Killing Yourself, The Vicks Action 500 Style

Every time you get a running nose or a mild headache, do you run to the pharmacist, demanding a ‘Vicks Action 5oo Extra’? If yes, this post targets you.

‘Vicks Action 5oo Extra’ (extra refers to the variety of diseases that come bundled with it I suppose) is the best medicine by Procter & Gamble Hygiene And Health Care Limited, which can be used for the slowest method of homicide.

Vicks Action 5oo Extra Formula: Each uncoated tablet contains: Paracetamol I.P. 500mg., Phenylephrine Hydrochloride I.P. 10 mg., Caffeine Anhydrous I.P. 32 mg. Colour: Quinoline Yellow, Excipients q.s. Dosage: Adults: 1 tablet 4 times a day, Children: Consult a doctor, do not exceed 2 tablets a day (in divided doses). Not for under 6 years. Caution: Do not use with other paracetamol products. Overdose may be injurious to liver, consult a doctor promptly even if no symptoms appear. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.  Store dry at room temperature. Ask a doctor if you: are pregnant/nursing, have 3 or more alcoholic drinks/day, have liver/kidney disease, take drugs for or have heart/thyroid disease, high blood pressure; take drugs for depression or Parkinson’s disease, or if symptoms last over 7 days. Failure to follow dosage/caution could result in serious consequences.

Disregarding the funniest aspect that a fever subsides within 7 days with out any medicines, let us consider the other statements. Anybody who is wise enough can easily understand what Procter & Gamble indirectly says- “Take this medicine at your own risk. We are not responsible if you die.” Yes, that is the ‘Vicks Action 500 extra’ trap.

Now let us study each ingredient of Vicks Action 500 and enlist its properties.

1) Paracetamol I.P.

    Quantity: 500 mg

    Paracetamol affects almost all the organs of human body. Continuous use of it proves to be lethal. Its harmful effects on human body include:

Neurological: Coma, dizziness, headache, dystonia

Gastrointestinal: Vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation

Respiratory: Alveolitis, coughing

Cardiac: Cardiac arrhythmias

Platelet/blood: Agranulocytosis, neuropenia, thrombocytopenia

Pancreas: Pancreatitis

Skin: Rashes

Paracetamol becomes very harmful when mixed with other medicinal products and intake of more than 10 g causes intensive liver damage in adults. Severe poisoning also leads to hepatic failure leading to haemorrhage and finally death.

People with severe renal or hepatic impairment, who take epileptic drugs like carbamazepine, phenobarbitone, phenytoin and those, which induce liver enzymes, who consume alcohol in regular amounts etc should strictly restrain from using Paracetamol.

2) Phenylephrine Hydrochloride I.P.

    Quantity: 10 mg

    Phenylephrine is used as a nasal decongestant and as a mydriatic in ophthalmic solutions. Even though no research has been conducted to analyse its effects on humans, a study conducted in rats showed that the use of Phenylephrine reduced the weight up to 15 percentage. Phenylephrine too comes with a variety of side effects. They induce chronic focal inflammation of liver, mononuclear cell leukaemia, epilepsy, stomach upsets, abdomen cramps and vomiting.

The substance is not recommended for people with severe hypertension, ventricular tachycardia, chromocytoma, and elderly patients with asterio-sclerosis CV.

3) Caffeine Anhydrous

    Quantity: 32 mg

    How many of my readers know that Caffeine Anhydrous is used as an insecticide?

It stimulates the Central Nervous System and gives a feeling of ecstasy, thus becoming one of the favourites of drug abusers. 32 mg of Caffeine Anhydrous is not that bad to be ignored. Its long term use results in memory loss, sleep disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, bipolar disorders, significantly increases the risk of miscarriage and causes hyper activity in children.

4) QuinolineYellow

    Quantity: Unspecified

    Ever wondered what is the need of colour for a medicine? Obviously to create more and more diseases. A harmful colouring agent QuinolineYellow that has been banned in USA, UK, EU, Japan and Canada due to health issues is amply added in Vicks Action 500 Extra. This colour increases levels of hyper activity and decreases levels of intelligence along with triggering allergic reactions (Centre For Science In Public Interest- June 30 2010).

