WASHINGTON (AP) – The Food and Drug Administration has scheduled a meeting to discuss ways to curb abuse of a key ingredient found in Robitussin and other cough suppressing medicines.
The FDA will ask a panel of outside experts to make recommendations on Sept. 14 to stop adolescents from abusing the ingredient dextromethorphan (dex-tro-meth’-or-fan) for its euphoric effects, sometimes called “robotripping.”
The ingredient is found in a number of over-the-counter medicines made by Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and other consumer health companies.
In recent months Pfizer, J&J and other drugmakers have lobbied on efforts in Congress to reduce abuse of their medications.
State lawmakers are also pushing legislation that would tighten controls.
Date: May 3, 2010
Source: Associated Press
Filed Under: Drug Discovery