Canada - Following a safety assessment, Health Canada has advised that drug products containing phenylpropanolamine are being withdrawn from the market. Following a review of information, it was concluded that use of this ingredient in prescription and nonprescription medicines cannot be justified, no matter how rare the event of a possible haemorrhagic stroke.

A regulatory process to remove all products containing PPA from the Canadian market has been initiated. A number of manufacturers have indicated that they are reformulating their cough and cold, sinus and allergy medications with safe and effective alternatives.

Reference: Health Canada Advisory, 2001-61, 30 May 2001.