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OTC nasal decongestant misuse can be dangerous Flipbook PDF
Addiction and dependence to over the counter Nasal Spray. Benzedrex is a common medication for nasal decongestant. FDA M
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OTC nasal decongestant misuse can be dangerous According to an , the common over-the-counter inhaler called Benzedrex, can cause serious harm FDA report published March 25, 2021 or death when used improperly. The decongestant, made of a methamphetamine-like substance called Propylhexedrine, comes in a plastic cylinder that contains a cotton insert coated with the drug, and is intended for inhalation. It works to relieve nasal congestion by shrinking swollen membranes in the nose. However, some have discovered that removing the strip and swallowing it, or soaking it in a beverage can produce a methamphetamine-like high. Benzedrine, as it was first called when it came on the market in 1933, was initially made with amphetamine sulfate, a drug later used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obesity. It was replaced by Propylhexedrine in 1949, when abuse problems began to rise. (While Propylhexedrine was safer, it is still marred by serious complications if misused, says the FDA. This includes, “abnormal heart rhythm, high blood pressure, hallucinations and even death. Benedrex has Propylhexedrine, a methamphetamine-like compound but thought to be much more safe. It replaced amphetamine sulfate in 1949, a tart, water soluble substance that is used for attention hyperactivity deficit disorder (ADHD) and obesity. While the abuse of Propylhexedrine is considerably less, it is still a problem. Since January 2000, 460 cases of misuse and abuse of Benedrex was recorded. 21 of these cases were considered life-threatening and 13 resulted with a visit to the intensive care unit. This does not include 53 more incidents that were reported to the FDA between 2016 and 2018. Interestingly, it was a problem that has dated as far back as 2000, with a steep climb in 2015. Most involve individuals 12 to 68 years of age and are males. They remove the nasal decongest from the packaging and proceed to extract the cotton insert that is coated with Propyhexedrine. Ingestion of the substance was the most popular method and 75% of users misused Propylhexedrine alone. 92% were males and there are reports of both death and withdrawal. Warning signs were brought to light years ago, but it wasn’t until this March that the FDA released a statement voicing concern. They said makers of the decongestant should do their best to make it difficult for people to abuse. This comes as the National Capital Poison Center (NCPC) stated that "... Propylhexedrive abuse occurs as people try to find legal ways to get high or increase productivity and concentration.”