Issue Date: January 28, 2007
A new Rx law
Some OTC drugs have gone behind the counter.
By Dr. Tedd Mitchell
Hundreds of drugs found over-the-counter are affected by a new law.
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The ready availability of over-the-counter (OTC) medications that previously were available by prescription only is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it's easier to treat common maladies without the hassle of contacting the doctor. On the other hand, if used improperly, OTC medications can have serious side effects.
Unfortunately, one OTC drug has created a problem for law enforcement officers,a conundrum for FDA advisers and a headache for consumers. The drug is pseudoephedrine, a medication used to treat nasal and sinus congestion. It is also a key component used to make methamphetamine, a highly addictive, illegal drug that can be made at home with relatively simple ingredients.
To deal with this problem, Congress passed the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005. As a result of this legislation, medications containing pseudoephedrine, although not requiring a prescription, must be kept behind the counter. Those who need these medicines must show photo ID and may purchase only a limited supply. Furthermore, all transactions are logged so that law enforcement agencies can monitor the amount of pseudoephedrine being purchased by a given individual or at a particular location.
All OTC medications with pseudoephedrine (such as Sudafed Nasal Decongestant, Tylenol Cold Severe Congestion Daytime and Advil Allergy Sinus) have been affected by the new law, which went into effect in 2006.
Tedd Mitchell, M.D., president and medical director of Dallas' Cooper Clinic, writes HealthSmart every week.
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