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drug_recall ppaPPA, or phenylpropanolamine, is a class of drugs that stimulates the sympathetic nervous system. Similar in action to amphetamines and cocaine, PPA can constrict blood vessels and increase the force of heart contractions. PPA was the active ingredient in a large number of nonprescription decongestants and diet pills until November 2000 when the FDA decided it was no longer safe to remain on the market.
An estimated $500 million to $1 billion annually was spent on PPA. For over 20 years PPA was available to consumers despite links made to hemorrhagic strokes. The FDA action still did not come until just over a year after a study that was sponsored by the drug industry associated the use of PPA to an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke. The deadliest form of stroke, hemorrhagic stroke is a blood vessel rupture in the brain that kills more than a third of all victims within a month and leaves more than a third of survivors with severe disabilities.
The Yale researchers that were commissioned by the pharmaceutical companies to take part in the PPA ended up uncovering the link to life-threatening strokes in 1999. The thousands of PPA lawsuits underway have been referencing the Yale study as part of their allegations that the PPA containing products was the cause for PPA. Research was only ever performed because the FDA mandated PPA producers conduct an epidemiologic study after clinical studies and individual cases continued to increasingly suggest PPA may have a risk for causing hemorrhagic stroke.
Thousands of pages of documents reviewed by the L.A. Times obtained from the FDA through the Freedom of Information Act showed the pharmaceutical industry continued to challenge inquiries arguing the possible risks of PPA. PPA manufacturers continued to assure PPA was safe despite any challenges on the contrary from some FDA scientists and industry officials. Even as far back as 1982, an FDA report warned of PPA risks, including cardiovascular effects, cerebral hemorrhage, and cardiac arrhythmias.
Even after the 1999 study make links to stroke, PPA manufacturers continued to challenge the research despite having paid for it and approving its methods beforehand. When the FDA finally did recommend a PPA withdrawal, over 100 PPA products were removed, including many popular cough and cold medicines, as well as appetite suppressants. Criticized for the delay in recommending the PPA removal, the FDA responded by saying the PPA industries arguments against the Yale study results delayed the final report.
Now, as numerous PPA related lawsuits are underway, there have been estimates that 3.5 million households continued to have PPA containing products 15 months after the November 2000 FDA PPA removal request. Still, spokesmen for major PPA manufacturers claim PPA is safe despite any discoveries that find otherwise.
In November 2000, the FDA asked companies using PPA (phenlypropanolamine) in their cold products to voluntarily take the products off the market because of possible health risks, including links with hemorrhagic stroke in first time female users. Now,...
PPA News -
Information on the dangers of PPA, and about related litigation.