I received an alarming forwarded email from my sister a few days ago. The email is about the negative effect of Phenylpropanolamine in our body, this PPA is usually found on cough and cold medicine and can cause drowsiness but I never know it can cause more than drowsiness.

This is the email :

I would like to thank those of you who expressed condolences on the

recent passing of my mother. She suffered a hemorrhagic stroke while she

was driving home from my house on 7/30/06 and passed away on 8/3/06.

My mother's stroke and passing was an enormous shock to my family because she did not have any symptoms or risk factors for a stroke. Just the week before she had gone to her doctor for a check up and received a clean

bill of health. She did however, develop a cold while she was visiting

me and had taken cold medicine with PPA for 3 days.

Since her passing, we have learned that this cold medicine is one of the many cold medicines that contains Phenylpropanolamine(PPA) which can cause hemorrhagic stokes 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 my mother just

purchased this medication less than two weeks ago. Pharmaceutical companies have known about this danger for years, we unfortunately, 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 linked to increased hemorrhagic

stroke (bleeding in brain) among women ages 18-49 in the three days after starting use of medication. Problems were not 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 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/Caffei ne 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 & amp;am p; 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.

I myself take cold medicine with this ingredient when I need a fast relief from this discomfort, but since I know the bad effect of taking too much of this kind of medicine, I always make sure to just take 1 or 2 of this medication. I still prefer to drink a large dose of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), garlic supplement and plenty of water to cure my cold, you can never go wrong with natural remedy.