The Department of Health is taking steps to remove a drug ingredient called phenylpropanolamine (PPA) from the market, requiring drug companies to take all cold medicines containing PPA off shelves by July 2006.
PPA is an ingredient used in many over-the-counter and prescription cold medications and in weight loss products.
Although health officials stressed that a proper dosage of PPA could not kill it user, they were worried people trying to lose weight may take too much of a weight-loss drug containing PPA.
"Cold medicines contain about 25mg of PPA, whereas weight-loss products contain 75mg of PPA," said Liu Li-ling (劉麗玲), deputy director-general of the department's Pharmaceutical Affairs division. "If patients take these medicines as advised by doctors, there is no threat to safety."
"But many people try to get slimmer by taking too much weight loss medication containing PPA. An overdose of PPA could lead to hypertension and hemorrhagic stroke," Liu said.
In 2000, scientists at Yale University School of Medicine issued a report confirming that taking PPA increases the risk of hemorrhagic stroke in women. Men may also be at risk. Although the risk of hemorrhagic stroke is very low, the US and Japan had banned the use of PPA in all products.
Since November 2003, the department also banned use of PPA in fighting obesity.
After the ban, however, people frustrated over their weight started taking cold medicine containing PPA.
"PPA was once the only legal ingredient weight-loss drug before medication containing Xenical and Reductil entered the market. Even though weight-loss drugs no longer contain PPA, it is still used in many cold and cold drugs which can be purchased at any drugstore," said Hsu Chien-wen (
Starting three months after the announcement, the manufacture of drugs containing PAA will be prohibited. By July, 2006, all drugs containing PPA will be off the market completely.
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