FDA Pulls 500 Unauthorized Cold, Allergy Prescription Drugs Off Market

The US Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday said it wants 500 unauthorized prescription drugs for cough, cold and allergy symptoms removed from the market because of risks to the public.

"We don't know what's in them, whether they work properly or how they are made," FDA director of the Office of Compliance, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Deborah Autor told reporters.

Allergy - Causes - Symptoms - Diagnosis - Treatment - FAQs - Videos
An allergy is a hypersensitive disorder of immune system. Substances that often cause allergic reactions are pollen, dust mites, mold spores, pet dander, food, insect stings and medicines.

The FDA published a list of 500 medications that are available only through a doctor's prescription, and said companies must "stop manufacturing them within 90 days and stop shipping the products within 180 days."

Autor said "all or almost all" of the drugs are made in the United States.

"We believe there are doctors out there who continue to prescribe these drugs," said Autor, noting that some of the drugs are listed in physicians' desk reference books and advertised in medical journals.

How to Select Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs for Allergy
Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs can be bought without a prescription. OTC allergy medications are for the allergy sufferer to choose the right over-the-counter drugs.

Some of the more commonly known drug names include Cardec, Lodrane 24D, and Organidin, she said. Another, called Pedia-Hist, is labled for children as young as one year old but has not been cleared by the FDA.

Charlie Lee, a doctor who participated in the FDA conference call with reporters, said the drugs are mainly cough and cold combination formulas and that "sedation, drowsiness, irritability" are among the complications reported.

Asthma - Factors, Common Allergens, Diagnosis, Treatment, Support Groups, FAQs
It's a lung condition characterized by inflammation of the bronchi and constriction of the airways that result in coughing, wheezing or breathlessness. Allergy and other airway irritants can trigger it

However, the FDA noted that such reports were "limited" and said it was unclear how many of the drugs were actually on the market.

It was also unknown how many people could be taking them because most people treat such symptoms with drugstore remedies.

Source-AFP