Disclosed are compositions including phenylephrine, its free and addition salt forms, and mixtures thereof, alone, or in combination with other pharmaceutical actives. The compositions have a pH of about 2 to about 5 and are substantially free of aldehydes. Also disclosed are methods of treating respiratory illness through administration of a composition comprising phenylephrine, its free and addition salt forms, and mixtures thereof alone, or in combination with other pharmaceutical actives, wherein the composition has a pH of from about 2 to about 5 and is substantially free of aldehydes.