# Cough syrup with codeine over the counter **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 27, 2009, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-codeine-over-the-counter/494569 "2009-04-27T23:30:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-codeine-over-the-counter/494569/21 "2009-04-28T12:28:40Z")
Wow, I had no idea it was technically legal in much of the US. I guess it’s sort of like it’s legal to own a gun in Chicago (just no one will let you register it.) ---
**Author:** ![Blabbermouth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blabbermouth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blabbermouth)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-codeine-over-the-counter/494569/22 "2012-01-08T11:36:46Z")
> [@JayRx1981](#): > > At least in Ohio, your pharmacist can still sell you said product over the counter, if you sign for it. The problem is that most of us don’t want to sell it, so we just don’t keep it in stock. We’re only supposed to sell it if, in our professional judgement, the patient needs it, and most of us won’t sell it to you, even if we do carry it, until you satisfy that requirement. My own requirement to meet that, as an example, are that you must have tried two available over the counter remedies without success first (or demonstrated intolerance to those agents), in addition to having a clear cough when you visit me (seriously, people have come in who didn’t cough once NOR exhibit any verbal scratchiness and got upset when I wouldn’t sell to them). If you don’t mind some constructive critism, that is just stupid. I can go a whole day without coughing and go to bed and cough my ass off. If someone is coughing when asking you for codeine cough syrup and coughing they may be putting on a show. They might not have a cough at all but maybe drug addicts. Wouldn’t you feel dumb if you didn’t sell a bottle of codeine cough syrup to a drug addict. I bet allot of people who ask are drug addicts and need that cough syrup more than someone who has a cough. You simply sell the bottle until you get a repeat customer. Than you sell it to him again and tell him it is the last one and recommend a place for him to detox. One thing for sure, you don’t deny cough syrup because the customer won’t perform for you. But one time you might just accidentally deny a sale to some addict, how will you feel than? ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-codeine-over-the-counter/494569/23 "2012-01-08T13:56:29Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > IMHO, what killed it was the steady stream of opiate abusers shuffling from pharmacy to pharmacy, trying to get their dose. Scared other customers, took up the pharmacist’s time more than the sale was worth, and the word of mouth led to more of these folks popping by to get their codeine. > > At least that’s what I was told by 4 or 5 pharmacists who ran their own Mom & Pop operations back in the 70’s and 80’s. Wikipedia claims only 300mg of codeine can be metabolized into morphine per 24 hours, which comes out something like less than 30mg of morphine per day. The schedule 5 syrup if you drank the whole bottle has around 120mg of codeine and costs somewhere around $20 dollars. :dubious: That you could have any kind of a habit with that, and at $40 dollars a day might as well buy pills on the street or heroin. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-codeine-over-the-counter/494569/24 "2012-01-08T13:58:37Z")
I wish I hadn’t read thread; I’m addicted to codeine although I am now in recovery. I find myself wondering if I could buy the product in Florida. The pharmacy I used has noted on my profile to never sell me codeine medications. (I requested this) I live in Florida and don’t know the rule concerning this product. Do pharmacies that do sell this product cross check to customer’s profile in determining to sell this medication to them? ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-codeine-over-the-counter/494569/25 "2012-01-08T14:07:34Z")
[quote=“LouisB, post:24, topic:494569”] The pharmacy I used has noted on my profile to never sell me codeine medications. (I requested this) I live in Florida and don’t know the rule concerning this product. QUOTE] Do you mean prescriptions? Because I think the schedule 5 syrup is the only codeine containing medicine that can be sold at the pharmacist’s discretion, everything else is RX only. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-codeine-over-the-counter/494569/26 "2012-01-08T14:10:51Z")
> [@The\_Great\_Philosopher](#): > > In the UK you can buy it over the counter in small concentrations as part of cough medicine; they always mix it with paracetamol or ibuprofen so that you’d tank your liver if you tried to get high with it. I seriously doubt that is the reason they add an analgesic. Liver damage is hardly preferable to addiction. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-codeine-over-the-counter/494569/27 "2012-01-08T15:14:28Z")
