Recalled drug still may be in your house

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.'

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