BS: Throw Away These Recalled Medicines!!

Subject: BS: Throw Away These Recalled Medicines!!
From: Azizi
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 12:47 PM

I usually disregard forwarded email, but I got this last night from a health care professional and felt I should pass it on:

BE SURE TO READ THIS !!!
> >
> >   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 Exten! tabs Tablets
> >   Naldecon DX Pediatric Drops
> >   Permathene Mega-16
> >   Robitussin CF
> >   Tavist-D 12 Hour Relief of Sinus & Nasal
> >   Congestion
> >   Triaminic DM Cough Rel! ief
> >   Triaminic Expectorant Chest & Head
> >   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:
> >
> >    http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/ppa/
> >
> >   PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO YOUR CHILDREN IN CASE THEY GIVE IT TO
      THEIR CHILDREN OR TO FRIENDS WHO HAVE CHILDREN AND
      GRANDCHILDREN.
> >
> >Thanks for reading this. Please pass this on.

****

I've used a number of medicines on that list. And since earlier this week I had an allergic reaction to a pain reliever that was prescribed for me after a dental visit, I'm determined to be even more careful about what medicine my family and I take.

Has anyone else heard about this recall? Are there other recalls that we should know about?

Subject: RE: BS: Throw Away These Recalled Medicines!!
From: Peace
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 12:57 PM

I read this years ago, but it's good for people to be reminded.

Subject: RE: BS: Throw Away These Recalled Medicines!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 01:03 PM

This is very old news, and for some people, that medicine was the only effective one they could use, so not everyone was happy when that was taken off of the market. The incidences of any side effects from the PPA (the short name for phenylpropanolamine) were scarce and it is still available by Rx because it still is a very good drug. By now all of the old OTC Dimetapp and such with the stuff should have expired and been tossed anyway. Don't toss your current Dimetapp, it doesn't contain PPA.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Throw Away These Recalled Medicines!!
From: Peace
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 01:08 PM

http://www.snopes.com/medical/drugs/ppa.asp

The info is true but outdated as noted above. See the Snopes article at this link.

Subject: RE: BS: Throw Away These Recalled Medicines!!
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 01:15 PM

I actually have some Lemsip with that in it.

That particular ingredient wasn't found to casue seizures in average women at all. It was an ingredient in popular over-the-counter appetite supresssants and it seemed that eating-disordered women were popping them like candy and THEY were the ones most likely to have seizures. Proper use of cold medications was not considered a danger but to be on the safe side, all medcines including that ingredient were pulled from store shelves. So it's not quite like the Tylenol/Cyanide scare. Better safe than sorry I suppose.

UKers may still have some old Lemsip or Chesty Cough on their shelves with that ingredient. It might be wise to look. Both products were reformulated over 6 years ago to include the same innefectual crap that's in Sudafed.

Subject: RE: BS: Throw Away These Recalled Medicines!!
From: Bill D
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 01:27 PM

PPA is in the same general situation as cyclamates...there is 'some' statistical evidence of problems, but MUCH disagreement on whether the benefits outweigh the problems. I wouldn't throw out anything that is still good, and I'll just assume whatever I buy off the shelf follows the latest guidelines.

(and I would cheerfully use sweetners with cyclamates if they'd bring 'em back!)

Subject: RE: BS: Throw Away These Recalled Medicines!!
From: Metchosin
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 01:32 PM

I would think that Dextromethorphan or DM, should be more of a concern. We were advised by a friend who was a physician in the US, not to use any cold remedy that contained it.

According to him, when DM was incorporated into over the counter cold remedies as a cough suppressant, the incidence of pneumonia in adults in the US went through the roof, although he said it has proved very profitable for the American medical business.

He advised us, if needed, to use an expectorant to loosen congestion in the lungs that the body is trying to get rid of, not keep the crap in there.

Subject: RE: BS: Throw Away These Recalled Medicines!!
From: artbrooks
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 01:35 PM

Very old news. See the Snopes article that Brucie linked to...and don't necessarily stop using your favorite patent medicine because of this "recall" without checking the ingredient list. Most that did contain this were reformulated years ago.

Subject: RE: BS: Throw Away These Recalled Medicines!!
From: Rapparee
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 02:29 PM

My cough medicines contain either codeine or hydrocodone (if it's REALLY bad). I can't take DM because it can interact with a prescribed medication I take.

Subject: RE: BS: Throw Away These Recalled Medicines!!
From: Peace
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 02:39 PM

The recall was voluntary (if memory serves). I think PPA is still available in some medications including OTC, so check the label before purchase.

Subject: RE: BS: Throw Away These Recalled Medicines!!
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 03:56 PM

Most of the cited medicines are still (or back) on the shelves in retail stores, mostly without prescription - at least in my area.

A note for the environmentally concerned, though: Reports from about the same era as the original warning above noted that casually discarded medicines can be toxic to the environment. The particular references were to discarded hormone and birth control medications, with the added note that many other common medicines may have "hormonal" effects on wildlife, especially aquatic ones. It makes the little fishies fail to reproduce normally, and has been blamed for a couple of instances of 5-legged frogs.

If you have medicines to get rid of, the recommendation is that you do NOT just dump them down the drain. Take them to your pharmacist, and request that he dispose of them properly.

