Sudafed Off the Shelf

Who Exactly Does This Inconvenience?

Pseudoephedrine is the active ingredient in the over-the-counter medication named Sudafed®, along with other cold and cough or decongestant medications. When Sudafed, or other cough and cold remedies containing pseudoephedrine, is taken, the drug causes an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and then causes bronchodialition and restriction of the mucous membranes of the nasal passages. When used to treat cold and cough or congestion symptoms, and taken per the packaged instructions, Sudafed, with the active ingredient pseudoephedrine, is a safe and effective medication.

However, as with any medication, there is a potential for misuse or abuse. There has been documented cases of athletes taking Sudafed®, know as Sudeys on the street, prior to a game to help them get ‘pumped up’ before playing. More commonly known, though, is the use of Sudafed, which is relatively inexpensive and easy to acquire, as a base ingredient for making methamphetamine. Meth, as this drug is more commonly known, is a very dangerous and highly addictive drug, both in its production and use.

Because of the increase in the use of Sudafed in the dangerous manufacturing of meth as an illegal drug, many states have pulled Sudafed and other medications containing pseudoephedrine from the shelves of local stores. Many of these states now require any medication containing the active ingredient in Sudafed to be carried only behind the counter at a pharmacy, and even then, some states require the buyer to present photo ID to purchase the medication.

Pfizer, the maker of Sudafed, has responded to the problems associated with the active ingredient in Sudafed by changing its formula and providing a new version called Sudafed PE®. Instead of pseudoephedrine, the active ingredient in Sudafed PE is Phenylephrine. (retrieved on 09/23/06 from: http://www.sudafed.com/formula.html)