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Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Recall - Netlore Archive

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Urban Legends and Folklore [PARA]Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Recall

Netlore Archive: Forwarded emails warning that non-prescription medicines

containing phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride may have adverse health effects

were accurate at the time they were issued but are now mostly outdated

[NL]Description: Email rumor[NL]Circulating since: Nov 2000[NL]Status:

True/Outdated[NL]Analysis: See below

Email example contributed by , 12/06/00: [PARA]You may have heard this,

or noticed that these products have been removed from the shelves.

[PARA]Discard these Medications [PARA]subject: Phenylpropanolamine

[PARA]Stop taking anything containing this ingredient. It has been linked to

increased hemorrhagic 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 recommended that everyone (even children) seek alternative

medicine. The following medications contain Phenylpropanolamine:

[PARA]Alka-Seltzer Plus Children's Cold Medicine Effervescent

[NL]Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold medicine (cherry or orange) [NL]Alka-Seltzer Plus

Cold Medicine Original [NL]Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Cough Medicine

Effervescent [NL]Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Flu Medicine Effervescent

[NL]Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Sinus Effervescent [NL]Alka Seltzer Plus

Nighttime cold Medicine Effervescent [NL]BC Allergy Sinus Cold Powder [NL]BC

Sinus Cold Powder [NL]Comtrex Deep Chest Cold & Congestion Relief

[NL]Comtrex Flu Therapy & Fever Relief Day & Night [NL]Contac 12-Hour Cold

Capsules [NL]Contac 12 Hour Caplets [NL]Coricidin D Cold, Flu & Sinus

[NL]Dimetapp Cold & Allergy Chewable Tablets [NL]Dimetapp Cold & Cough

Liqui-Gels [NL]Dimetapp DM cold & Cough Elixir [NL]Dimetapp Elixir

[NL]Dimetapp 4 Hour Liqui Gels [NL]Dimetapp 4 Hour Tablets [NL]Dimetapp 12

Hour Extentabs Tablets [NL]Naldecon DX Pediatric Drops [NL]Permathene

Mega-16 [NL]Robitussin CF [NL]Tavist-D 12 Hour Relief of Sinus & Nasal

Congestion [NL]Triaminic DM Cough Relief [NL]Triaminic Expectorant Chest &

Head Congestion [NL]Triaminic Syrup Cold & Allergy [NL]Triaminic Triaminicol

Cold & Cough [NL]Acutrim Diet Gum Appetite Suppressant Plus [NL]Dietary

Supplements [NL]Acutrim Maximum Strength Appetite Control [NL]Dexatrim

Caffeine Free [NL]Dexatrim Extended Duration [NL]Dexatrim Gelcaps

[NL]Dexatrim Vitamin C/Caffeine Free [PARA]Please discard any of these

medications as soon as possible

[NL]Update: Most if not all of the products listed above which formerly

contained phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride have been reformulated to

eliminate the ingredient. Consumer questions about phenylpropanolamine and

its potential health hazards may be directed to the U.S. Food and Drug

Administration at 1-888-INFO-FDA. [PARA]Some manufacturers of

over-the-counter medicines containing phenylpropanolamine have offered

refunds to consumers who purchased the products before they were voluntarily

recalled in late 2000. To inquire about the availability of such refunds,

dial the 800-number for consumer questions listed on the product packaging.

[PARA]Comments by Carla Homan: This email has it mostly right. In November

2000, the FDA issued a public health advisory about phenylpropanolamine

hydrochloride (PPA), the drug mentioned in the email. This drug is found in

many over the counter (OTC) medicines, specifically in cold and flu

remedies, as well as appetite suppressants. The drug will likely be banned,

but because this process takes time, the FDA issued the health advisory in

the meantime and manufacturers are voluntarily recalling and/or

reformulating medicines containing PPA. [PARA]The main problem with this

drug is that it elevates your risk of having a hemorrhagic stroke,

especially with (but not limited to) first time use among women. Because the

uses of PPA are not serious enough to warrant taking even that small chance,

the FDA recommends that you stop taking any medications containing the drug.

