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PPA Phenylpropanolamine

Manufacturers of some of the world's most respected cold and cough medications have been reeling recently from the fallout of the Food and Drug Administration's finding that the primary ingredient in many popular over-the-counter drugs, Phenylpropanolamine or "PPA," may be unreasonably dangerous. PPA is used in such popular cold medicines as Contac 12, Alka Seltzer Plus, Tavist-D, Triaminic, Dimetapp, Robitussin, and Triaminic. PPA is also found in weight loss products such as Dexatrim and Acutrim.

The FDA's studies have shown an increased risk of stroke associated with PPA. While currently the PPA recall is voluntary, the FDA is in the process of formulating an official and mandatory policy to ban PPA within the next several months. PPA has been associated with strokes in women under 50. Most of the strokes began with a severe headache, stiff neck, and some loss of consciousness. The headaches are often precursors to stroke and can occur several days before the full onset of stroke. Although rare, the strokes caused by PPA are likely to be severe and fatal. Many of the young women who experienced a stroke did so after only one dose of Phenylpropanolamine or PPA. The FDA estimates that annually between 200 and 500 strokes are associated with using products that contain PPA. Typically, the stroke occurs within three days of ingesting PPA. The most likely type of stroke associated with PPA is referred to as the hemorrhagic stroke, which involves bleeding in the brain.

Some name brand products that contain PPA include:

Acutrim 16-Hour Tablets

Acutrim Gum

Acutrim Max Tablets

Alka Seltzer Plus Children's

Alka Seltzer Plus Cold & Cough

Alka Seltzer Plus Cold

Alka Seltzer Plus Cold Cherry

Alka Seltzer Plus Cold Orange

Alka Seltzer Plus Cold/Sinus

Alka Seltzer Plus Cough/Cold

Alka Seltzer Plus Flu Tabs

Alka Seltzer Plus NT

Alka Seltzer Plus Sinus

BC Allergy Sinus Powder

Comtrex Deep Chest

Comtrex Flu Day/Night

Comtrex ND Liquigel

Contac Capsules

Coricidin C Tabs

Dexatrim Caffeine Free Caplet

Dexatrim Caplet with C

Dexatrim EX Duration Tab

Dexatrim EX Duration Tablet

Dexatrim Gelcaps

Dimetapp Chew Tabs

Dimetapp Cold & Cough

Dimetapp DM Elixir

Dimetapp Elixir

Dimetapp Extentabs

Dimetapp Quick Tabs

Dimetapp 4-Hour Liquigels

Naldcn-Dx Adult Syrup

Naldcn-Dx Child Syrup

Naldcn-Dx Drops

Permathene-16 Hour Tablet

Robitussin CF

Tavist D

Tavist D Tablets

Thinz Span Capsules

Triaminic Chest & Congestion

Triaminic Cough

Triminic Cold & Allergy

Triminicol C & C

 
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