# Buying Sudafed...The "good stuff". **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 1, 2011, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-sudafed-the-good-stuff/590980 "2011-08-01T00:16:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-sudafed-the-good-stuff/590980/41 "2011-08-01T23:25:11Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Out of curiosity, what type of pills can you buy? Is there a limit on the codeine strength before you need a script? Was this Tylenol/codeine or just codeine? You can buy either Tylenol/Codeine (Tylenol 1) or Asprin/Codeine (222’s). Both of those have 8mg of codeine per pill. Pure codeine and higher dosages (tylenol 3) are still prescription only. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-sudafed-the-good-stuff/590980/42 "2011-08-02T02:06:07Z")
> [@Marconi\_N.Cheese](#): > > It’s not a St Louis county thing yet but most of the little burgs in the county are prescription only. I don’t understand how they can do that but they are. > I wonder if that includes possession? And if I have a script, doesn’t that give me some protection from the prying eyes of the man? \<- iffy? > > I hate being punished because of a few assholes. Meth labs, puppy mills and buck toothed hillbillies. And that’s just our elected officials. > MOSux (Two jail inmates meet in jail)…Inmate#1: “Hey man, I just got picked up for giving my old lady a black eye…It sucks. What’re you in here for?” Inmate#2: “Possession of Sudafed”. Inmate#2: :eek::eek: ---
**Author:** ![Zulema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/db5fbb/32.png) [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-sudafed-the-good-stuff/590980/43 "2011-08-02T02:20:33Z")
When this all started they were saying that liquid medications with pseudoephedrine would still be available on the shelf because the drug couldn’t be isolated form the rest of the liquids. I expected to see all kinds of liquids and gel caps come on the market but it never happened. They were even saying that you would be able to buy one 24 or 48 hour amount off the shelf for cold emergencies when the pharmacy was closed and that never happened either. ---
**Author:** ![Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirka_T_Bawa)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-sudafed-the-good-stuff/590980/44 "2011-08-02T02:46:55Z")
> [@Zulema](#): > > When this all started they were saying that liquid medications with pseudoephedrine would still be available on the shelf because the drug couldn’t be isolated form the rest of the liquids. I expected to see all kinds of liquids and gel caps come on the market but it never happened. They were even saying that you would be able to buy one 24 or 48 hour amount off the shelf for cold emergencies when the pharmacy was closed and that never happened either. By federal law, Single dose psudoephedrine packages aren’t restricted. I have seen the single packs that have 2 tablets of 30mg psudoephedrine in the gas stations around here. So, if they are restricted where you live, that is a state thing, not a federal thing. I haven’t heard anything about the liquids though. The psudoephedrine suspensions (for children normally), are behind the pharmacy counter here. (I’m in Georgia for the record. I know Georgia law, so that is all I speak for) ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-sudafed-the-good-stuff/590980/45 "2011-08-02T03:14:57Z")
Thanks for the heads-up. Sudafed+Costco Claritin will drop my daily allergy cost from $1.46 to $0.45 if everything works the same. Eta: whaddaya ripoff… Claritin OTC: 0.08 a pill, for 24 hours. Claritin D: $0.73 a pill, twice a day. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-sudafed-the-good-stuff/590980/46 "2011-08-02T05:13:41Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > You can buy either Tylenol/Codeine (Tylenol 1) or Asprin/Codeine (222’s). Both of those have 8mg of codeine per pill. Pure codeine and higher dosages (tylenol 3) are still prescription only. Do some of the provincial or municipal jurisdictions have stricter controls? Last I checked, Schedule V controlled substances, which includes the weaker Tylenol/Codeine and codeine cough syrups (e.g. Robitussin AC), actually _don’t_ require a prescription under Federal drug laws in the States. But the majority of states have their own stricter laws in place about this. Had this not been the case, I think the Feds would have simply decided that Sudafed would now be a Schedule V controlled substance. To those in jurisdictions where you need a script to by Sudafed, are they renewable? ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-sudafed-the-good-stuff/590980/47 "2011-08-02T14:28:09Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > Do some of the provincial or municipal jurisdictions have stricter controls? Last I checked, Schedule V controlled substances, which includes the weaker Tylenol/Codeine and codeine cough syrups (e.g. Robitussin AC), actually _don’t_ require a prescription under Federal drug laws in the States. But the majority of states have their own stricter laws in place about this. > > Had this not been the case, I think the Feds would have simply decided that Sudafed would now be a Schedule V controlled substance. > > To those in jurisdictions where you need a script to by Sudafed, are they renewable? I have never run into, nor am I able to find a cite for, any jurisdictional variation in pharmacutecal laws in Canada. They appear to be federal only. Also I was a little tongue in cheek about Sudafed. In Canada it’s either handled the same as the 222/Tylenol 1 pills, behind the counter but no additional controls or on the shelf. ---
