federal pseudoephedrine law

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Paul Trusten, R.Ph. - 22 Apr 2006 13:49 GMT

Recently, I read that the revised USA Patriot Act contained a provision to
make the pseudoephedrine regulations uniform throughout the U.S. The federal
measure does NOT require a pharmacist or pharmacy to be the bean-counters,
but rather, requires that a store (ANY store, not just a pharmacy) lock up
the pseudoephedrine products and keep a log. In other words, the federal law
is not as intrusive on the profession of pharmacy as some of the state laws
restricting the sale of the products to pharmacies. I'm sure that some
people in such states as Oklahoma would argue that their plans are more
effective in combating methamphatamine, but I believe that such plans are
oppressive, and counter-productive, to the pharmacy profession, and should
be repealed, in favor of the federal law, which is think is fairer to the
consumer as well (people in rural areas would not have to travel great
distances and at odd hours to find a pharmacy open).

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Pumbaa - 22 Apr 2006 15:23 GMT

> Recently, I read that the revised USA Patriot Act contained a provision to
> make the pseudoephedrine regulations uniform throughout the U.S. The federal
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> consumer as well (people in rural areas would not have to travel great
> distances and at odd hours to find a pharmacy open).

Paul I think we have enough federal laws that tell us Pharmacists what we
can and can't do. If you don't like a law it is easier to get a State law
changed than a Federal law.

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Bill - 22 Apr 2006 19:29 GMT

I live in a rural area and need to drive a ways to go to the store. So I
stock up when I go shopping. Also if something is on sale, I'll buy quite a
bit.

When I have a cold, I'll buy a couple of boxes of the night time pills, the
day time pills, and cough medicine. They would let me buy that many last
time.

And with allergy season, I know I'll need several packages for the season.
But the last several years, they limit me to two packages.

This does not seem to make a dent in the drug problems around here to my
knowledge, but it does irritate me, costs me more money in gas to go back to
the store. And when I have a cold/flu, I don't feel like going shopping
several times. I would rather go once and get it all done.

I don't mind showing my drivers license. Seems to me the drug types could go
to multiple stores to get what they need. Why not record *who* is buying
what. Have a central database or something. Take down their drivers license
number.

Then the people who buy this stuff from many many different stores and on a
frequent basis would stand out.

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mrbrklyn - 12 May 2006 21:11 GMT

> I'm sure that some
> people in such states as Oklahoma would argue that their plans are more
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> consumer as well (people in rural areas would not have to travel great
> distances and at odd hours to find a pharmacy open).

The law is crazy at this point because federal law requires an ID to buy
psuedophedrine products. This is all just pushing the innocent and
forcing my patients to use less safe drugs, like Phenylephrine, which was
scaled back from the market years ago because of concerns for heart
patients.

I actually have to dispense needles to drug addicts now, and ask for a
drivers license for a patient with a runny nose. Why? Because law
enforcement can't do their jobs.

Its stupid.

Ruben

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