Crees are being advised to stay away from dozens of cold medicines that contain something called PPA – short for phenylpropanolamine.
This PPA is used for stuffy noses and is present in many cough, cold, sinus and allergy medications.
The warning comes from the Cree Health Board and Health Canada after a study showed some people had suffered strokes after taking medicines with PPA.
The risk is low, but young women who took PPA in weight loss pills were at higher risk. Check the list of ingredients or ask at your health clinic.
Medicines with PPA include Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine, Dimetane Expectorant Liquid, several Dimetapp products, Triaminic DM Daytime Syrop, Caldomine DH Enfant and Contac Cold Capsules.