And then he'll just dump them down the drain (just a guess).

John

Subject: RE: BS: Throw Away These Recalled Medicines!!
From: Azizi
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 04:14 PM

Thanks for the responses.

I have to wonder why I was sent this email yesterday from a woman who works for a University health outreach program. The email asked that this email be forwarded like it was recent news.

I'll share the information you have provided with her.

But I still am going to go through my medicine cabinet to read the labels and possibly disgard some items-One way or the other.

Again, thanks for cooling me out. I will try not to over-react if I get such emails in the future.


Azizi

Subject: RE: BS: Throw Away These Recalled Medicines!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 04:24 PM

Another great place to check out mail urged to be forwarded is truthorfiction.com.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Throw Away These Recalled Medicines!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 05:03 PM

As I recall the removal of PPA was voluntary in that the FDA didn't force it, but the prospect of panic is why commercial companies chose to make it disappear. I had an Rx for something with it and my mail order prsecription company said they would no longer fill it! You can still get medications with a prescription that have PPA, and it is very effective.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Throw Away These Recalled Medicines!!
From: Peace
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 05:15 PM

"The FDA recommends that consumers read the labels of OTC drug products to determine if the product contains PPA. The Agency believes this to be the most accurate method for determining the PPA content of OTC products rather than providing an incomplete or out-of-date list of products that may have already been reformulated and no longer contain PPA. (Introduction updated 03/07/03)"

This is from a page that was updated February 19, 2004, thus making it sound like there still might be some OTC with phenylpropanolamine. Whether it is that way or not, read the label and be sure.

Subject: RE: BS: Throw Away These Recalled Medicines!!
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 05:26 PM

When you take out-dated medicines to your chemist to 'waste', he/she puts them in a special container that can only be disposed of according the local laws, at least they do here in the US. They do NOT toss them down the drain. They can get heavily fined for doing that.

When I worked for a group of doctors in Marketing, they encouraged all employees to bring in unused medications and expired meds so they could be disposed of them in the same manner. It's a red plastic container that says 'Medical Waste' and all sorts of things go in there, including medications. Sharps go into special Sharps containers. A contractor comes and hauls them away.

By all means, take medicines to your chemist for proper disposal.

Subject: RE: BS: Throw Away These Recalled Medicines!!
From: Donuel
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 09:16 PM

Most medicines go down the drain anyway. Many medicines like Prozac pass through the kidneys virtually unchanged. Tests on drinking water have shown dectectable levels of Prozac even after water treatment.

Subject: RE: BS: Throw Away These Recalled Medicines!!
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 09:57 PM

Actually I am aware of some of the special disposal methods used by pharmacists, and was only joking about them dumping them down the drain. The point is that they are expected to be familiar with current procedures for proper disposal, and can make informed decisions about which materials can be tossed and which ones require special handling.

The point about "most medicines go down the drain anyway" is valid. The "byproduct" metabolites from medications are a concern both to environmentalists and epidemiologists. Partially metabolized antibiotics have been blamed for a couple of resistant organisms that have caused at least localized concern, and the "body waste" hormone residuals were cited in one "explanation" (not fully accepted?) for the mutant frogs.

Many places do have "toxic waste" disposal points; but they're seldom accessible easily enough to be as useful as they should for the disposal of quite a lot of "innocent" trash like paints, solvents, some aerosol products, mineral oil products, and batteries, all of which are dangerous when dumped in ordinary "sanitary waste" facilities.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Throw Away These Recalled Medicines!!
From: Peace
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 10:14 PM

Many hazmats are disposed of by burning.

Subject: RE: BS: Throw Away These Recalled Medicines!!
From: Peace
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 11:05 PM

Face facts, however. Ya got three places to put garbage: Earth, Air, Water.

Subject: RE: BS: Throw Away These Recalled Medicines!!
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 23 Apr 05 - 07:26 AM

Metchosin, your physician friend who advised you to use an expectorant for a cough must be as old as I am...but may not read as much. Extensive clinical studies done on expectorants (the most common is guaifenesin, formerly called glyceryl guaiacolate, the main ingredient in plain Robitussin and other Robitussin branded products) have shown that they have no effect on cough or sputum production.

If you want to keep things flowing, the best expectorant to take is...[drum roll]...water.

Rapaire, I'm not sure why dextromethorphan would interact with your prescribed medication, but not codeine and hydrocodone, since they're all derivatives of morphine.

And John, you're correct that most of those OTC medications are back on the shelves...but they've been reformulated without phenylpropanolamine.

Speaking of OTC medicines in general, one of my big complaints is the development of "brand families" of medications. Back in the old days when I was first in practice (way back in the early 80's), there was Tylenol, Dimetapp, Sudafed, Actifed, etc., and I knew what was in each one. A few of them did have "families", but each different one had a specific suffix: Robitussin, Robitussin-DM, Robitussin-CF, for example. Nowadays, if my patient tells me they've been giving their child "Tylenol" I don't know if it's plain acetaminophen, or a decongestant, or an antihistamine/decongestant combination, or what. Another example of marketing trumping common sense and safety.

Aloha,
Mark