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phenylpropanolamine (PPA)
FDA has removed phenylpropanolamine from the market 12/2000. Isolated cases of hemorrhagic stroke in young women have been associated with phenylpropanolamine. [4]
Dosage: 25 mg PO every 4 hours.
Tabs: 25 & 50 mg.
Sustained-release: 75 mg PO every 12 hours. Tabs: 75 mg.
Pharmacokinetics:
1) metabolized in liver to largely inactive metabolites
2) metabolites excreted by the kidney
Adverse effects:
1) insomnia
2) agitation
3) nervousness
4) hyperthermia
5) hyperventilation
6) hypertension
- little effect on blood pressure (low certainty evidence) [4]
7) convulsions
8) hemorrhagic stroke in young women (rare)
Drug interactions:
- may cause false positives in immunoassays for amphetamines in urine
Mechanism of action:
1) CNS stimulants
2) appetite suppressant
3) decongestant
Interactions
drug adverse effects of sympathomimetic(s)
General
adrenergic neuron stimulant
amine
aromatic compound
decongestant
Properties
MISC-INFO: elimination route LIVER
therapeutic-range 50-100 NG/ML
toxic-range >5 UG/ML
pregnancy-category C
safety in lactation -
Database Correlations
PUBCHEM correlations
References
- The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 9th ed.
Gilman et al, eds. Permagon Press/McGraw Hill, 1996
- Clinical Guide to Laboratory Tests, 3rd ed. Teitz ed.,
W.B. Saunders, 1995
- Kaiser Permanente, Northern California Drug Alert, 11, 2000
- Chan JJ, Chan M, Wright JM
Effect of adrenergic agonist oral decongestants on blood pressure.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2025 Mar 27;3(3):CD007895.
PMID: 40145549 PMCID: PMC11948476 (available on 2026-03-27)
- Phenylpropanolamine Information Page
http://wwwfda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/ppa/default.htm
Component-of
brompheniramine/codeine/phenylpropanolamine
brompheniramine/dextromethorphan/phenylpropanolamine
brompheniramine/phenylpropanolamine (Dimetapp)
caramiphen/phenylpropanolamine (Tuss-Ornade, Spansule)
chlorpheniramine/dextromethorphan/phenylephrine/phenylpropanolamine
chlorpheniramine/guaifenesin/phenylpropanolamine
chlorpheniramine/hyoscyamine/phenylephrine/phenylpropanolamine/scopolamine
chlorpheniramine/phenylephrine/phenylpropanolamine/phenyltoloxamine (Naldecon, Naldelate, Par Decon)
chlorpheniramine/phenylpropanolamine (Contac 12 hour, Ornade, Decongestant DT, Dura-Tap, Spansule)
chlorpheniramine/phenylpropanolamine/pseudoephedrine
citrate/pheniramine/phenylpropanolamine/phenyltoloxamine/pyrilamine
clemastine/phenylpropanolamine
dextromethorphan/guaifenesin/phenylpropanolamine
dextromethorphan/guaifenesin/phenylpropanolamine/pyrilamine
guaifenesin/phenylephrine/phenylpropanolamine (Entex)
guaifenesin/phenylpropanolamine (Entex LA, Ami-Tex LA)
hydrocodone/pheniramine/phenylephrine/phenylpropanolamine/pyrilamine
hydrocodone/phenylpropanolamine (Hycomine, Codamine)
pheniramine/phenylpropanolamine/phenyltoloxamine/pyrilamine
pheniramine/phenylpropanolamine/pyrilamine
phenylpropanolamine/pyrilamine (Triaminic)
Triaminic