Subject: You or your family may have this medication in your home - Beware Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 22:42:23 EDT Please take time to read the following recall notice. It has been verified and is not a hoax. Phenylpropanolamine. Wanted to share the following message that was sent to me: 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, as I know that some of you may USE some of these drugs (Alka Seltzer Plus for one). 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 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 Contac 12-Hour Day & Night Cold Capsules Contac 12 Hour Caplets Coricidin D Cold, Flu & Sinus Dexatrim Caffeine Free Dexatrim Extended Duration Coricidin D Cold, Flu & Sinus Dexatrim Gelcaps Dexatrim Vitamin C/Caffeine Free Dimetapp Cold & Allergy Chewable Tablets Dimetapp Cold & Cough Liqui-Gels Dimetapp DM Cold & Cough 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 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 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: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/ppa/default.htm ........................................................................ Food and Drug Administration Public Health Advisory Subject: Safety of Phenylpropanolamine November 6, 2000 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a public health advisory concerning phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride. This drug is widely used as a nasal decongestant (in over-the-counter and prescription drug products) and for weight control (in over-the-counter drug products). FDA is taking steps to remove phenylpropanolamine from all drug products and has requested that all drug companies discontinue marketing products containing phenylpropanolamine. Phenylpropanolamine has been marketed for many years. A recent study reported that taking phenylpropanolamine 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 phenylpropanolamine. FDA's Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee (NDAC) recently discussed this study and other information on phenylpropanolamine. NDAC determined that there is an association between phenylpropanolamine and hemorrhagic stroke and recommended that phenylpropanolamine not be considered safe for over-the-counter use. Although this risk of hemorrhagic stroke is very low, FDA has significant concerns because of the seriousness of a stroke and the inability to predict who is at risk. FDA does not consider the conditions for which phenylpropanolamine is used (over-the-counter or by prescription) as justifying the risk of this serious event. Other products are available for use. In the meantime, consumers can identify over-the-counter cough-cold, nasal decongestant, and weight control products containing this ingredient by looking for "phenylpropanolamine" in the list of active ingredients on the label. Consumers can check with their health care provider or pharmacistto see whether their prescription cough-cold or nasal decongestant product contains phenylpropanolamine. We advise consumers to discuss alternative over-the-counter and prescription products with their health care providers or pharmacists.