drug recall - take note.

I haven't heard anything about this in Australia but this is from the US-FDA website

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

Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Information Page

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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. 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.

We have received numerous requests for a list of products containing PPA. In response to the request made by FDA in November 2000, many companies have voluntarily reformulated and are continuing to reformulate their products to exclude PPA while FDA proceeds with the regulatory process necessary to remove PPA from the market. Therefore, there 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 Those emails are no longer valid and should be ignored.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. (Paragraph added 2/20/2002)

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.


Products containing PPA include..

> > > > > 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 Relief
> > > > > Triaminic Expectorant Chest & Head
> > > > > Triaminic Syrup Cold & Allergy
> > > > > Triaminic Triaminicol Cold & Cough ....
> > > > >
> > > > >>
> > > > > Orange 3D Cold & Allergy Cherry (Pink)
> > > > > 3D Cold & Cough Berry
> > > > > 3D Cough Relief Yellow 3D Expectorant