Fw: Early Release Article from The New England Journal of Medicine

[Guest guest]

I haven't read the whole article, but a quick scan of it led

me to believe it might be of interest to the list.

 

Ken

 

http://www.nejm.org/content/haller/1.asp

 

-

" NEJM " <nejm

<TOC-L

Monday, November 06, 2000 6:40 AM

Early Release Article from The New England Journal of Medicine

 

 

> THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE

>

> EARLY RELEASE

>

> Because of the potential public health implications, these articles are

being released on our Web site before the publication date, in accordance

with the Journal's policy. The reports are available as of today at

http://www.nejm.org. The articles will be published in the December 21,

2000, issue.

>

> ____

>

> Phenylpropanolamine and the Risk of Hemorrhagic Stroke

>

> W.N. Kernan and Others

>

>

>

> Adverse Cardiovascular and Central Nervous System Events Associated with

Dietary Supplements Containing Ephedra Alkaloids

>

> C.A. Haller and N.L. Benowitz

> ____

>

[Guest guest]

Now, this is strange. Below is a link to BBC news which I just read two

seconds ago.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1010000/1010625.stm

The NEJM article buries this statement in its story:

Phenylpropanolamine, another

ephedrine alkaloid, was marketed with caffeine in various weight-reducing

aids until 1983, when the combination was banned by the FDA after numerous

reports of adverse effects. Several studies have shown that caffeine and

phenylpropanolamine have an additive effect on blood pressure. (17) These

interactions between phenylpropanolamine and caffeine support the idea

that the combination of ephedrine and caffeine in a dietary supplement

could increase the risk of adverse effects.

The BBC story has this to say in its article:

The Department of Health (England)

has ordered an inquiry after a drug found in many cold and flu medicines

was linked to hundreds of strokes and banned in the United States.

It has asked the Medicines Control Agency

to conduct a review of the safety of

phenylpropanolamine (PPA).

But it is trying to play down fears over the

substance, saying that doses in American

treatments are much higher than those in

the UK.

PPA is commonly found in remedies

bought over the counter, such as Day

Nurse, Benylin Day & Night, Contac 400

and Vicks Coldcure.

Well, gee had anyone heard about this ban on PPA

in the above products?

Maybe I don't watch TV enough.

I gotta go, take some Ma Huang and vote.

 

 

 

Doug

[Guest guest]

, Douglas

wrote:

 

>

> PPA is commonly found in remedies

> bought over the counter, such as Day

> Nurse, Benylin Day & Night, Contac 400

> and Vicks Coldcure.

>

> Well, gee had anyone heard about this ban on PPA in the above products?

>

yes, it was banned by the FDA yesterday in OTC products; heard it on

NPR

>

>

> Doug

[Guest guest]

SLOW GROWTH IN CHILDHOOD MAY LEAD TO HIP FRACTURE LATER IN LIFEGrowth rate more than 1 standard deviation below average has more than 4times the risk of future hip fracture.http://orthopedics.medscape.com/29531.rhtml?srcmp=orth-110300<a href="http://orthopedics.medscape.com/29531.rhtml?srcmp=orth-110300">>>>>>>>Another example of K jing

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