important drug information.

This might have been posted before. I just received this email.

Subject: Phenylpropanolamine (PPA)

I would like to thank those of you who expressed condolences on the recent
passing of my mother. She suffered a hemorrhagic stroke while she was
driving home from my house on 9/30 and passed away on 10/3. My
mother's stroke and passing was an enormous shock to my family because she did
not have any symptoms or risk factors for a stroke. Just the week before she
had gone to her doctor for a check up and received a clean bill of health.
She did, however, develop a cold while she was visiting me and had taken
Alka Seltzer Cold Plus for 3 days. Since her passing, we have learned that
Alka Seltzer is one of the many cold medicines that contains
Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) which can cause hemorrhagic stokes or
cerebral bleeding even with the first use. I am forwarding a list of other
medications that currently use PPA. These medicines are supposedly being
recalled but my mother just purchased this medication less than two weeks
ago. Pharmaceutical companies have known about this danger for years,
we unfortunately, did not.

I urge you to review the list of medicines with PPA and avoid these
medications.
Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Nancy Moran-Rice


DRUG RECALL INFORMATION

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 Relief
Triaminic Expectorant Chest & Head
Triaminic Syrup ! ! Cold & amp;am p; 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:

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