Download HSA Addresses E-mail Hoax on Phenylpropanolamine

SINGAPORE, 11 OCTOBER 2002
HSA UPDATES
“HSA UPDATES” addresses topics of current public interest, and is subject to
change as more information become available.
HSA UPDATES NO 4/2002
HSA ADDRESSES E-MAIL HOAX
ON PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE-CONTAINING PRODUCTS
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) would like to inform the public that an email on Phenylpropanolamine (PPA)-containing medicinal products, that is being
widely circulated, is a prank message that should not be viewed seriously.
INFORMATION ON THE E-MAIL
2
The prank e-mail is often circulated under two titles, namely, “Drug Recall By
Gleneagles Hospital” and “Memo from Gleneagles Hospital”. The e-mail purports to
have been sent by a “Dr Jemilah Mahmood” from the Gleneagles Hospital (GH),
Singapore. There is, in fact, no such doctor accredited with or employed by GH.
Neither is there any such doctor registered with the Singapore Medical Council.
3
The e-mail carries distorted information about the association of stroke with
PPA and includes a list of drugs containing PPA that are under recall by the US
Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
FACTS ON PPA
4
PPA is a nasal decongestant and is a common ingredient found in many
cough and cold medicines. In the United States, these PPA-containing cough and
cold medicines were sold over the counters, and PPA was also available as a single
ingredient for use as a slimming pill.
5
In August 2000, the Yale University in the United States released the results
of a study that looked into the association of the occurrence of stroke and the
consumption of PPA-containing medicines.
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6
The study found that females, aged 18 – 49 years, who took PPA-containing
slimming pills, were more likely to suffer a stroke than those who did not consume
the product. The study also implicated that consumers who took PPA-containing
cough and cold medicines had a slightly higher chance of experiencing a stroke
compared to non-users of PPA; however, this risk was minimal compared to those
taking it as a slimming pill.
7
These findings prompted the US FDA to call for a voluntary discontinuation of
marketing of all PPA-containing products in November 2000.
PPA-CONTAINING PRODUCTS IN SINGAPORE
8
In Singapore, the situation is different from the US. There were no PPAcontaining slimming pills available and all other PPA-containing cough and cold
medicines were sold under the supervision of a doctor or pharmacist. The implication
that PPA-containing cough and cold medicines could cause stroke was not well
established.
9
However, as a precautionary measure, the Ministry of Health, Singapore, in
November 2000 asked all pharmaceutical companies marketing cough and cold
products containing PPA to voluntarily withdraw and discontinue their distribution in
Singapore as there were sufficient alternatives to PPA-containing products for use as
cough and cold medications.
10
A public advisory was also issued to our healthcare professionals and
consumers in November 2000 to inform them to avoid dispensing and consuming
PPA-containing products respectively.
[For more information on this drug alert dated 10 Nov 2000 and the list of products
containing PPA, please visit HSA’s website at www.hsa.gov.sg. Click the “CPA”
button, under the “Information” menu bar on the left, select “Drug Alert” and look for
“Withdrawal of Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Products”.]
PUBLIC ADVISORY
11
HSA assures the public that the content of the hoax e-mail is inaccurate and
should not cause concern. There are no more PPA-containing medications in
Singapore as all these products have either been withdrawn or reformulated to be
without PPA.
12
Anyone who receives the mentioned prank e-mail should not forward it to
others as the information is inaccurate and untrue.
HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
11 OCTOBER 2002
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About HSA Updates
The “HSA Updates” seeks to provide current information, in a consistent and
accurate manner, on topics of public interest. For all issues of HSA Updates, please
visit www.hsa.gov.sg, click “News Centre”, and select “HSA Updates”.
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