people getting addicted to OTC stimulants

December 1998

There are increasing reports of people getting addicted to OTC stimulants...ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, and ma huang.

These stimulants are in many OTC decongestants...appetite suppressants..."energy pills"...and some herbal supplements.

Some people get hooked when they take large doses for their amphetamine-like effects.

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Table of Contents

a backlash from managed care against all the drug ads on TV, radio, magazines, etc
Infectious Diseases higher doses of amoxicillin for acute otitis media in children
Infectious Diseases new precautions about liver toxicity with the new quinolone, Trovan (trovafloxacin)
Interactions add carbamazepine (Tegretol) to the list of drugs that can interact with grapefruit juice
new drugs coming out for rheumatoid arthritis
Neurology & Pain new boxed warning about serious liver toxicity in patients taking Tasmar (tolcapone)
Women's Health which antiepileptic drugs interact with oral contraceptives (OCs)
Women's Health The National Cancer Institute is now offering a "Risk Disk"
Pulmicort Turbuhaler (budesonide) is now approved for ONCE daily dosing
Pediatrics Robi Comb, a small electronic comb to "zap" head lice
Pediatrics Versed (midazolam) now comes as an ORAL syrup
Pediatrics using secretin for autism
the first generic cyclosporine, SangCya (sang-see-ah)
Substance Use Disorder reclassify Marinol (dronabinol) from Schedule II to Schedule III
Substance Use Disorder people getting addicted to OTC stimulants
Substance Use Disorder first OTC drug abuse test that can be performed AT HOME
new question about whether it might cause nerve toxicity