[Promotum] Fwd: drug recall

[Edmund A. Hintz]

     So, just days after the treatise on identifying urban legends, along 
comes an actual, real, verifiable mail asking you to forward it to 
everyone you know... May wonders never cease... FDA link posted first to 
backup the contents of the mail.


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

----------

http://www.drugawareness.org/Archives/1stQtr_2001/021901Urgent.html

 
Urgent Phenylpropanolamine Recall


Several months ago the FDA put out a warning about drugs containing the 
ingredient Phenylpropanolamine found in many common over the counter 
medications. Much to my surprise this information has not been making it
out 
to the general public as rapidly as I feel it should. We, therefore, feel
it 
important to get this to you so that you might protect your families and 
pass the information on to your friends who most likely remain uninformed
as 
well.

Dr. Ann Blake Tracy, Executive Director, International Coalition For Drug 
Awareness 



------------------------------------------------------------------------

>From Dr. Van Beveren:

Dear friends, clients and colleagues:

For several years now I have been warning the public about 
Phenylpropanolamine and its tendency to cause capillary fragility leading
to 
many different ailments depending on where the blood vessels burst. I
first 
noticed this pharmaceutical as Dexatrim as it is one of the trade names 
being used by vet's to treat urinary incontinence in dogs. The warning 
labels always caution you to contact your veterinarian if your pet 
experienced seizures. Big tip off! After many years the FDA is taking 
(very quiet) steps to remove this drug from the GRAS list.

This is the original article that (finally) gave notice to the FDA:

http://www.nejm.org/content/kernan/1.asp 
http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/ppa/default.htm 
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/guaiphen.htm

All drugs containing Phenylpropanolamine are being recalled. I also 
happened to be at Osco Pharmacy and they have a sign stating that all
drugs 
containing Phenylpropanolamine have been pulled from their shelves. 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 
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 (children) seek alternative medicine. The 
following medicine 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 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 
*   -P-ermathene 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
and below in bold

I just called the 800# 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.

Warmly,

Dr. Van Beveren




Peace,

Edmund A. Hintz              **|**     "You may say I'm a dreamer,
Mac Techie, Unix Geek,      *  |  *      But I'm not the only one...
Mac/Unix Consultant        *  /|\  *     I hope someday you'll join us,
<ed@hintz.org>              */ | \*      And the world will live as one.
'78 Westy                    *****      Imagine."
                     http://www.hintz.org