**Author:** ![FoundWaldo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dfb087/32.png) [@FoundWaldo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoundWaldo)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-sudafed-the-good-stuff/590980/48 "2011-08-02T15:12:03Z")
> [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](#): > > Personally, I have no problem selling psudoephedrine, it is my nasal decongestant of choice, and I recommend it to all my patients. In my experience it works much better then phenylephrine. However, I have seen some shady people try to buy the maximum amount they can, and they always seem to ask for Sudefed 24hr or 12hr. I buy the 12 hour because the regular kind really only works for about 3 hours for me, which means I can’t sleep through the night without waking up congested. I don’t use it very often, only for a few weeks a year when my allergies are out of control, but I’ve never understood how people can stand using the short duration stuff. Maybe it just wears out faster for me than for most people. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-sudafed-the-good-stuff/590980/49 "2011-08-02T16:44:53Z")
> [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](#): > > Congress is the ones who set up all the rules and regulations on psuedoephedrine sales, as part of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005. However, the various states have made a lot of their own rules, which might be stricter then the national requirements. Thanks for the tip. It’s nice to know that these decisions aren’t being made by some random guy in the basement of the FDA. On the other hand it seems, to me, like a waste of congress’ time to be crafting laws about every drug that may or may not be used for illegitimate purposes. Led me to the Wiki [CMEA Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_Methamphetamine_Epidemic_Act_of_2005) that included this interesting statement: > [@](#): > > “The CMEA requires record-keeping and identification of all sales and reports to law enforcement of any ‘suspicious’ transactions. Purchasers are limited to ‘3.6 grams of pseudoephedrine base’ per day and 9 grams per month. (Buying more than that is a federal misdemeanor.)”[2] So basically, unless someone keeps track of my psuedoephedrine purchases, it would be easy for me to go over the limit and inadvertently commit a federal misdemeanor. It appears that some of the pharmacies I’ve been to lately have some sort of system to track purchases. A system that is broken for me because they got a typo in my driver’s license expiration date that says mine has expired. Maybe when I get a new license in 2 years they will be able to correct the error and I can buy psuedophed again. I also would like to understand how a pharmacy employee is supposed to judge whether a person is ‘suspicious.’ I get the stinkeye every time ask for the stuff so I have to wonder if there is the air of a meth addict about me. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-sudafed-the-good-stuff/590980/50 "2011-08-02T22:29:53Z")
Considering meth production involves kitty litter, I’m surprised someone hasn’t suggested putting THAT behind the counter. (I’m not kidding – I honestly would not be surprised) > [@OpalCat](#): > > That was what was in the original Dimetapp, back when Dimetapp was the good stuff. Mmmm…Dimetapp. Plus it tasted like grape popscicles. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-sudafed-the-good-stuff/590980/51 "2011-08-03T00:09:12Z")
[QUOTE=shiftless] I also would like to understand how a pharmacy employee is supposed to judge whether a person is ‘suspicious.’ I get the stinkeye every time ask for the stuff so I have to wonder if there is the air of a meth addict about me. [/QUOTE] Should be easy enough. A legitimately sick customer will show telltale signs: red eyes, a sniffle, grinding his teeth with irritation over the extra hassle, and nervously looking around because he knows he’s being watched. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-sudafed-the-good-stuff/590980/52 "2011-08-03T00:14:25Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Should be easy enough. A legitimately sick customer will show telltale signs: red eyes, a sniffle, grinding his teeth with irritation over the extra hassle, and nervously looking around because he knows he’s being watched. AAAND they smell like Vinyl…and turnips. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-sudafed-the-good-stuff/590980/53 "2011-08-03T22:01:14Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > Also I was a little tongue in cheek about Sudafed. In Canada it’s either handled the same as the 222/Tylenol 1 pills, behind the counter but no additional controls or on the shelf. This is how Schedule V drugs were intended to be handled by the federal Controlled Substances Act. A lot of the states model their own laws on the CSA, but include language that says Schedule V requires a prescription. I believe this is why the Feds, when deciding to impose additional controls on pseudoephedrine, didn’t simply place it in Schedule V. Such federal insurance programs as we have down here would have found themselves having to pay for all those doctor visits, unless all the states’ drug laws concerning the substance were brought into line with the more relaxed stance of the CSA. Private prescription drug plans might also have objected similarly. ---
**Author:** ![Hover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecc23a/32.png) [@Hover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hover)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-sudafed-the-good-stuff/590980/54 "2013-03-20T19:00:59Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > Although they keep stuff with codeine behind the counter you don’t need to present ID nor do they take down your name. In Canada? In most provinces they actually do take down your name and contact info for codeine but only the odd paternalistic pharmacist or freshly graduated ones wanting to impress their employer -would usually could care less- ask for ID. Having dual US-Canadian citizenship I only give them my US ID when this happens and when they see it they don’t enter it in the computer. I once asked the pharmacist why she didn’t enter them and she said the program was for provincial stats only. I think sales of codeine are tracked by each province through their respective medicare system, not the feds. As for pseudoephedrine the province where I live when I’m in Canada (7 months a year) does not monitor sales whatsoever and pharmacies keep that drug on store shelves, not OTC. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-sudafed-the-good-stuff/590980.md?page=2)