[quote=“grude, post:25, topic:494569”] > [@LouisB](#): > > The pharmacy I used has noted on my profile to never sell me codeine medications. (I requested this) I live in Florida and don’t know the rule concerning this product. > > QUOTE] > > Do you mean prescriptions? Because I think the schedule 5 syrup is the only codeine containing medicine that can be sold at the pharmacist’s discretion, everything else is RX only. My pharmacy knows I have told them never to sell me prescription medications that contain codeine; it is the under the counter medications that concern me. I do not want any medications that contain codeine. But if i know that an under the counter medication contains codeine it is just another temptation for me to buy it----I don’t need any temptations. If I CAN buy it, I Will buy it. I don’t want to be ABLE to buy it. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-codeine-over-the-counter/494569/28 "2012-01-08T15:22:04Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Wikipedia claims only 300mg of codeine can be metabolized into morphine per 24 hours, which comes out something like less than 30mg of morphine per day. > > The schedule 5 syrup if you drank the whole bottle has around 120mg of codeine and costs somewhere around $20 dollars. > > :dubious: That you could have any kind of a habit with that, and at $40 dollars a day might as well buy pills on the street or heroin. That’s assuming a steady black market supply of heroin or oxycodone, or vicodin is always readily available. In lots of areas it’s not, and an addict in withdrawal will look to other sources of opioids (or anything remotely opioid), like schedule V codeine cough syrup, lomotil, or even dextromethorphan. Hell, even clonidine has a street value as it cuts the withdrawal symptoms somewhat. I’ve had patients who stole someone’s clonidine when they couldn’t get an opioid. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-codeine-over-the-counter/494569/29 "2012-01-08T18:36:46Z")
I wouldn’t buy the codeine medicine under the counter thinking it would give me a rush; I would buy it simply because I could; if you’ve never been an addict, I wouldn’t expect you to believe or understand that. I made a trip to my pharmacy after reading this thread specifically to asked about such availability. I was told that their corporate headquarters has ruled out the under counter sales of any medicine that contains codeine. I’m grateful for that. I also learned that IF they did make such sales, they would not check my profile----it would a simple sale that would be a little more difficult than buying a bottle of aspiring. I’m going to spend the rest of the day fighting the compulsion to take codeine; it’s a damn good thing that I don’t have any. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-codeine-over-the-counter/494569/30 "2012-01-08T18:41:11Z")
I’ve lost the ability to spell for some reason. Please ignore the errors in my previous post. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-codeine-over-the-counter/494569/31 "2012-01-08T18:45:35Z")
I bought some in France back in August, no questions asked. Haven’t been able to get any here though. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-codeine-over-the-counter/494569/32 "2012-01-08T22:27:53Z")
Does the codeine help the zombies to stop coughing up old threads? ---
**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:** [January 10, 2012, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-codeine-over-the-counter/494569/33 "2012-01-10T05:20:36Z")
> [@JayRx1981](#): > > At least in Ohio, your pharmacist can still sell you said product over the counter, if you sign for it. The problem is that most of us don’t want to sell it, so we just don’t keep it in stock. We’re only supposed to sell it if, in our professional judgement, the patient needs it, and most of us won’t sell it to you, even if we do carry it, until you satisfy that requirement. My own requirement to meet that, as an example, are that you must have tried two available over the counter remedies without success first (or demonstrated intolerance to those agents), in addition to having a clear cough when you visit me (seriously, people have come in who didn’t cough once NOR exhibit any verbal scratchiness and got upset when I wouldn’t sell to them). I can understand this for a stranger who walks in off the street, but suppose you were “my” pharmacist, and I’d been bringing my prescriptions to you over a number of years, and buying OTC products as well. You’d know me well enough to know I’m not an abuser or addict, so would you absolutely not be willing to give me a break? I know, a “big grocery chain” sounds like it wouldn’t be the sort of situation where the pharmacists and techs would get to know the patients, but IME that often does happen, because the same staff have been seeing me at Savon the entire time I’ve been going there. Wouldn’t your familiarity with the customer ever override the “hacking cough” and “intolerance of other meds” prerequisite? This is strictly hypothetical since I’m nowhere near Ohio. And in my jurisdiction it’s completely moot as well, because in California a prescription is needed for Schedule V. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2012, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-codeine-over-the-counter/494569/34 "2012-01-19T20:39:55Z")
