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Tylenol Bulletin

June 30, 2009
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PhenylPropanolAmine
Recall

The Dope On PPA
aka PhenylPropanolAmine
VERIFIED ON WWW.SNOPES.COM

"Within and without all environments,
good health and sustained wellness is
dependant on the rapid removal of waste."
Hari Singh

I received information from a friend whose mother recently passed away. Apparently, her death was caused by a rather common medication. These are the details.

She suffered a hemorrhagic stroke while she was driving home July 30th, and passed away on August 3rd. Just the week before she had gone to her doctor for a check up. She received a clean bill of health. She developed a cold thereafter and then took Alka Seltzer Cold Plus for 3 days.

After her passing, it was learned that Alka Seltzer is one of the many cold medicines that contains Phenylpropanolamine (PPA), which can cause hemorrhagic strokes or cerebral bleeding, even with their first use. See the list of other medications that currently use PPA below.

It appears that pharmaceutical companies have known about this danger for years. PPA has been linked to increased hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in brain) among women ages 18-49 within three days after starting use of the substance. Problems have not been found in men, but the Food and Drug Administration, FDA, recommended that everyone (even children) seek alternative medicine.

WARNING: The FDA has announced a recall of ALL drug products containing the substance known as PPA (PhenylPropanolAmine). Consumers are urged to call the toll free number listed on most of these containers and make inquiry about the status of the following 35 products.

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 and Cough Medicine Effervescent

Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold and Flu Medicine

Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold and Sinus Effervescent

Alka Seltzer Plus Night-Time Cold Medicine

BC Allergy Sinus Cold Powder

BC Sinus Cold Powder

Comtrex Flu Therapy and Fever Relief

Day and Night Contac 12-Hour Cold Capsules

Contac 12 Hour Caplets

Coricidin D Cold, Flu and Sinus

Dexatrim Caffeine Free

Dexatrim Extended Duration

Dexatrim Gelcaps

Dexatrim Vitamin C-Caffeine Free

Dimetapp Cold and Allergy Chewable Tablets

Dimetapp Cold and Cough Liqui-Gels

Dimetapp DM Cold and 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 and Nasal Congestion

Triaminic DM Cough Relief

Triaminic Expectorant Chest and Head

Triaminic Syrup Cold and Allergy

Triaminic Triaminicol Cold and Cough

SPECIAL ALERT: The makers of Triaminic have also announced their voluntary recall of the following 3 additional medicines because of a certain ingredient that is believed to cause strokes and seizures in children:

Orange 3D Cold & Allergy Cherry (Pink)

3D Cold & Cough Berry

3D Cough Relief Yellow 3D Expectorant

Consumers are asked to call 1-800-548-3708 with the lot number on the box for a refund.

Check out this article here at Snopes.com.