Official issues warning on use of phenylpropanolamine<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Prolonged use or an overdose of
\nphenylpropanolamine (PPA), contained in flu and cough medicines,
\ncan cause hemorrhagic stroke, an official warned on Friday.<\/p>\n
Director General for Food and Drug Control Sampurno said
\nalthough there has not been a case in Indonesia, careful use of
\nmedicines containing the substance was prescribed after the
\nUnited States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decided to
\nwithdraw medicines which contain PPA starting this month due to
\ncomplaints about side effects.<\/p>\n
Most complaints came from people who had restricted their diet
\nto reduce weight. They used PPA to suppress appetite.<\/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 the side effects. Fortunately, in
\nIndonesia PPA is only used as nasal decongestant and cough
\nsuppressant and never used to control appetite,\" Sampurno said.<\/p>\n
Minister of Health and Social Welfare Achmad Sujudi said that
\nhis office had issued warnings to pharmaceutical companies and
\nthe public over the use of PPA.<\/p>\n
\"In Indonesia it is used only for restricted purposes and we
\nhave not yet decide to pull it off the market,\" Sujudi said.<\/p>\n
An overdose of PPA can also cause elevated blood pressure and
\ninteract adversely with other medication. The substance can
\nworsen patients with diabetes, glaucoma or those with kidney or
\nliver problems.<\/p>\n
\"It is clear that PPA should not be prescribed for patients
\nwith high blood pressure, hyperactive thyroid gland, heart
\ndisease or patients under the medication of the antidepressant,
\nMonoamin Oxidase (MAO) Inhibitor,\" Sujudi said.<\/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 by doctor's advise,\"
\nSampurno asserted.<\/p>\n
Patients who feel quickened heart beat, nausea or sleeping
\ndisorder after taking medication with PPA must stop using it, he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
\"As an alternative solution, people with a cough or cold,
\nshould rest for two to three days, eat lots of protein and
\ncalorie food plus fruits for additional vitamins.<\/p>\n
\"A lot of drinks will heal a sore throat and help bring down
\nfever. People are advised to gargle with salt water to remove
\npain from the illness,\" Sampurno added.<\/p>\n
Duplication<\/p>\n
Officials and activists had earlier warned consumers not to
\npurchase prescription drugs from unauthorized dealers, saying
\nthat most of the medicine sold was easily duplicated and did not
\ncontain healing properties.<\/p>\n
\"People should not buy prescription drugs from unauthorized
\ndealers, like those at Pasar Burung Pramuka, East Jakarta, Pasar
\nJatinegara, East Jakarta, Mampang, South Jakarta, or Glodok, West
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
\"It's dangerous and who will be held responsible if the
\nmedicine turns out to be fake or has harmful side effects?\"
\nSampurno told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Almost all popular drugs from amphicilin to parasetamol have
\nbeen duplicated, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Besides the ineffective drugs, medicine requiring a doctor's
\nprescription is being smuggled in from abroad. Among those is
\nViagra for erectile dysfunction,\" Sampurno said.<\/p>\n
The government has asked PT Pfizer Indonesia, as the local
\nproducer, to sell Viagra at a competitive price so people will
\nstop buying it from the black market.<\/p>\n
Drugs for erectile dysfunction such as Viagra can be easily
\ndetected in a person's system as it quickly builds up, he said.<\/p>\n
\"You will feel its effects in a couple minutes. Therefore,
\nnormally functioning men should not consume it as it has side
\neffects, such as a prolonged erection, which could last for
\nhours,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sampurno, however, said many people resort to traditional
\nmedication such as Pasak Bumi to enhance sexual performance and
\novercome erectile dysfunction.<\/p>\n
\"But there has not been thorough scientific research done on
\ntraditional medicine or its effects so people should be very
\nwary,\" Sampurno said. (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/official-issues-warning-on-use-of-phenylpropanolamine-1447893297",
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