Phenylpropanolamine and the Risk for Hemorrhagic Stroke in Women

Over the past 2 decades, there have been anecdotal reports of hemorrhagic stroke occurring after the ingestion of phenylpropanolamine, a sympathomimetic amine commonly found in over-the-counter cold remedies and appetite suppressants. These authors, in collaboration with the FDA and with manufacturer support and cooperation, undertook a case-control epidemiologic study to evaluate this association.

Between December 1994 and July 1999, men and women aged 18 to 49 were recruited at 43 U.S. hospitals. Eligibility criteria were (1) a diagnosis of subarachnoid or intracerebral hemorrhage within 30 days before enrollment and (2) no history of a brain lesion that would predispose them to the occurrence of hemorrhage. A total of 702 cases (55 percen…