DRUGSTORES IN CANADA PULL COLD MEDICINES On Monday, Nov. 6, 2000, The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), followed by Health Canada, issued a health advisory warning that phenylpropanolamine (PPA) could be linked to strokes. On Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2000, major drugstore chains across the country pulled dozens of over-the-counter cold remedies from their shelves. Some of the drugs that contain PPA are Dimetapp Cold and Sinus, Contac Cold Capsules, Triaminic DM Daytime Syrup and Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine. There are currently 63 products on the market in Canada that contain PPA.
Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharma Plus told stores to remove all products containing PPA from their shelves. Both chains are also offering a full refund for any products containing the ingredient.
For patients who need alternative prescription drugs, Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacists will contact their doctors to discuss drugs without PPA, said spokesperson Arthur Konviser.
The FDA warnings stem from a report released in mid-October that linked bleeding strokes in a small percentage of people to drugs containing PPA. Health Canada has decided to follow the American lead until its own assessment of the drug is complete.
We recommend that all Snowbirds check their medicine cabinets and destroy any medicines on the following list and any others containing PPA.
For more information, call Health Canada at (613) 957-2992 or go online to www.snowbirds.org and follow the link to Health Canada.
Drugs containing PPA that are currently being sold in Canada:
Antitussive Decongestant Antihistamine Syrup
Bronchodex D Capsules
Caldomine DH Adult
Caldomine DH Enfant
Cold & Allergy Relief liquid
Cold Decongestant Long Acting Capsules
Cold Relief
Cold Relief MD
Coltalin Tablets
Contac Cold Capsules
Contac Cold Extra Strength Capsules
Contac Cough Cold and Flu Capsules
Contac Cold Capsules
Contac Cold Extra Strength Capsules
Contac Cough, Cold and Flu Caplets
Coricidin D Long Acting Tablets
Coricidin D Tablets
Coricidin ND Tablets
Coricidin Sinus Headache Tablets
Cough, Cold & Allergy Relief
Decongestant Antihistaminic Syrup
Dilotab
Dimetane Expectorant C Syrup
Dimetane Expectorant DC Syrup
Dimetane Expectorant Liquid
Dimetapp C Syrup
Dimetapp Chewable Tablets
Dimetapp Children's Cold & Allergy Tablets
Dimetapp Children's Cold & Fever
Dimetapp Clear
Dimetapp Cold & Sinus
Dimetapp Cough, Cold and Flu
Dimetapp Cough & Cold Liqui-Gels Capsules
Dimetapp DM Elixir
Dimetapp DM Tablets
Dimetapp Elixir
Dimetapp Extentabs
Dimetapp Liqui-Gels Capsules
Dimetapp Oral Infant Drops
Dimetapp Tablets
Emercidin "D" Tablets
Ornade AF Spansule SRC
Ornade Spansule SRC
Oradrine Tablets
Oradrine 2 Tablets
Pharmacol DM Syrup
Sine-Off Allergy Tablets
Sine-Off ND Extra Strength Caplets
Sine-Off Tablets
Sinutab SA Tablets
Tantacol DM Syrup
Tantapp Elixir
Tavist-D Tablets
Triaminic Cold and Allergy Syrup
Triaminic DM Daytime Syrup
Triaminic Expectorant DH Syrup
Tri-Anamine Cold Syrup
Tri-Anamine Expectorant Antihistamine Decongestant Syrup
Trisulfaminic Suspension
Trisulfaminic Tablets
Tussaminic C Forte Syrup
Tussaminic DH Pediatric Syrup
Tussaminic DH Forte Syrup