The Ellis County Press: Recalled drug still may be in your house Recalled drug still may be in your house ================================================================================ Editor on 02/08/2001 00:00:00 DIANA BUCKLEY Ellis County Press FERRIS - Many familiar cold medications have been recalled, along with a number of diet aids, because a common ingredient is causing strokes and seizures, even in children. The ingredient is Phenylpropanolamine, which can show up as Phenylpropanolamine Hydrochloride or Phenylpropanolamine Bitartrate. According to Shana Herring of US Drug Mart in Ferris, all products containing the ingredient have been removed from the shelves. 'They've recalled it all. It's all taken off the shelf - over the counter and prescription,' Herring said. 'Every drug and grocery store should have done this by now.' Herring said she first heard of the problem in mid-November. But Herring cautions the products may still be in your medicine cabinet at home. Products containing Phenylpropanolamine include: n Acutrim Diet Gum Appetite Suppressant Plus Dietary Supplements n Acutrim Maximum Strength Appetite Control n Alka-Seltzer Plus Children's Cold Medicine Effervescent n Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine (cherry or orange) n Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine (original) n Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Cough Medicine Effervescent Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Flu Medicine Effervescent Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Sinus Effervescent Alka-Seltzer Plus Night-Time Cold Medicine Effervescent BC Allergy Sinus Cold Powder BC Sinus Cold Powder Comtrex Deep Chest Cold & Congestion Relief 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/Caffeine 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 DC Pediatric Drops Permathene Mega-16 Robitussin CF Tavist-D 12-Hour Relief of Sinus & Nasal Congestion Triaminic DM Cough Relief Triaminic Expectorant Chest & Head Congestion Triaminic Syrup Cold & Allergy Triaminic Triaminicol Cold & Cough According to Herring, only one product so far has changed the ingredient and is back on the shelf. 'They took that ingredient out of the Robitussin CF,' Herring said. 'It says so on the bottle, and you can look on the reverse for the new ingredient.'