The Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 has been incorporated into the Patriot Act signed by President Bush on March nine, 2006. The deed bans over-the-counter sales of cold medicines that contain the ingredient pseudoephedrine, which is commonly used to make methamphetamine. The sale of cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine is limited to backside the counter. The corporeality of pseudoephedrine that an individual can purchase each calendar month is limited and individuals are required to nowadays photo identification to purchase products containing pseudoephedrine. In addition, stores are required to keep personal information near purchasers for at to the lowest degree two years.

What is FDA announcing today?

The FDA is announcing new legal requirements for the legal sale and purchase of drug products containing pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine required by the Gainsay Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005.   This new constabulary calls for a comprehensive system of controls regarding   the distribution and sale of drug products that tin can be used in the illicit production of methamphetamine.

What is The Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Deed of 2005?

The Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Deed of 2005 has been included in the Patriot Neb signed by the President on March 9, 2006.   The Human activity would ban over-the-counter sales of common cold medicines that contain ingredients that are commonly used to make methamphetamine such as pseudoephedrine.

Who has responsibility for enforcement of the Human activity?

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

What is pseudoephedrine?

Pseudoephedrine is a drug found in both prescription and over-the-counter products used to salve nasal or sinus congestion caused past the mutual cold, sinusitis, hay fever, and other respiratory allergies.   It can also exist used illegally to produce methamphetamine.

What is methamphetamine?

Methamphetamine is a powerful, highly addictive stimulant.  It is manufactured in covert, illegal laboratories throughout the United States. Methamphetamine can exist ingested by swallowing, inhaling, injecting or smoking.   The side effects, which arise from the apply and corruption of methamphetamine, include irritability, nervousness, insomnia, nausea, low, and brain damage.

Methamphetamine Fact Sheet from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration

Does this hateful I demand a prescription from my dr. to buy pseudoephedrine?

No.  The Human action allows for the sale of pseudoephedrine but from locked cabinets or behind the counter.  The law:

  • limits the monthly corporeality any individual could purchase
  • requires individuals to present photo identification to purchase such medications
  • requires retailers to keep personal data nearly these customers for at least two years after the buy of these medicines.

When volition this police force have upshot?

This police force becomes effective September 30, 2006.

Does the requirements of this constabulary touch on combination products, or just products that contain pure pseudoephedrine?

The requirements of this law will impact all products that contain ingredients pseudoephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, and ephedrine.

I still see Sudafed PE on the shelves.   Is this unlike from regular Sudafed?

Yep, Sudafed PE is dissimilar from Sudafed.   Sudafed contains the active ingredient Pseudoephedrine, while the active ingredient in Sudafed PE is Phenylephrine.   In response to the issue of misuse of pseudoephedrine-containing products, many companies are voluntarily re-formulating their products to exclude phenylpropanolamine, ephedrine, and pseudoephedrine.

What are all the products that include the ingredients afflicted past this new law?

The FDA recommends that consumers read the labels of OTC drug products to determine if the production contains pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine. FDA believes this to be the virtually authentic method for determining the contents of OTC products rather than providing an incomplete or out-of-date list of products that may take already been reformulated and no longer contain these ingredients.

Products containing pseudoephedrine are already considered prescription controlled substances in my land.   Does this new law change that status?

In response to the misuse of methamphetamine, many country governments have issued regulations decision-making the sale of these products.   This should not effect the restrictions already placed in your country.

I have chronic sinus problems.  Will I be limited from getting the amount of pseudoephedrine I need?

Yep, with this new law there volition be limits on the number of tablets of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine that tin can be purchased in a thirty-day period.  Every bit in that location are many dissimilar dosages and formulations of these products, you should ask your chemist how much you volition be immune to buy over a 30-24-hour interval menses for specific production you utilize.

How will this alter the mode pseudoephedrine is sold?

The Act requires that each regulated seller ensure that:

  • Customers practice not have straight access to the product before the sale is made.
  • A written or electronic "logbook" listing sales is kept that identifies the products by name, quantity sold, names and addresses of purchasers, and the dates and times of the sales.
  • There is a limit on the amount that can be purchased in a single mean solar day and in a month.

What does "behind-the-counter" hateful?

The Act defines "behind-the-counter" as placement of the product to ensure that customers do not accept directly access to the product earlier the sale is fabricated. In other words, placement may be in a secure location in the chemist's prescription-filling surface area or in a locked cabinet that is located in the area of the facility to which customers exercise not have directly admission.   In all cases, the seller will deliver the product directly into the custody of the heir-apparent.

Volition grooming be required for personnel responsible for selling pseudoephedrine ?

Companies selling products containing pseudoephedrine are required to submit to the Attorney Full general a statement regarding self-certification and grooming on the new police force.

What almost a sample size package containing but ane-ii pills of pseudoephedrine similar those often sold at gas stations or grocery stores?

The Human activity exempts the requirements of a "logbook" to any purchase by an private of a single sales package if that package contains not more than lx milligrams of pseudoephedrine.   These unmarried dose packages have to remain behind the counter.

What volition be required to purchase pseudoephedrine?

 In order to purchase pseudoephedrine

Buyers must:

  • Present a photo identification carte du jour issued by the Land or the Federal Government or a document that is considered adequate past the seller
  • Enter into the logbook their data such as proper noun, address, date and time of sale, and signature

Sellers must:

  • Verify the logbook entries, and enter in the name of the product and quantity sold

What if I have other questions nearly pseudoephedrine or this new police force?

If you have farther questions regarding pseudoephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, ephedrine, or whatever medications, please contact the Division of Drug Information in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) at: 888-INFOFDA (888-463-6332 ), or email united states of america at: druginfo@fda.hhs.gov