PPA content to be reduced in medication<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Food and Drug Control Agency (BPOM) has set
\nan April 8 deadline for the pharmaceutical industries to lower
\nthe content of phenylpropanolamine (PPA), a popular substance
\nused as a decongestant in flu and cough medicines, to a maximum
\nof 15 milligrams per tablet or tablespoon.<\/p>\n
Many popular cold cure tablets sold over the counter currently
\ncontain 25 milligrams of PPA Hydrochloride.<\/p>\n
Agency chairman Sampurno told journalists after a hearing with
\nHouse of Representatives' Commission VII on Population and
\nWelfare Affairs that it would also ban advertisements for those
\nproducts if the content had not been reduced after April 8.<\/p>\n
The Agency's Director of Drugs and Medical Equipment Control
\nLucky S. Slamet, the deadline on the reduction of PPA was reached
\nfollowing an agreement between the Agency and National Commission
\nof Medicine Assessment (Komnas POJ) in December.<\/p>\n
They agreed that the content should be reduced in four months.<\/p>\n
Prolonged use or an overdose of PPA can cause hemorrhagic
\nstroke, high blood pressure and interact adversely with other
\nmedication.<\/p>\n
The substance can worsen the condition of patients with
\ndiabetes, glaucoma or those with kidney or liver problems.<\/p>\n
He also said that although there has not been a case in
\nIndonesia, warnings on PPA were first raised when the United
\nStates Food and Drug Administration highlighted the dangers of
\nthe substance.<\/p>\n
PPA in the United States is also widely used in diet pills to
\nhelp suppress appetite.<\/p>\n
Sampurno however here on Monday maintained that consuming the
\nsubstance in a proper dosage will avoid negative side effects.<\/p>\n
\"Fortunately in Indonesia PPA is only used as a nasal
\ndecongestant and cough suppressant and never used to control
\nappetite,\" he added.<\/p>\n
There are 189 brands of flu and cough medicines containing PPA
\nproduced by 79 pharmaceutical firms in the country.<\/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 aged between six and 12 years, Sampurno said.<\/p>\n
\"Medicines containing PPA are not recommended for children
\nunder six and pregnant women, except by doctor's advice,\"
\nSampurno asserted.<\/p>\n
During the hearing on Monday Sampurno also warned the public
\non the existence of fake medicines recently found in a drugstore
\nin Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
The medicines found were dextracort, dextamin, supertetra in
\ncapsules, tetracycline in capsules and chloramphenicol.<\/p>\n
\"The producers are now on trial,\" Sampurno claimed without
\nelaborating.(hdn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ppa-content-to-be-reduced-in-medication-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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