Chlorpheniramine Maleate/Belladonna Total Alkaloid/Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride

Perception of the common cold and other discomforts was studied as a function of age by conducting telephone interviews with a systematic random sample of 430 respondents residing in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. Information was obtained on the frequency and duration of colds, the symptoms and treatments of colds, and on the perceived severity of various discomforts. Older individuals had fewer colds than younger individuals and suffered relatively little head congestion, fever, and fatigue. In treating colds, older respondents tended to stay home, whereas younger individuals more often drank fluids and used Contac. As compared with younger respondents, older respondents perceived the two-day intestinal flu and having a wisdom tooth pulled to be relatively less serious, but a sprained ankle as relatively more serious. Implications were noted for the medical practitioner and consumer psychologist.

The acute effects of a single capsule of each of two phenylpropanolamine-containing preparations were determined in a group of healthy young adults, by means of a double-blind comparison with matching placebo preparations. Supine diastolic blood-pressure rose to 100 mm Hg or more in 12 out of 37 subjects taking an anorectic preparation ('Trimolets'; 85 mg phenylpropanolamine per capsule) and in 4 out of 34 subjects taking a decongestant preparation ('Contac 500'; 50 mg phenylpropanolamine per capsule). 20 of the subjects taking trimolets reported adverse side effects. The frequency and extent of the hypertensive response to high-dose phenylpropranolamine-containing preparations suggest that clinical use of such preparations should be reviewed and that their availability without prescription may not be appropriate.