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This week in FDA history.This weekly feature from 2006, the FDA's centennial year, highlights history and progress in the agency's first 100 years.A sampling of significant events in the Food and Drug Administration's first 100 years.
Photo of three types of nasal inhalers containing basic amphetamine - from the www.AddictionScience.net collection
February 10, 1959:
FDA announces that nasal inhalers containing basic amphetamine may now be sold only by prescription. Previously this product (used for relieving nasal congestion) had been sold directly to the public.
Michael A. Bozarth, Ph.D., State University of New York at Buffalo

FDA in 2006

Basic amphetamine has been replaced by safer, more effective prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) products for relieving nasal congestion. The FDA monitors more than 100,000 OTC drug products, containing about 800 significant active ingredients. Most OTC drug products have been sold for many years, prior to the laws that require proof of safety and effectiveness
before marketing. Through its OTC Drug Review Program, the FDA evaluates the ingredients and labeling of these products and establishes monographs for each class of product. OTC drug monographs are a kind of "recipe book" covering acceptable ingredients, doses, formulations, labeling, and testing.
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