Read Labels for Phenylpropanolamine (PPA)

Yesterday I received the following warning about Phenylpropanolamine from my friend Deb. She had gotten it as part of a web newsletter from her health insurer.

FDA Recalls Weight Loss Drugs and Cold Medicines

All drugs containing PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE are being recalled.
It is advised to 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 recommends 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 or ange)
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 L iquid 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
Triaminic Syrup Cold & Allergy
Triaminic Triaminicol Cold & Cough

Also, Triaminic said 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

Source: http://www.fda , http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/ppa

I was alarmed by the report and begin investigating. PPA has been around for decades. Reports of hemorrhagic strokes to women who took PPA began in the 1970s. Even though the FDA question the safety of PPA for 20 years, drug manufacturers argued its safety. Finally, drug manufacturers and FDA agreed to a study to be conducted by an independent research outfit. The 1999 study by Yale School of Medicine confirmed that PPA caused a significant increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke in people who use it, especially women. The FDA advised drug manufacturers to stop making PPA in 2000. In 2005 the FDA removed PPA from over-the-counter sale. The drug is still available for dogs.

What does this mean for me?

Just to be clear (and I know everyone knows this already), I am not a medical expert. I have no capacity to advise people about drugs. The action I am taking on PPA is to look at the active and inactive ingredients on all drugs in my medicine cabinet. Though PPA should only be in old drugs that should have expired and been disposed of long ago, I want to be sure Mike and I are safe.

New drugs should not contain PPA. The ones I checked contained Phenylephrine, the most common over-the-counter decongestant. Read the labels, be safe, and be healthy.

For further reading:
Case Study of Lawsuits, by Richard Clapp
Doubt is Their Product, by David Michaels
Phenylpropanolamine, Wikipedia
Phenylephrine, Wikipedia