A cover-up: Cold medications that cause strokes, mania, schizophrenia, paranoia?

Question

A report from the Dept. of Psychiatry, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland. Pharmacopsychiatry 1988 [http://amphetamines.com/phenylpropanolamine/index.html Psychiatric side effects attributed to phenylpropanolamine] states:

We have reviewed 37 cases (published in North America and Europe since 1960) that received diagnoses of acute mania, paranoid schizophrenia, and organic psychosis and that were attributed to PPA product ingestion. Of the 27 North American case reports, more reactions followed the ingestion of combination products than preparations containing PPA alone; more occurred after ingestion of over-the-counter products than those obtained by prescription or on-the-street; and more of the cases followed ingestion of recommended doses than overdoses.

Failure to recognize PPA as an etiological agent in the onset of symptoms usually led to a diagnosis of schizophrenia or mania, lengthy hospitalizati

In the year 2000 the FDA moved to remove PPA from over the counter cold medications...

What other over the counter drugs are causing these and other symptoms we call diseases....

Alzheimers, Parkinsons...can these diseases be caused by over-medication or side affects, or allergies....?

Answer 1

Your doctor will have prescribed your medicine because of the potential benefits it can give you. You may not experience any side effects but all medicines can cause some side effects in some people. In general, you are more likely to experience side effects when you have just started taking a new medicine for the first time, if your dose has recently been increased or if you have started taking an additional medicine.

In many cases side effects are mild and do not mean that you have to stop taking the medicine. For example, mild stomach upset is commonly experienced with antibiotics. Sometimes, the side effects may be more of a problem and so may require a change to your treatment.

With some medicines, all patients will experience side effects. For example, some types of cancer treatments will cause hair loss and diarrhoea. This is because the anti-cancer action of the medicine also affects other healthy cells in the body (such as hair follicles). If you are taking this type of medicine, the side effects will be closely monitored by your doctor.

In many countries, all medicines, whether purchased over the counter or prescribed by your doctor, are supplied with an information leaflet, referred to as the Patient Information Leaflet or PIL. You should read this carefully before starting any treatment. It will tell you what the possible side effects are and will provide you with useful information and any advice you will need about taking your medicine. Read the leaflet again at regular intervals if you continue to take the medicine, as some information may be updated from time to time.

There are usually several different medicines that can be used to treat your condition. If one does not suit you, ask your doctor if another one might be better. New alternatives do become available and often new medicines are designed to avoid or reduce troublesome side effects seen with older medicines. New medicines undergo very extensive safety testing; however, very rare side effects may not be recognised until these medicines have been widely used for a number of years.

Answer 2

Very much. Its a highly a risk. I just checked that out on Yahoo Health. Go to Cold/ Flus...or you can also call a pharmacist, he'll update you on the minimal elements that are now being taken from the cold medicines.

Answer 3

That stuff is bad news, but I doubt it has long term effects uless it was mis- or overused.

Answer 4

I doubt it.