Last week I had terribly flu, it was so bad that my throat felt pain even to drink water. So I bought flu pill to make me feel better. Next day, my co-worker showed me text message and it surprised me because the pill I took the day before is not recommended anymore since the product containing phenylpropanolamine (PPA) which already pulled from the market by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States.
Here are some others flu products containing PPA : Decolgen, Decolsin, Sinutab, Allerin, Bodrexin, Contac 500, Cosyr, Flusyl, Fludane, Flugesic, Inza, Komix, Mixaflu, Mixagrip, Nalgestan, Neozep Forte, Nodrof, Paratusin, Procold, Rhinotussal, Sanaflu, Siladex, Stopcold, Triaminic drops, Tusalgin.
Those are very common cold and flu medicine and sold without prescription at any counter. So I asked google to find more about this and the result is that true in November 2000 FDA already taking steps to remove phenylpropanolamine (PPA) from all drug products and has requested that all drug companies discontinue marketing products containing PPA.
Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) is a drug ingredient of the phenethylamine family used as a decongestant in prescription and nonprescription (over the counter) cough and cold, and sinus remedies, and some combination allergy medications. It is also present in an appetite suppressant. The study reports that taking PPA increases the risk of hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding into the brain or into tissue surrounding the brain) in women. Men may also be at risk. Although the risk of hemorrhagic stroke is very low, FDA recommends that consumers not use any products that contain PPA.
But our local BPOM said that the products containing PPA is still safe and allowed to consume as long as the dosage is not more than 15mg per pill for cold and flu remedies but never allowed for appetite suppressants for people who want slim body.
I remember that my friend told me once, the best medication for cold and flu are good rest, vitamin C and lot of water. So, better be avoid medicine contains PPA.
