****ATTENTION****Please Read

[Griz]

I got this in a e-mail this morning and thought I had better posted this for all to read.

Subject: Drug 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 the brain) among women ages 18-49 in the three days after starting use of medication. Problems were not found in men; however, the FDA recommended that everyone (even children) seek an alternative medicine.

The following medications contain Phenylpropanolamine:

Acutrim Diet Gum Appetite Suppressant

Acutrim Plus Dietary Supplements

Acu trim 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

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 Relief

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 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.

If you know of anyone else with small children, PLEASE PASS THIS ON.

THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF!

DO PASS THIS 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:

URL: Phenylpropanolamine Information Page http://wwwfda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/ppa/default.htm

PPA Alert

[billygoat]

Re: ****ATTENTION****Please Read

Hey griz... thanks for the heads up!

Actually, the FDA notified drug companies back in 2000 of the problem with PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE but they didn't do a mandatory recall until 2003, however most companies have already removed the drug from most of there products.

Best bet is to read the drug ingredient on packaging... and if PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE is listed... call the 800 number!

[LifeNRA]

Re: ****ATTENTION****Please Read

Thanks for the heads up! But I cant believe that is still floating around!!!

[dogdoc]

Re: ****ATTENTION****Please Read

griz--that is about 2 years old. we use the drug in in dogs to help with urinary incontinence. When the drug was originally pulled we had big time trouble finding it. But recently a new animal drug company was able to market it with a vet label only---so we have it back now. does not cause any problems in dogs.

todd

[whitetailkiller]

Re: ****ATTENTION****Please Read

wow thanx for the heads up!!!!!!!

[Shaun_300]

Re: ****ATTENTION****Please Read

good to know griz, thanks man!

[JimT]

Re: ****ATTENTION****Please Read

thanks!!!

[TreeStandBowHunter]

Re: ****ATTENTION****Please Read

I guess I am soon going to die

[johnf]

Re: ****ATTENTION****Please Read

Claim: Drug products containing PPA (phenylpropanolamine) were pulled from the market due to FDA concerns that PPA may cause strokes.

Status: True.

Example: [Collected on the Internet, 2000]

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED!! The FDA has announced a recall of all drug products containing PPA (phenylpropanolamine). The AAFES stock assortment contains 23 products containing this drug (see below) .... ALL MUST BE PULLED FROM SALE IMMEDIATELY and placed in controlled storage pending disposition instructions. In addition, customers presenting unused quantities of these items purchased from AAFES may be given full refunds. Locally printed signs will be placed as follows:

CRC Description

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

5252333 ALKA-SELTZER PLUS

1350966 TAVIST-D

7388036 TRIAMINIC TRIAMINICOL

9175688 CONTACT SEVERE COLD 16 CT

1190814 COMTREX DEEP CHEST 24 CT

7533225 DEXATRIM XS W/VIT C

6400584 DEXATRIM EXT DURATION (PHASE-OUT STATUS)

3131711 ACCUTRIM MAXIMUM STRENGTH

1307750 DIMETAPP DM COUGH/COLD

3028438 DIMETAPP ELIXER

1216522 ALKA SELTZER PLUS COLD LIQUID

3709664 ALKA SELTZER PLUS NIGHT TIME (PHASE OUT STATUS)

5275920 ALKA SELTZER PLUS ORANGE

3782000 ALKA SELTZER PLUS TABS

3509700 ALKA SELTZER PLUS NIGHT TIME TABS

7730608 AAFES TUSSIN CF COUGH FORMULA 4 OZ.

8515727 AAFES DIMAPHEN ELIXIR 4 OZ.

8093916 AAFES EFFERVESCENT COLD RELIEF 36 COUNT

3024833 AAFES DIET CAPLETS

8147803 PERMATHENE-16

3247319 ROBITUSSIN CF COUGH SYRUP

3114808 COMTREX MULTI SYMPTOM

3377900 SINE OFF SINUS

This recall action is mandatory and should be accomplished as soon as possible. Report compliance to respective Region retail offices via TAO. Contact CARTERRE with questions.

Origins: On

6 November 2000, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning that phenylpropanolamine, an ingredient found in many over-the-counter cold medications and diet aids, may cause strokes and thus should be avoided. Although the FDA did not issue a mandatory recall of PPA-containing products, they asked drug manufacturers to voluntarily stop selling products containing PPA and provide safer alternatives. As a result, most products that formerly included PPA have now been discontinued or reformulated without PPA while the FDA proceeds with the regulatory process necessary to remove all PPA-containing products from the market.

The list of products cited in the e-mail quoted above is three years out of date, and as the FDA has noted:

[T]here is no comprehensive, updated list available from FDA. FDA is aware of emails circulating widely that list many products allegedly containing PPA. Those emails are no longer valid and should be ignored. Please read the labels of OTC products to determine if they contain PPA.

The FDA is answering PPA questions toll-free at (888) INFO-FDA. A direct line, although it is not toll-free, is (301) 827-4570. The FDA also has a Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Information Page available on their web site. The FDA has advised that consumers go through their medicine cabinets, paying special attention to cold remedies and diet aids, and discard any medications that list phenylpropanolamine as one of their ingredients.

According to the FDA, "Although the risk of hemorrhagic stroke is very low, FDA recommends that consumers not use any products that contain PPA." The FDA warning came as a result of a May 2000 study conducted at Yale University School of Medicine, in which the Hemorrhagic Stroke Project found PPA to increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke, a type of stroke characterized by bleeding in the brain. In October 2000, an FDA advisory committee confirmed the findings in the Yale study published by The New England Journal of Medicine, which suggested that PPA could raise the risk of stroke even in young people aged 18 to 49.

Not everyone is convinced that PPA poses nearly as much of a threat to consumers as claimed, and some critics have maintained the withdrawal was initiated by an overly cautious FDA based on flawed studies

Barbara "better a head cold than six-feet-deep cold" Mikkelson

Additional information:

PPA Info Sheet (FDA)

Q&A on PPA (FDA)

Last updated: 12 December 2002

The URL for this page is http://www.snopes.com/medical/drugs/ppa.asp

Click here to e-mail this page to a friend

[puffy]

Re: ****ATTENTION****Please Read

Thanks Griz! I appreciate the info.

[elkoholic]

Re: ****ATTENTION****Please Read

While this is old news, I would like to make a comment on this. Phenylpropanolamine had been on the market for many years with little more than minor side affects and then it became a popular ingredient in weight loss products, which are used mostly by women. After the death of several popular fashion models it was linked to hemorrhagic stroke. The real problem was the thought that if one is good then two is better and so on. If used for it's intended purpose and for the recommended length of time, there is little danger with this medication, but unfortunately it was pulled from the market forcing the reformulation of many products intended to reduce the symtoms of the common cold. Remember, every medication has possible side effects (even herbal treatments) and when abused will cause problems. Tylenol (acetaminaphen) will kill you if you take enough of it, but thankfully it does not promote weight loss, increase virility, grow hair or promote any other human desired side affect.