Drugs with PPA put consumers at high risk: YPKKI<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): To give four months to cough and cold medicine
\nproducers to \"adjust\" the amount of phenylpropanolamine (PPA) --
\na substance reportedly known to cause hemorrhagic stroke -- in
\ntheir drugs, is a risky disservice to the public, the chief of
\nthe Indonesian Consumers Foundation for Health (YPKKI) said.<\/p>\n
Marius Widjajarta called on the directorate general for food
\nand drug control on Sunday to withdraw all cough and cold
\nmedicines containing over 15 milligrams of PPA, which acts as a
\ndecongestant, as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
\"Either they withdraw these drugs very soon, or they should
\ngive producers of cough and cold medicines only one month to
\nadjust the PPA level in their medicines, or they should replace
\nPPA with a safer substance,\" Marius said, as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Director General for Food and Drug Control Sampurno
\ngave drug producers four months to adjust the amount of PPA in
\ntheir drugs, so that an adult should not take more than 60
\nmilligrams, and a child, not more than 30 milligrams in a day.<\/p>\n
Marius added on Sunday that in the next four months, drug
\nproducers would profit tremendously from the sale of their
\nmedicines, currently sold in the market with dangerous PPA
\nlevels, before they are officially withdrawn.<\/p>\n
\"Consumers are put at a high risk. For instance, instructions
\non the bottle of a cough or cold medicine with more than 25
\nmilligrams of PPA, will state that two spoons of the syrupy
\nmedicine should be taken thrice a day... that's 150 milligrams
\nalready in one day,\" Marius said.<\/p>\n
As reported earlier, Sampurno said that although there had
\nbeen no cases of hemorrhagic strokes in Indonesia caused by PPA,
\ncareful use of medicines containing the substance were prescribed
\nafter the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
\ndecided to withdraw medicines which contain PPA, starting this
\nmonth, due to complaints about side effects.<\/p>\n
PPA is an active substance commonly used in flu and cough
\nmedicine. It acts as a decongestant.<\/p>\n
There are 189 brands of flu and cough medicines containing PPA
\nproduced by 79 pharmaceutical firms in the country.<\/p>\n
\"Proper dosage will avoid side effects. Fortunately, in
\nIndonesia, PPA is only used as a nasal decongestant and cough
\nsuppressant and never used to control appetite,\" Sampurno said.<\/p>\n
Research says an overdose of PPA can also cause elevated blood
\npressure and interact adversely with other medication. The
\nsubstance can worsen the health of patients with diabetes,
\nglaucoma or those with kidney or liver problems.<\/p>\n
The use of PPA is considered safe if it does not exceed 75
\nmilligrams per day for adults and 37.5 milligrams per day for
\nchildren between six and 12 years of age, Sampurno said.<\/p>\n
\"Medicines containing PPA are not recommended for children
\nunder six and pregnant women, except under doctor's advice,\"
\nSampurno asserted.<\/p>\n
Patients who feel a racing heartbeat, nausea or sleeping
\ndisorder after taking medication with PPA should stop using it,
\nhe added. (ylt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/drugs-with-ppa-put-consumers-at-high-risk-ypkki-1447893297",
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