that contain an ingredient that has been linked to rare cases of strokes in adults.

Around 30 different products, including cough and cold medicine, and diet formulas, are affected by the warning. They include Alka-Seltzer Plus, Contac, Comtrex, Dexatrim and Robittussin CF.

They all contain the drug Phenylpropanolamine (PPA), which the US Food and Drug Administration says has been tied to "very rare'' cases of bleeding strokes in adults, particularly women, under the age of 50.

Island wholesalers BGA issued a notice to all their customers, advising them to withdraw the product from their shelves. And they warned consumers to avoid taking products containing PPA until a full assessment of the risk has been made. John Tomlinson, chief executive of BGA, said all their pharmacies -- which included the Phoenix Stores -- had complied with the request.

However, he added that they had no control over independent pharmacies, particularly those who imported their own supplies from the US.

He said some may want to wait for an official ruling in Bermuda.

"In most cases people have taken them off the shelves,'' he said. "We believe this advice is a precautionary measure.'' But pharmacist Colin Deeney, of Robertson's Drug Store in St. George's, said there were already safeguards in place as a pharmacist doing his job would check with the customer what they were planning to take and whether it was suitable.

In addition, he said there was conflicting advice from the US and UK authorities -- with the Americans advising a stop on the products and the British not agreeing.

He said they were quite happy to take them off the shelves until they were given further advice by Bermudian authorities.

A five year study, conducted by Yale University's School of Medicine showed that stroke victims were 50 percent more likely to have been exposed to a drug containing PPA.

And 23 percent of those who had used a cold or cough medicine were more likely to have a stroke, but the risk increased by 16 times if they had used an appetite suppressant containing PPA.