Phenylpropanolamine Can Cause Stroke – FDA

Drug Alert
Source: FDA

The FDA has reported a steady incidence of stroke in young women taking this medication. This usually occurs in the first few weeks of taking the drug. Probably more associated with using Phenylpropanolamine in a diet pill than in a nasal pill but this is not clearly established at this time.

What is established is that you can reduce stroke in young women by avoiding this medication.

Phenylpropanolamine is a drug used to relieve nasal congestion due to colds, hay fever, upper respiratory allergies, and sinusitis. It is available in nonprescription products alone (Propagest®, Rhindecon®, and others) and in combination with other nonprescription drugs, to treat symptoms of allergy, colds, and upper respiratory infections, including:

Phenylpropanolamine/brompheniramine (Dimetapp®, DayQuil® Allergy Relief,
and others).
Phenylpropanolamine/chlorpheniramine (Contac® 12 Hour, Triaminic®-12, and
others)
Phenylpropanolamine/clemastine (Tavist® D)
Phenylpropanolamine/guaifenesin (Entex® LA and others)
Phenylpropanolamine/guaifenesin/dextromethorphan (Robitussin® CF and others)
Phenylpropanolamine is also used as a diet pill in: products alone (Acutrim®, Dexatrim®, Dexa-Diet®, Unitrol®, and others) and in combination with other ingredients for weight loss

The stroke usually occured in the first two weeks of the medication. For anyone taking the medication for a longer period of time, there doesn’t appear to be a problem. My impression is that it was the diet pills in higher doses that was the primary cause of the stroke problem. Maybe the nasal pills will be resumed at a later date.

Fortunately most of these nasal/allergy/sinus drugs are used for conditions that can be treated by restoring good mucociliary movement of the nasal cilia. Slow mucociliary clearance – slow ciliac is found in most of the nasal/sinus conditions such as post nasal drip, chronic sinusitis. By restoring the cilia to normal speed, relief and even cure are commonly achieved without the above drugs.

For nasal/sinus conditions there are several avenues for relief without drugs.

Grossan Pulasatile Sinus Irrigator is used to restore cilia by using the common dental irrigator with a Grossan Sinus Adaptor and a solution of Breathe.ease. Simply add one teaspoon of Breathe.ease to the dental irrigator, add a pint of warm water (16 ounces or almost a liter) and the pulsation gently removes mucus and phlegm and pulses the cilia back to normal.

Breathe.ease is a mix of products found in the hospital intravenous solution that is known to improve nasal function. It can be used as a nasal moisturizer spray. The solution doesn’t contain benzalkonium or other preservatives that are known to be harmful to the nose. Spraying the nose with this 3x a day helps restore the normal cilia movement.

For thick phlegm or sinus pain, Clear.ease is a natural combination of papaya and pineapple enzymes that thin the mucus to allow the cilia of the nose and sinus to return to normal. By reducing swelling this relieves sinus pain.

These products are explained fully at Hydromedonline.com. Many patients will appreciate these drug free approaches to nasal/sinus/allergy relief, and the fact that not only are they safe, but they are recommended by many medical journal articles.

These drug companies spend hundreds of millions of dollars urging you to use drugs. We have a non drug alternative.

Murray Grossan, M.D.
http://www.ent-consult.com
Hydro Med, Inc. Originators of Nasal Irrigator, Clear.ease and Breathe.ease

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