
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 15, 1991                   TAG: 9103150441
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: ATLANTA                                LENGTH: Short

CDC CALLS FOR CAPSULE SAFETY STUDY

The national Centers for Disease Control on Thursday called for a re-evaluation of U.S. precautions against medication tampering in the wake of three Sudafed poisonings in Washington state.

Two people died and a third became seriously ill last month after taking Sudafed 12-Hour decongestant capsules that contained cyanide. Investigators said the capsules were tampered with, then returned to Sudafed packages.

"These cyanide poisonings suggest the need to re-evaluate whether the current safeguards against tampering are adequate," the Atlanta-based CDC said in its weekly report. "In these and previous cyanide poisoning deaths, capsules have been the target for tampering."

In Washington state, the State Board of Pharmacy held an emergency meeting Thursday to consider banning capsules, which can be taken apart and refilled.

The commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said his agency also will consider whether capsule non-prescription drugs should be banned. - Associated Press

by CNB