Ark. Bill Would Require Prescription for Cold Medicine May 31, 2002
News Summary
Arkansas lawmakers are considering a bill that would switch over-the-counter cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine to prescription-only because the substance is used to make methamphetamine, Convenience Store News reported May 28.According to the Nonprescription Drug Manufacturers Association, about 80 percent of cough and cold medicines, including Sudafed and Benadryl, contain pseudoephedrine.
Some law-enforcement officials question whether requiring a prescription for medicines containing pseudoephedrine would curb the growth in methamphetamine addiction. And Kevin Kravshaar, vice president and director of the Nonprescription Drug Manufacturers Association, which represents manufacturers and distributors of over-the-counter medicines, said making cold medicine a prescription drug could hurt convenience stores.
"Pseudoephedrine is in hundreds of products. All those would have to be prescription, and it would cause a severe hardship for the consumer and the retailer," he said. "It would cost consumers bundles because they would be forced to visit doctors for the drug."
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