Evening star., 1949-11-11
Doctor Sees Danger
In Depressing Effect
OF 'Stop-Co|d' Drugs
BY the Associated Press

~ INV NssSSi6Ieo FTeaS
A Philadelphia doctor said yes
terday he saw dangerous posi-
bilities in certain widely adver-
tised stop that cold" treatments.
THE current effort by certain
drug houses in full-page adver-
tisements to get laymen to stop
that cold with antihistamines has
disquieting possibilities" DR.. Rich
ard Kern told the convention of
the Association of Military Sur
geons Of the United States.
The Temple University expert
on allergic diseases told reporter
that he was referring to adyer-
tisements of several" prepara-
tions containing some one of a
group of drugs known as anti
histamines." He declined to name
the drug houses or the specific
products.
Declaring that such prepara-
tions were available without pre-
scriptions, he said they contained
drugs which were not only inca
pable Of stopping a cold, but could
produce drowsiness in a fair per-
centage" of people even when used
according to directions.
Warns Of Accidents.
There Is the real danger" he
said in the interview with a news
man, that the depressing. hyp-
motto effect of these drugs, by
reducing the individuals alertness,
could be responsible for serious
accidents-as. for example, while
driving an automobile or operat-
ing an airplane."
DR.. Kern declared that even
when such drugs are administered
oy doctor. patients have to be
for signs of untoward
reactions and he added:
Even when properly admins
tered by doctors, these drugs only
relieve certain symptoms of |
cold" |
There is no drug that will stop
a cold. and that includes the anti
histamines," he declared.
These. like other drugs, simply
will relieve some Of the symptoms |
Of a cold"
Elliott A. Bowles. president of
Union Pharmaceutical Co., Mont
clair. N. j.. distributors of Inhis-
ton antihistarnine tablets, when |
informed of Dr.. Kern's statement, |
said:
Reports on a very large num-
Ser Of cases in which the drug has
been employed against cold symp-
,oms indicates that Inhiston is
both safe and effective in common
;old therapy."
"On the basis Of laboratory and
research over q period of
several years reported in reliable
scientific and medical journals,
the theory is widely accepted in
medical circles that the common
cold is an allergic response in sus-
septible people to a specific pro-
tein that is the common cold virus
Or its product" he said. |
This theory. he added. was ex-
in just about the same
words in a recent editorial in the
Journal of the American Medical
|
New research projects on a wide
scale are continuing to confirm
this application of the antihista-
mines, Mr.. Bowles added. |
THE antihistamine in Inhiston
has been thoroughly researched as
TO its hiStamine inhibiting prop
critics and the relative absence of
side effects at the directed thera-
peutic dosage" he said.
Ofdcials of the Nepara Chemi-
cal Co., Yonkers. N. Y, another
leading manufacturer Of antihis-
famine products, could not be
reached for comment.
Some time ago a Navy doctor.
Capt. John M. Brewster, reported
promising results in curing colds
In a large percentage of patients
treated with antihistamines-pro-
vided the treatment was given in
the very early stages Of the cold.
from l to IL hours after the first
But all patients in Capt. Brew
ster's studies were warned that
the drugs can cause drowsiness
and they were cautioned against
driving a car while under treat
ment.
Sees "Allergic Reaction"
It is Capt. Brewster's theory
that the very first phase Of a
common cold is an "allergic re-
which can be cured in
many cases by drugs that Tight
allergies. He believes that this
'allergic reaction" makes the body
more vulnerable to cold germs
that may be present.
The antihistamines first were
used against such allergic condi-
lions as hay fever.
An official of the Food and Drug
Administration told reporter
that FDA had sanctioned the
without-prescription sale of GER
tain antihistaminic preparations
upon proof that the preparations
were safe when used according
to directions on the labels"
But he said such an FDA sane
ton on any drug does not relate
to any claims which might be
made for the effectiveness of the
product. He said those were the
responsibility Of the producer.
The official declared that the
antlhistaminic cold preparations
sanctioned for over-the-counter
sale by FDA have dosage levels
that are relatively low"
"They call for . small dose,
divided four times 4 day." he