Health Products only to those brands that satisfy U.S. News' statistical assessment of performance on the survey. Based on U.S. News' analysis, some product categories were awarded more than one winner. Some popular 2024 product category winners, ranked No. 1, evaluated by pharmacists include: Children's Cough Medicines: Children's Delsym Cough Drops: Halls Cough Suppressants: Delsym Decongestants, Oral: Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine) Diarrhea Medicines and Treatments: Imodium Eye Vitamins: Bausch + Lomb Ocuvite Fish Oil/Omega-3 Supplements: Nature Made Laxatives: MiraLAX Multivitamins for Men: Centrum Multivitamins for Women: One A Day Nausea Remedies: Dramamine Nausea Saline Nasal Sprays: Ayr Sore Throat Sprays: Chloraseptic Some popular 2024 product category winners, ranked No. 1, evaluated by dermatologists include: Eye Cream for Wrinkles: La Roche-Posay Face Moisturizers: CeraVe Face Washes and Cleansers: CeraVe Hand Creams: Neutrogena Moisturizers With SPF: CeraVe Night Creams: CeraVe Retinol Creams and Serums: Neutrogena Sunscreen for Face: EltaMD Vitamin C Serum: La Roche-Posay Vitamins for Hair Growth: Nutrafol Wrinkle Creams: Neutrogena Those looking to choose a health product that's right for them or their child should consult a medical professional as part of their decision-making process. For the full rankings, visit U.S. News' 2024 Best OTC Medicine & Health Products. Explore more of the 2024 product rankings using #BestOTCProducts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter). About U.S. News & World Report U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News, Real Estate, Careers and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C. About The Harris Poll The Harris Poll is a global consulting and market research firm that delivers proven intelligence for transformational times. Responsible for one of the longest-running surveys in the United States, Harris Poll provides unique context and social insights based on having analyzed public opinion, motivations, and social sentiment since 1963. It works with clients in three primary areas: building modern corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and data-driven thought leadership. It also delivers industry-leading healthcare insights expertise, specializing in research with patients, caregivers, nurses, physicians, specialists (across over 50 therapeutic areas) payers, hospital decision makers, policy makers, and pharmacists. Its mission is to provide insights and guidance to help leaders make the best decisions possible. To learn more, please visit . SOURCE U.S. News & World Report, L.P.

After decades of scientific evidence of the ineffectiveness of decongestant phenylephrine, an FDA advisory committee recently concluded the OTC drugs don't work. House Republicans want to know why it took so long. Last year, roughly 250 products that contain the decongestant phenylephrine—including popular brands such as Sudafed, NyQuil, Benadryl and Tylenol—rang up sales of nearly $1.8 billion. Just one problem: Oral phenylephrine doesn’t work. That was the unanimous conclusion of an FDA advisory committee three months ago, based on decades of mounting evidence. Now, House Republicans want to know why it took the regulator so long to figure it out. Rep. Lisa McClain (Mich.), who chairs the House oversight subcommittee on health care and financial services, has sent (PDF) a letter to FDA commissioner Robert Califf, requesting a briefing on the effectiveness of the over-the-counter (OTC) drugs by Dec. 11. “We are concerned that phenylephrine has remained approved by the FDA as an OTC drug ‘generally recognized as safe and effective’ (GRASE) for nearly fifty years despite strong scientific evidence supporting the contrary,” McClain wrote.   In response to a request for comment, the FDA said in an email that it "will review the letter and will respond directly to the Senators/Congressman/Congresswoman." In September, 16 panelists on the Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee (NDAC) agreed to the ineffectiveness of phenylephrine after reviewing data that showed it performed no better—even at high doses—than placebo in relieving congestion. In 2007, the NDAC came to a similar conclusion on the ineffectiveness of phenylephrine, which first hit the market in 1938. While four subsequent studies showed the ineffectiveness of phenylephrine when taken as a pill, there was enough variability in the results to raise questions about how the studies were conducted. Phenylephrine is designed to reduce the swelling of blood vessels but the committee recently concluded that when it is taken orally, not enough of the drug reaches the nasal passages. The drug still is effective when delivered by way of a nasal spray or for dilating eyes for use during surgery, the FDA concluded. The regulator has yet to decide whether to ban the products. In October, CVS Health voluntarily pulled treatments from shelves that contain phenylephrine as their lone active ingredient.