Dangerous Over the Counter Drugs
Hi Everyone,
I am passing this on to all of you because I think it is important to know. An alert (as Dave Barry would say) patient sent this information to me:
It’s about a medication that is familiar to many of us. Note also the FDA ’s comments at the end of the message sent by someone whose mother recently passed away. Here are the details of her death as they are pertinent to this information.
The woman in question developed a cold while visiting this person and had taken Alka Seltzer Cold Plus for 3 days. She suffered a hemorrhagic stroke while she was driving home from that visit and passed away 4 days later. This woman’s stroke was particularly surprising because the week before she had gone to her doctor for a check up and received a clean bill of health.
Since her passing, we have 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 the first use.
I am forwarding a list of other medications that currently use PPA. These medicines are supposedly being recalled but this medication was purchased less than two weeks ago (in July). Pharmaceutical companies have known about this danger for years, the family of the deceased, did not.
I urge you to review the list of medicines with PPA and avoid these medications.
All drugs containing PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE are dangerous. 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 l inked to increased hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in the brain) among women ages 18-49 in the three days after starting use of medication. Problems have not been 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 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 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
Being somewhat skeptical, I looked on Snopes and found that this was legitimate, however, very dated information. As of 2000 the FDA put out an advisory about PPA but not an outright recall. They suggested checking your OTC medications for this chemical and avoiding it. It is unfortunate and fairly criminal that this woman purchased a product containing this substance after that advisory was sent out. Obviously the pharmacy was not paying attention. It just goes to show the level of vigilance necessary to protect oneself in these modern times. It also illustrates the lack of care for the individual exhibited by large corporations. And it suggests that alternatives have another point in their favor: safety.
I hope that you have already seen this email warning and can just delete it. I hope that if that is not the case you will check your meds for PPA and dispose of them, if it is found as an ingredient. Please be safe. Have a Happy Christmas!
Ellen Potthoff, D.C., N.D.
925-603-7300
natdoc@jps.net
Enjoy Your Holidays! Come Hear Me Sing!
We are certainly in the thick of the holidays now. All the TV, newspaper and magazine advertising is Christmas oriented. Christmas trees are popping up in peoples’ homes and on car tops in transit. Multi-colored and white lights are blooming on the rooftops and front lawns.
Christmas has always been my favorite holiday, so what I experience is the magic, the beautiful images; the dreamlike, ethereal quality; the lights illuminating the lengthening darkness hours; the once a year smells, sights, sounds and tastes; secrets, whispers, plots and plans. While I am an avowed Christmas fanatic, I have found over the years that the more busy commercial aspect of Christmas has caused my fanaticism to wane somewhat. Since that didn’t really sit well, I determined to change my experience.
My strategy has been to start my holiday preparations a little earlier and plan a little more every year. That way, I ensure (at least a bit more) that I really enjoy the holidays. I get closer to pure holiday bliss every year. The turning point in my Christmas experience was reading Unplug the Christmas Machine: A Complete Guide to Putting Love and Joy Back into the Season by Jo Robinson, and Jean C. Staeheli. The crux of the book: Too many people place unnecessary stress upon themselves during the holidays because they try to create the perfect Christmas for family and friends, or because they try to live up to an unrealistic vision of what the holiday should be. In many cases, this leads to over-spending, and post-holiday debts.
For these reasons, it is important for people to take an inventory of the things that are most important to them during the holidays. In creating this list, people should keep in mind the things that bring them peace and joy during the holidays (and the things that don’t!). Preparing a huge holiday meal for family and friends might bring some people great joy, while causing others anxiety. Look at your family’s holiday traditions and the ways you’ve prepared for the holidays in the past. Is there some tradition that really isn’t necessary, takes too much preparation, or is too costly? Maybe you’ve always held a neighborhood Christmas party. If you’re dreading it this year, think about foregoing the party, or ask a neighbor to host it instead.
Along with taking an inventory of traditions, prepare a list of the family and friends you are planning to give gifts to this year. Are there some people on that list who could be omitted? Maybe it is time your extended family started giving gifts only to the children in the family, or held a lottery. Once you’ve narrowed your list down, place an estimated dollar amount next to their name to indicate the amount you are willing to spend on that person. Finally, analyze past holiday expenditures and try to estimate how much you will spend this year, and then create a holiday budget. Along with gift giving, don’t forget to include the cost of gift wrapping and mailing packages, travel expenses, higher entertainment costs, new holiday clothing, and decorations. Again, consider eliminating the things that seem unnecessary.
The goal of making a holiday inventory is not to make you feel you should forego cherished traditions, but to help you prioritize the things that are most important to you during this special season. Most people will discover that spending time with family and friends is more important that extravagant gifts or fattening feasts. You will be able to enjoy a happier, more carefree holiday by eliminating some of the unnecessary obligations and costs of the holiday season.
After reading the book, I realized that the most important things about Christmas for me (besides being with friends and family) were the music, smells/sights of Christmas and, secondarily, the foods. I have eliminated not only the things I really didn’t care for, but also the guilt associated with not doing them well. I still manage to do the things I need to do, even if I would prefer not to. I plan them early and leave plenty of time to do them along with the things I really want to do. I manage, therefore, to get through the whole season, without a lot of stress, and to enjoy myself immensely, doing all the things I really enjoy.
To that end, you are invited to come hear me sing Beethoven’s 9th on New Year’s Eve and Day in the city.
Annual New Year’s Concert and Champagne Reception
Ludwig van Beethoven, “Symphony No. 9 – Ode to Joy”
Soloists:
Anja Strauss, Soprano
Kristine Sinajon, Mezzo-Soprano
John Davey-Hatcher, Tenor
Kittinant Chinsamran, Bass-baritone
St. Mary’s Cathedral
1111 Gough Street at Geary Blvd.
San Francisco, CA 94109-6686
8:00 pm. Dec. 31st or 4:00 pm. Jan 1st 2009
For more information: http://www.sfsinfonietta.org
I hope you have a wonderful, dreamy, peaceful and exquisitely enjoyable holiday season!!
Ellen Potthoff, D.C., N.D.
925-603-7300
