What Happened to Contac Medicine? Recalls, Reformulations, and a Banned Ingredient

October 7, 2025 •

4 min read

In 1986, Contac, a popular cold medication, was pulled from store shelves following a product tampering scare. But this was not the only safety issue to change the product; the far more permanent answer to what happened to Contac medicine lies in a later FDA ban on a key ingredient.

Quick Summary

Contac's history involves two major events: a 1986 recall due to a nationwide product tampering scare and a 2000 FDA ban on the active ingredient phenylpropanolamine (PPA) over stroke risks. These events led to significant reformulations, and the medication sold today is a completely different product.

Key Points

1986 Tampering Recall: The original Contac capsules were recalled due to a tampering scare involving rat poison, similar to the Tylenol murders.
Shift to Tamper-Proof Packaging: The tampering incident prompted the company to reintroduce the medication in tamper-resistant caplets and sealed capsules.
2000 PPA Ban: The FDA requested a voluntary withdrawal of products containing Phenylpropanolamine (PPA), a decongestant in original Contac.
Stroke Risk Link: The FDA ban was triggered by a Yale University study linking PPA to an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke, especially in young women.
Reformulated Ingredients: The modern Contac products contain alternative active ingredients like acetaminophen and phenylephrine, not the banned PPA.
New Phenylephrine Concerns: The FDA has recently raised concerns about the oral effectiveness of phenylephrine, the replacement decongestant in many OTC products including Contac.
Different Product Today: The Contac medication available now is chemically distinct from the original formulation and reflects regulatory changes over the past decades.

Originally a prominent over-the-counter (OTC) treatment for cold symptoms, Contac was once a household name. However, its history is marked by two significant safety events that fundamentally changed the product and consumer trust in OTC medications. The combined impact of a product tampering crisis in the 1980s and a scientific finding that led to a major FDA ban in the 2000s means that the Contac of today is not the product many once knew.

The 1986 Tampering Scare and Recall

In the mid-1980s, the pharmaceutical industry was shaken by a wave of product tampering events following the notorious Tylenol poisonings. Contac became a casualty of this climate of fear in March 1986 when its capsules were voluntarily recalled nationwide. A caller had claimed responsibility for lacing nine capsules with rat poison, prompting the swift recall by manufacturer SmithKline Beckman Corporation.

The End of the Capsule

While the 1986 tampering did not permanently end the Contac brand, it did accelerate a profound shift in how OTC products were packaged. The scare created lasting consumer anxiety about capsules, which were easy to open and tamper with. In response, Contac was reintroduced later that year in solid, tamper-resistant 'caplets' and new, more secure capsule forms. The incident played a crucial role in the industry-wide transition toward modern, tamper-evident packaging.

The PPA Ban: The Ingredient That Caused the Real Disappearance

While the tampering event was temporary, the permanent change to Contac came in 2000 with an FDA public health advisory on phenylpropanolamine (PPA). PPA was a decongestant and appetite suppressant found in many OTC products, including the original Contac 12-hour cold capsules. Citing data from a Yale University study, the FDA requested that all manufacturers voluntarily stop marketing products containing PPA. In response, SmithKline Beecham Consumer Healthcare immediately ordered a removal of its PPA-containing Contac products from store shelves.

Scientific Findings Behind the Ban

The FDA's decision was based on a five-year Yale study that found a small but significant increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in the brain) linked to PPA use. The risk was particularly elevated in young women using the ingredient for weight loss, but the FDA concluded the safety concerns were too great for continued use in any OTC drug. The agency ultimately removed PPA from all drug products, effectively banning the ingredient.

Comparing Old and New Contac Formulations

The shift from the original Contac to its modern version is a stark illustration of how pharmacology and safety regulations change over time. The key difference lies in the replacement of PPA with other active ingredients.


Feature	Original Contac (Pre-2000)	Modern Contac (Post-2000)
Decongestant	Phenylpropanolamine (PPA)	Phenylephrine HCl
Primary Risk	Hemorrhagic Stroke	Concerns about oral effectiveness
Antihistamine	Included in some formulas	Chlorpheniramine Maleate (Night formula)
Pain/Fever Reliever	Included in some formulas	Acetaminophen (Day and Night)
Legal Status	Banned by FDA	Permitted, but oral efficacy under review
Packaging	Early capsules prone to tampering	Tamper-evident caplets and packaging

The Modern Contac Medicine

Today, products sold under the Contac brand name use a different formulation entirely. These versions typically contain alternative active ingredients, including:

Acetaminophen: A common pain reliever and fever reducer.
Phenylephrine HCl: An oral decongestant that replaced PPA. However, in 2024, the FDA proposed ending the use of oral phenylephrine in OTC products, citing a lack of efficacy, though not safety concerns like PPA.
Chlorpheniramine Maleate: An antihistamine included in the nighttime formulas to help with runny nose and sneezing.

This new product and its active ingredients are subject to ongoing regulatory scrutiny, as demonstrated by the FDA's recent focus on oral phenylephrine. This highlights the ongoing evolution of OTC medication safety and effectiveness.

What Consumers Should Know Today

For consumers, the main takeaway is that the cold medicine bearing the Contac name today is a completely different product from the one sold decades ago. Due to successive events—the 1986 tampering scare and the 2000 PPA ban—the product's formulation has been permanently altered for safety. It's crucial for consumers to always read the Drug Facts label to understand the specific active ingredients in any medication they purchase, as formulas and regulatory guidance can change over time.

Conclusion

From a national tampering scare to a critical FDA ban on a core ingredient, the story of what happened to Contac medicine serves as a significant case study in the history of consumer pharmaceuticals. The dual crises forced a re-evaluation of product safety, leading to permanent changes in both medication formulation and packaging. While the Contac brand still exists, its journey from its original form to its modern, reformulated version is a powerful reminder of the dynamic nature of drug regulation and the ever-evolving standards for public health.

Learn more about the FDA's findings on Phenylpropanolamine on their official website: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/information-drug-class/phenylpropanolamine-ppa-information-page

Frequently Asked Questions

The original Contac formulation was discontinued primarily because the FDA banned its main active ingredient, phenylpropanolamine (PPA), in 2000 due to a link with an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

Yes, in 1986, Contac was recalled nationwide after instances of product tampering were discovered, which prompted the manufacturer to reintroduce it in more secure, tamper-resistant packaging.

Yes, the FDA's ban on PPA affected hundreds of over-the-counter cold remedies and diet pills that contained the ingredient at the time.

Today's Contac products typically use phenylephrine HCl as a nasal decongestant, which replaced the banned PPA.

In 2024, the FDA formally proposed removing oral phenylephrine from OTC products, stating that a review found it is not effective for relieving nasal congestion, though it was not banned for safety reasons like PPA.

Modern Contac formulations often include acetaminophen for pain and fever, and the nighttime formulas also contain an antihistamine like chlorpheniramine maleate.

No, the original Contac containing PPA is no longer manufactured or sold anywhere due to the permanent FDA ban on the ingredient.