Phenylpropanolamine, otherwise referred to as PPA, is a vaso constrictor, which means it causes the blood vessels to constrict or become smaller. As a result, there is less blood flow throughout the body with an increase in blood pressure. In some individuals, especially women under the age of 50, the increase in pressure caused the rupture of blood vessels and uncontrolled bleeding in the brain.
PPA is found in many commonly used over-the-counter cold remedies and diet pills such as Acutri, Dexatrim, Atka Seltzer, Comtrex, Contac, Tavist 0, Triaminic, Dimetapp, and Robitussin. The Food and Drug Administration has ruled that Phenylpropanolamine causes unreasonable damages and has requested that these drugs be removed from shelves by the manufacturers on a voluntary basis. The FDA's research has shown that, although rare, PPA has been linke to severe and fatal hemorrhagic strokes, sometimes called "bleeding stokes." It is estimated that each year between two hundred and five hundred strokes are associated with using products that contain PPA and typically occur within three to five days after ingestion. Some of the symptoms that proceed these stokes are;
Severe Headache, Sudden Dizziness or Loss of Balance, Difficulty Walking, Change in Vision, Stiff Neck, Sudden Mental Confusion, Numbness in the Face, Limbs, or Body (may be concentrated to one side), Tingling Sensations. If you have experienced any of these symptoms, consult your doctor immediately.
