Phenylpropanolamine Dangers

[Guest guest]

This message from the official FDA (Food & Drug Admin) webpage is well worth

reading and mentioning to others:

<http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/ppa/default.htm>

Some extracts follow:

<Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Information Page

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking steps to remove

phenylpropanolamine (PPA) from all drug products and has requested that all

drug companies discontinue marketing products containing PPA. In addition,

FDA has issued a public health advisory concerning phenylpropanolamine

hydrochloride. This drug is an ingredient used in many over-the-counter (OTC)

and prescription cough and cold medications as a decongestant and in OTC

weight loss products.

Scientists at Yale University School of Medicine recently issued a report

entitled " Phenylpropanolamine & Risk of Hemorrhagic Stroke: Final Report of

the Hemorrhagic Stroke Project. " This study reports that taking PPA

increases the risk of hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding into the brain or into

tissue surrounding the brain) in women. Men may also be at risk. Although

the risk of hemorrhagic stroke is very low, FDA recommends that consumers not

use any products that contain PPA.

FDA's Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee recently discussed this Yale

study along with additional information on phenylpropanolamine. The Advisory

Committee determined that there is an association between PPA and hemorrhagic

stroke. It recommended that PPA be considered not safe for over-the-counter

use....>

Additional Comments from another source:

Some 35 of these medications are listed below. You may want to try calling

the 800 number listed on most drug boxes and inquire about a REFUND.

You should STOP TAKING anything containing this ingredient immediately! It

has been linked to increased haemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in brain) among

women ages 18-49 in the three days after starting use of medication.

Problems were not found in men, but the FDA is recommending that everyone

(even children) seek alternative medicine.

The following is a partial list of medications that all contain

Phenylpropanolamine:

Acutrim Diet Gum Appetite Suppressant Plus Dietary Supplements

Acutrim Maximum Strength Appetite Control

Alka-Seltzer Plus Children's Cold Medicine Effervescent

Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold medicine (cherry or orange)

Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine Original

Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Cough Medicine Effervescent

Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Flu Medicine Effervescent

Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Sinus Effervescent

Alka Seltzer Plus Night-Time Cold Medicine Effervescent

BC Allergy Sinus Cold Powder

BC Sinus Cold Powder

Comtrex Deep Chest Cold & Congestion Relief

Comtrex Flu Therapy & Fever Relief Day & Night

Contac 12-Hour Cold Capsules

Contac 12 Hour Caplets

Coricidin D Cold, Flu & Sinus

Dexatrim Caffeine Free

Dexatrim Extended Duration

Dexatrim Gelcaps

Dexatrim Vitamin C/Caffeine Free

Dimetapp Cold & Allergy Chewable Tablets

Dimetapp Cold & Cough Liqui-Gels

Dimetapp DM Cold & Cough Elixir

Dimetapp Elixir

Dimetapp 4 Hour Liquid Gels

Dimetapp 4 Hour Tablets

Dimetapp 12 Hour Extentabs Tablets

Naldecon DX Pediatric Drops

Permathene Mega-16

Robitussin CF

Tavist-D 12 Hour Relief of Sinus & Nasal Congestion

Triaminic DM Cough Relief

Triaminic Expectorant Chest & Head Congestion

Triaminic Syrup Cold & Allergy

Triaminic Triaminicol Cold & Cough

A colleague who called the 800# on the container for Triaminic and they

informed him that they are voluntarily recalling the following medicines

because of a certain ingredient that is causing strokes and seizures in

children:

Orange 3D Cold & Allergy Cherry (Pink)

3D Cold & Cough Berry

3D Cough Relief

Yellow 3D Expectorant

Triaminic is asking that you call them at 800-548-3708 with the lot number on

the box so they can send you postage for you to send it back to them, and

they will also issue you a refund...

-------------------

Dr Mel C Siff

Denver, USA

Supertraining/

[Guest guest]

> The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking steps to remove

> phenylpropanolamine (PPA) from all drug products and has requested

> that all drug companies discontinue marketing products containing PPA.

Do we have any evidence that the other stimulants replacing PPA (e.g.

ephedrine) are significantly safer? Given that PPA is often used by the

obese and those with eating disorders -- like many decongestants, it's also

a diet pill -- I'm not sure what conclusions I'd draw about its safety.

Matt Madsen

Wayne, PA

_________________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I looked over the study published by yale medical school on PPA. I am no

expert, but I thought that the study was very poorly done and drew

unsupported conclusions. From what I gathered it showed a group of about 40

teenage women who used PPA as a diet pill and/or antihistamine (and possibly

abused on the diet pill end, I have seen it among my friends) who had brain

hemmorages. What do the people who have looked over the study think of the

conclusions drawn?

Dahms

Boston, MA