| Show duction of many popular remedies and started reformulating their cold medicines The reason: Those remedies contained phenylpropanolamine (PPA) a common antihistamine that has been in use for 50 years but was recently linked to several hundred cases of stroke in young women Losing remedies with PPA is “no big deal” says Peter J Casano MD an ear nose and throat specialist at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson “It’s one less decision to make” Many other antihistamines do not contain PPA check with your pharmacist or health practitioner if your favorite is gone New drugs — minus the needles Besides Casano says antihistamines are useless in treating colds Here’s why: Antihistamines block allergies decongestants are more suitable for colds When people with colds use antihistamines they are seeking the side effect of drying runny noses The most effective alternative to antihistamines he says is a prescription nasal spray called AtrovenL Casano is convinced of the efficacy of zinc lozenges available at drugstores and supermarkets judging by extensive studies and personal experience Even better he says is a new zinc gel nasal spray called Zicam which cuts the length of a cold from nine days to two days a — are on the way inoculation is on the horizon: A nasal-spra- y flu vaccine using live viruses is up for approval by the federal Food and Drug Administration Preliminary tests show FluMist to be highly effective and easy to administer to children Its developer Aviron Inc of Mountain View Calif says that if all goes well the spray might be available for next flu season For the time being if you catch the flu your best hope is to take one of four new antiviral agents within hours of the onset of symptoms The drugs called neuraminidase inhibitors ease the flu symptoms and reduce the spread The drugs: among family friends and Zanamivir (Relenza) is inhaled twice a day for five days It shortens type A and type B flu by a day or two A 24-4- 8 whoever called the cold “common” never experienced yours evidently Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) capsules reduce the severity of the symptoms and complications Taken every day for six weeks the drug could help people avoid the flu Amantadine (Symmetrel) and rimantadine pills work best if you’ve had a flu shot They fight type A influenza but have unpleasant side effects In the search for a cure for the common cold there’s new hope Pleconaril a drug already used to treat meningitis and polio is a promising treatment for viral respiratory infection a severe form of the common cold “I’m extremely impressed” says lead researcher John Irvin MD “I’ve seen dramatic resolution of symptoms in some people literally within hours of taking the medicine” The drug is now in double-blin- d studies at the Center for Pharmaceutical Research in Kansas City Mo (Flu-madin- e) What's left on your drugstore's shelves heard that about half of the 800 Dime-tap- p cold and flu preparations — including Robitussin and Triaminic — were withdrawn from chains such as Rite-Ai- d CVS and early last month At the same time manufacturers suspended pro- You’ve er Alka-Seltz- er thank goodness for Wal-Ma- rt USA WEEKEND-De- c 2000 23 For yours there's Kleenex For ordinary colds there are ordinary tissues g ColdCare tissues with three layers |
