Voice-over:
Americans battling stuffy noses often seek relief from over-the-counter medicines containing
pseudoephedrine. But recent abuse of the drug, a decongestant that can be
used to illegally manufacture methamphetamine, has caused concerns.
Voice-over:
In September, federal law will require stores and pharmacies to keep products containing
pseudoephedrine behind the counter. So manufacturers are reformulating many of their familiar
brands, replacing the drug with the ingredient phenylephrine in cold and allergy products that will
be sold up front on store shelves. But University of Florida pharmacy experts, writing in the
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, say this replacement ingredient doesn't pack the
same nose-clearing punch as pseudoephedrine products. While ninety percent of the old drug
gets into the bloodstream, only about thirty percent of the new ingredient actually gets absorbed.
A 1976 F-D-A ruling cleared the new drug for use, but only in a small dose. Although studies
show that some patients will not find the new formulations effective, drug companies are legally
allowed to sell them.
Dr. Leslie Hendeles / UF pharmacy professor
"So I think the companies have legally been allowed to do this because of the 1976 ruling. But I think that the ྈ ruling is out of date and while they're legally allowed to sell this, it's not going to help patients."
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Common decongestants containing pseudoephedrine can still be accessed by stuffy nose
sufferers. Only now they will need to ask the pharmacist for these products, as well as sign a
logbook and show a photo I-D. U-F pharmacists recommend patients fighting common cold
congestion use a decongestant nasal spray to immediately open up nasal passages. But if
allergies are the cause of a stuffy nose, patients should use a prescription medicine, or ask for
pseudoephedrine from behind the counter.
Dr. Leslie Hendeles / UF pharmacy professor
"If you've got a stuffy nose and you would take an oral decongestant, go to the pharmacy and get the real active, effective medication pseudoephedrine from the pharmacist."
Voice-over:
At the University of Florida Health Science Center, I'm Mike Garrison
