PSEUDOEPHEDRINE AGAIN: TOWARD CRIMINALIZING A STUFFY NOSE
I can't help it, but I'm coming back to this. This is the endpoint irritant of disrespect to all community pharmacy professionals, and I do not care about the presumed legalistic virtue of it: the "controlled-drug" status of pseudoephedrine.
Our national government has put this excellent over-the-counter drug, not just in the status of a potential threat to public order, but in the status of a potential threat to homeland security! The federal law governing pseudoephedrine sales is part of the USA Patriot Act. Because of Al Quaeda, you are now, in some semblance, a potential terrorist if you seek relief for a stuffy nose.
Of course, sales of pseudoephedrine (PSE) have been restricted because the drug is a precursor in the manufacture of the illicit and fiercely addictive drug methamphetamine (meth), certainly the scourge of the Nation, but now also the scource of pharmacy operations from purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain and sea to shining sea.
This isn't maudlin sentimentality, but real chagrin. I don't like the idea of a popular, effective, nonprescription medication becoming hard for ordinary, law-abiding, upper respiratorily challenged U.S. residents to get, and also having this happen in the new century. It goes totally against the grain of an Ole' Apothecary who has been the custodian of similar jurisprudence from former times. Why add to it? Have you ever heard of the so-called "exempt narcotics?" They were exempt from narcotic tax, but also exempt from prescription status. In the modern era, they are Schedule V controlled drug products which, in some states, can be bought without a prescription but must be purchased similarly to pseudoephedrine: the purchaser must be at least age 18 with proper ID, and must sign his or her name and address. Examples of these are Robitussin-AC, Tussar-SF, and Novahistine-DH codeine cough syrups, and (before they went off the market), the antidiarrheals Parepectolin (kaolin/pectin plus paregoric) and Donnagel-PG (belladonna alkaloids with paregoric). Folks bought these easily enough, and in early times, they were seldom abused. But, pseudephedrine isn't even directly abusable. Take a handful of Sudafed 12-Hour caplets, and you'll get rather agitated, sweaty, and tachycardic, and your blood pressure will crack the mercury column. So, you won't seek that feeling again.
The problem is with the illicit drug makers and dealers. Prior to the federal and state regulations, these folks were able to obtain PSE by the carload for processing into meth. Surely, the sale of the drug must be monitored: I am in total agreement with that. But, I say, why must the task be thrown to the already strapped, busy, clinical staff in the pharmacy? Front store staff are perfectly capable of checking the IDs of PSE purchasers the same way they do for tobacco, beer, wine, liquor, or firearms ammunition. We need our technicians to help us fill prescriptions without the PSE interference, so we can more efficiently handle our professional duties of drug use evaluation and counseling.
I have occasional sinusitis, so today's PSE post was inspired by my visit to the local fast-food pharmacy for measured relief. I stood in the roped off HIPAA line for a few minutes, then stepped forward with my drivers license in hand, and asked for my Sudafed 12-Hour caplets. The technician-trainee filled out his little booklet slip and had me sign it, and I received my receipt categorizing the sale as "AGE RESTRICTED - LIMIT REACHED." The pharmacy staff all looked pretty tired and nervous, but somebody must still be stuck with this behavior-control scut work, and one needed pair of hands was taken away from the practice of pharmacy and handed over to pure law enforcement.
It may now be a crime to want freedom from rhinorrhea.
Our national government has put this excellent over-the-counter drug, not just in the status of a potential threat to public order, but in the status of a potential threat to homeland security! The federal law governing pseudoephedrine sales is part of the USA Patriot Act. Because of Al Quaeda, you are now, in some semblance, a potential terrorist if you seek relief for a stuffy nose.
Of course, sales of pseudoephedrine (PSE) have been restricted because the drug is a precursor in the manufacture of the illicit and fiercely addictive drug methamphetamine (meth), certainly the scourge of the Nation, but now also the scource of pharmacy operations from purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain and sea to shining sea.
This isn't maudlin sentimentality, but real chagrin. I don't like the idea of a popular, effective, nonprescription medication becoming hard for ordinary, law-abiding, upper respiratorily challenged U.S. residents to get, and also having this happen in the new century. It goes totally against the grain of an Ole' Apothecary who has been the custodian of similar jurisprudence from former times. Why add to it? Have you ever heard of the so-called "exempt narcotics?" They were exempt from narcotic tax, but also exempt from prescription status. In the modern era, they are Schedule V controlled drug products which, in some states, can be bought without a prescription but must be purchased similarly to pseudoephedrine: the purchaser must be at least age 18 with proper ID, and must sign his or her name and address. Examples of these are Robitussin-AC, Tussar-SF, and Novahistine-DH codeine cough syrups, and (before they went off the market), the antidiarrheals Parepectolin (kaolin/pectin plus paregoric) and Donnagel-PG (belladonna alkaloids with paregoric). Folks bought these easily enough, and in early times, they were seldom abused. But, pseudephedrine isn't even directly abusable. Take a handful of Sudafed 12-Hour caplets, and you'll get rather agitated, sweaty, and tachycardic, and your blood pressure will crack the mercury column. So, you won't seek that feeling again.
The problem is with the illicit drug makers and dealers. Prior to the federal and state regulations, these folks were able to obtain PSE by the carload for processing into meth. Surely, the sale of the drug must be monitored: I am in total agreement with that. But, I say, why must the task be thrown to the already strapped, busy, clinical staff in the pharmacy? Front store staff are perfectly capable of checking the IDs of PSE purchasers the same way they do for tobacco, beer, wine, liquor, or firearms ammunition. We need our technicians to help us fill prescriptions without the PSE interference, so we can more efficiently handle our professional duties of drug use evaluation and counseling.
I have occasional sinusitis, so today's PSE post was inspired by my visit to the local fast-food pharmacy for measured relief. I stood in the roped off HIPAA line for a few minutes, then stepped forward with my drivers license in hand, and asked for my Sudafed 12-Hour caplets. The technician-trainee filled out his little booklet slip and had me sign it, and I received my receipt categorizing the sale as "AGE RESTRICTED - LIMIT REACHED." The pharmacy staff all looked pretty tired and nervous, but somebody must still be stuck with this behavior-control scut work, and one needed pair of hands was taken away from the practice of pharmacy and handed over to pure law enforcement.
It may now be a crime to want freedom from rhinorrhea.