Since sales of pseudophedrine and ephedrine have been monitored for several years now, how is that working out? Of course, those stimulants aren’t the actual amphetamine type stimulants that speed freaks, or students cramming for exams, would like; so the parallel with C-V codeine can only be taken so far. Overall, however, have there been many problems with people buying this stuff beyond what the law allows? ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-codeine-over-the-counter/494569/35 "2012-01-19T21:01:27Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > Since sales of pseudophedrine and ephedrine have been monitored for several years now, how is that working out? Of course, those stimulants aren’t the actual amphetamine type stimulants that speed freaks, or students cramming for exams, would like; so the parallel with C-V codeine can only be taken so far. Overall, however, have there been many problems with people buying this stuff beyond what the law allows? Those are monitored for a slightly different reason. Not because of the effects of the monitored drug itself, but because it is an easy (though dangerous) starting point for making methamphetamine. When you ask how THAT is working out, you may wish to consider that amateur meth labs started using pseudoephedrine based medications to manufacture speed following government restrictions placed on phenyl-2-propanone (AKA phenylacetone), a precursor chemical used in earlier speed manufacture. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-codeine-over-the-counter/494569/36 "2012-01-20T01:08:55Z")
> [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](#): > > Federal labeling requirements do not make it as simple as pouring the cheratussin out of the pint bottle, into a normal 4oz prescription bottle and slapping a normal label on it. You could do that, but you would have to order the labels special in order to meet the federal requirements. > > The only time I’ve actually ordered the 4oz bottle, it was actually for me (had a really bad cough). We just ordered the bottle from Mckesson like we would have any other medication. Just make sure you order the 118mL bottle, and not the 473mL bottle. (NDC probably just ends in 04 instead of 16 if I remember correctly). In Georgia, it is required by law to have the exception log in the pharmacy, so if it is the same in your state, the only thing stopping you is whatever policy Walmart has on selling it. > > Since I know you do (or used to) work in a pharmacy from your previous posts, I’m sure your pharmacist knows someone that works at another chain or independent that would be willing to order it for you. Bit of a hijack here, what do you know about compounding pharmacies? Would it be possible for my doc to write up a scrip so all my morning BP meds are all crammed into a single cap instead of 5 pills of assorted sizes? And maybe add in the active ingredient in my metformin? I am tired of horking down a handfull of pills at breakfast =( ---
**Author:** ![spankthecrumpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@spankthecrumpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spankthecrumpet)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-codeine-over-the-counter/494569/37 "2012-03-02T17:38:40Z")
Possibly a bit late for the OP but someone mentioned this thread in another one and I thought I could be helpful by mentioning you can buy codeine cough syrup from [amazon.co.uk](http://amazon.co.uk) and they will ship it to the US. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-codeine-over-the-counter/494569/38 "2012-03-02T17:47:26Z")
I asked about cough syrup with codeine at a pharmacy in Virginia this year. They told me that it was technically legal for OTC sale but that no, or very few, pharmacies will actually sell it to you. ---
**Author:** ![WorkingMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/76d3ee/32.png) [@WorkingMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WorkingMan)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2013, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-codeine-over-the-counter/494569/39 "2013-11-23T16:50:02Z")
There’s a pharmacy in Richmond, VA, in an affluent neighborhood, that sells codeine syrup in a bottle. Have to ask the pharmacist for it, of course, but my experience didn’t involve jumping through hoops or coughing. Just the ID and log book signature. I was going through some bad withdrawals and a friend recommended I go there. It was easy, although I felt I awkward. I did my best to conceal any sweating & shaking, but I’m quite positive the pharmacist could tell. He didn’t ask for an explanation, but gave me this derisive _look_ (as if to say: ‘you low-down drug addict’). He simply barked, “That’ll be 20 dollars.” I signed, then paid and was out the door. If you live in Richmond and need to know the name of the pharmacy, just send me a message. ---
**Author:** ![nitewalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f6c823/32.png) [@nitewalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitewalker)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-codeine-over-the-counter/494569/40 "2013-12-17T14:54:09Z")
I know this is an old thread, but I thought I would throw down my 2 cents anyway. If one were really in need of such a product, & had difficulty obtaining it, one could theoretically go to your local store and purchase some poppy seeds($10.70 a pound at the local health food store. Although 100 to 300 grams a dose, depending on tolerance of course, should be plenty). After soaking in warm water, & straining through a tea strainer or using a tea egg & repeating, discard seeds & drink liquid along with OTC cough syrup for the same effect. Although it would be more morphine than codeine (aprx. 12% & 3% of the total opium recovered, respectively), & one would also have other alkaloids mixed in, that sometimes tend to cause nausea. However, if one were truly committed to such a theoretical act one could go with rectal administration of the poppy “tea”, giving a stronger effect and bypassing much of the nausea. I’m not recommending anybody should do this, but if somebody were to, start with a low dose & work one’s way up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cough-syrup-with-codeine-over-the-counter/494569.md?page=1)