     A death has never been reported due to Vicks Action 500 Extra. It will never happen in the near future too. Thanks to the influence Procter & Gamble has. But my question is that, why should we kill ourselves to make these companies which cheat the ignorant people more richer? I am not against medicines, until they are used for the well being of the billions who inhabit the planet, irrespective of every divisions.

The Johnson's Baby Crude Oil

   A beautiful mom, along with her cute little kid. They are playing together, unaware of everything else going on around them. The toothless smile of the baby and the satisfaction his mom feels remains in the minds of the spectators for ever. I am sure, it is one of the reasons why Johnson and Johnson uses the same theme to advertise almost all of their products.

   From their wide range of products, it seems the corporate giant has decided to take up all the responsibilities in bringing up a child. But how many of you know that apart from the baby products, the company also produces medicines?

   The possibility that their baby products and the paramedical products work in a mutual tie up can never be ignored. The multinational company, which always favours aggressive marketing will try to increase the demand of one product with the help of another one. 'Make products that cause diseases, Make medicines for them that create a lot more diseases'. This is the programme that Johnson and Johnson has been undertaking with out even a trace of guilt.

  I know, most of the readers wont be able to accept my arguments. How can an elegant foreign company do this? This will be the question popping up in your minds. For the answers, continue reading.

 Johnson and Johnson is a baby murderer. A company that has decided to decrease the population of the world, so that a reserved group of people can thrive, enjoying everything.

  Children who inhale Johnson's baby oil will get paralyzed and eventually die. Serious injuries will prevail even if the baby survives. Those who doubt can check the label behind the bottle. 

"Warning: For external use only. Keep out of reach of children to avoid accidental drinking; and inhalation which can cause serious injury. Discontinue use if skin irritation occurs."

  This warning never existed on the bottles before a couple of years. It happened as a result of an enquiry by the Maharashtra Government wing of Food and Drugs Administration.

  

 They discovered that these baby products do not obey the drug and cosmetics act of 1940(rule 17C(c)). The case was referred to the Central Drugs Controller General and as a result, the company had to add a warning that always remained unread.

Maharashtra FDA (i) No: FDA/A.R./baby product/123/05/1, 5 may 2005 (ii) FDA/A.R./baby product/128/05/1, 9 may 2005.

  Another outcome of the probe was that Johnson and Johnson had to mention the ingredients of their so-called baby oil.

  Most of the people till then believed that it was olive oil or coconut oil. What else will their beloved company offer for the soft and smooth skin of their babies?

  But the truth was almost shocking. The main ingredients in baby oil were Mineral oil, aloe barba denesis extracts, vitamin E acetate and fragrance.

  Most of you would have noticed the term mineral oil in the ingredients. A search to find what it is and how it is produced will lead you to some oil refineries where petrol, diesel and tar are derived from crude oil. Mineral oil also known as liquid petroleum is a by-product of petroleum during distillation (method of purification). It is transparent, colourless, and composed of alkanes(15-40 carbons) and has a density of 0.8 g cm^-3.

  It is a low value combustible toxic substance produced in very large quantities. It is used as transformer oil in transformers, as a coolant, and as engine oil for vehicles. The material is poorly biodegradable.

  Mineral oil now a days is commonly used in tonics, medicines and edible oils. No doubt why the generation is growing unhealthy.

  The method by which the mineral oil in Johnson's baby oil protects the child is more or less similar to laminating the baby. I do not deny the fact that it protects the baby's skin, but it has got more adverse effects.

  Our skin is an important organ, which regulates the body temperature, expels toxic substances and wastes. It more over helps to produce the vital, vitamin D. From the moment the tender skin of the baby gets covered by the mineral oil, he starts dying. Bit by bit.

  Mineral oil causes a variety of other diseases too. I have short listed some of them here.

Inhalation: Coughing, shortness of breath, aspiration pneumonia, lung damage.

Ingestion: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.

Skin contact: Irritation, dermatitis due to hypersensitivity, dandruff production.

Eye contact: Irritation.

Chronic exposure: Skin cancer.

   

  Think for a moment, how much your baby can cope up with a toxic like this? Aren't your deeds degrading a child who was born healthy? Next time, before you add a bottle of Johnson's baby oil to your shopping list, look at the lovely face of your child. Be wise, let us cerate a healthy world.