Claude Mills, Staff Reporter
EARLY checks by the Ministry of Health are showing that cough and cold medicines containing ingredients linked to a form of stroke in women are not on local pharmacy shelves.
Earlier this month the Ministry had issued an advisory seeking the removal of decongestants containing the ingredient phenylpropanolamine, or PPA, from local shelves. A limited inspection programme last week showed no trace of decongestants carrying PPA on local shelves.
"I can't say that all are complying...but the inspectors made some checks on Thursday, and we didn't find any of the medication containing PPA on the shelves of pharmacies," said Berwin Miller-Thompson of the Ministry of Health, said. "However, we are still checking and we should have a more conclusive idea by (tomorrow)."
PPA is found in some forms of such well-known cold medicines such as Contac, Alka-Seltzer, as well as some Dexatrim and Acutrim diet pills.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the drug regulatory body in the United States, said that PPA must be removed from all drug products, and requested that drug companies discontinue the marketing of products containing the ingredient. They say it is unsafe for continued use.
The ingredient is a decongestant used to treat stuffy nose and coughs caused by colds, flu or hay fever, but it is also used as an appetite suppressant and is found in some popular diet drugs sold here.
Women who use the drug for weight control and as a nasal decongestant were also at increased risk of haemorrhagic stroke, the FDA reported.
The side effects of the drug include an increase in blood pressure (which would lead to cerebral haemorrhage), heart palpitation, lowered blood pressure.