[PARA]Rather than looking at a limited list such as the one contained in the

above email, you'd be better off checking the package of any cold, flu or

appetite suppressant medication for the drug, which will appear in the list

of active ingredients and may be listed as phenylpropanolamine,

phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride, or phenylpropanolamine bitartrate. Many

manufacturers offer several formulations of their cold and flu remedies,

some of which do not contain PPA. Pseudoephedrine is an effective

alternative to PPA for use in cold and flue preparations, but unfortunately,

there is no approved alternative OTC drug for use in appetite suppressants.

Therefore, if you are using any OTC medications to suppress your appetite

for weight loss or other reasons, you should stop using the medicine and

talk to your doctor about getting a prescription drug instead. Additionally,

some prescription decongestants and cold and flu preparations contain PPA,

so if you are using any prescription medicines for these purposes, talk to

the prescribing doctor to see if you should continue using the medicine.

[PARA]One word of caution: Though the email states your risk is for

" increased hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in brain) among women ages 18-49 in

the three days after starting use of medication, " don't think you are safe

if you've used the drug for longer than three days. The three-day window was

merely one of the guidelines used in the study that prompted the health

advisory; for the study, they defined PPA exposure as having used PPA within

three days prior to the stroke. Risk of stroke may be present after three

days of use. For detailed information, see the final report of the

Hemorrhagic Stroke Project, Web-published by the FDA. [PARA]As always, your

best resources for reliable information on medicines and medical conditions

are your own physician and pharmacist. [PARA][PARA]Email This

Article[PARA][NL]Sources and further reading: [PARA]Public Health Advisory:

PPA[NL]U.S. Food & Drug Administration [PARA]Phenylpropanolamine (PPA)

Information Page[NL]U.S. Food & Drug Administration [PARA][PARA][PARA]Carla

Homan is a writer and researcher based in Washington,

D.C.[PARA][PARA][NL](Last updated: 02/03/05) [PARA][NL]Current Netlore

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Medicine Recall- Important

Date: Sat, 24 Sep 2005 16:21:38 -0700

> > >Medicine Recall

> > >All drugs containing PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE are being

> > recalled.

> > >

> > >You may want to try calling the 800 number listed

> > on most drug boxes and inquire about a REFUND. Please read

> > this

> > >

> > >CAREFULLY. Also, please pass this on to everyone

> > you know.

> > >

> > >> > >

> > >STOP TAKING anything containing this ingredient. It

> > has been

> > >

> > >linked to increased hemorrhagic 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

> > >

> > >recommended that everyone (even children) seek

> > alternative

> > >

> > >medicine. The following medications contain

> > Phenylpropanolamine:

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >Acutrim Diet Gum Appetite Suppressant

> > >

> > >Acutrim 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

> > >

> > >Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Sinus Effervescent

> > >

> > >Alka Seltzer Plus Night-Time Cold Medicine

> > >

> > >BC Allergy Sinus Cold Powder

> > >

> > >BC Sinus Cold Powder

> > >

> > >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 Rel! ief

> > >

> > >Triaminic Expectorant Chest & Head

> > >

> > >Triaminic Syrup Cold & Allergy

> > >

> > >Triaminic Triaminicol Cold & Cough ....

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >I just found out and called the 800# on the

> > container

> > >

> > >for Triaminic and they informed me 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

> > >

> > >> > >

> > >They are asking you to call them at

> > 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. If you know of anyone else with small

> > children,

> > >

> > >PLEASE PASS THIS ON. THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF!

> > >DO PASS ALONG TO ALL ON YOUR MAILING LIST so

> > >

> > >people are informed. They can then pass it along to

> > their families To confirm these findings please take time to check

> > the> > >

> > >following:

> > >> > >> > >

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

> > >

> > >> > >

> > >PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO YOUR CHILDREN IN CASE

> > >

> > >THEY GIVE IT TO THEIR CHILDREN OR TO FRIENDS WHO

> > >

> > >HAVE CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.

Postal address PO Box 3643 San Obispo CA 93403-3643Philippians 2:9-11

Ephesians 4 2 4:18

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