Embargoed for Release Until: Sunday, October 11, 1998, 6:00 p.m. Contact: Dana Victor Montenegro 202/973-5871 or [email protected]
New Report Associates Common Cold Remedy with Serious Bowel Disorder in Middle-Aged Women
Boston, MA, October 11, 1998 -- Researchers at Norwalk Hospital-Yale University linked pseudoephedrine, an ingredient in many over-the-counter cold remedies, to a serious bowel disorder in middle-aged women. This report was presented to the 63rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG).
John Dowd, MD and Joan Culpepper-Morgan, MD and their colleagues have identified evidence of a link between ischemic colitis and pseudoephedrine use in four women ages 37 to 50. This circulatory disorder of the colon, in which blood flow is reduced to a level not permitting normal function, is typically associated with elderly patients experiencing vascular disease or women using oral contraceptives. None of the four women demonstrated any evidence of vascular disease and other causes of colitis were not evident. The researchers consider the possibility of a link to declining estrogen levels which might enhance susceptibility. Each had used over-the-counter decongestants containing pseudoephedrine within a week of symptom onset. Additional studies with a larger number of patients would probably be required to confirm any such relationship on a more validated basis.
Symptoms of ischemic colitis include sudden onset of colicky abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. Patients who experience these symptoms should consult their doctor. With timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment, complications can be avoided.
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