I understand the desire to do something about the growiung meth problem, but requiring a doctor's appointment, visit, and prescription just to get cold medicine is a knee-jerk reaction that will cause harm and duress to normal people, especially those that have no insurance... Posts: 1480 | Registered: Dec 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Well, Kansas and Oklahoma already have laws that keep Sudafed (and others with those ingredients) behind the pharmacy counter. You don't have to have a prescription, but you have to go up to the counter to order it, and sign for it, and you have a limit to the quantity you can buy.
Because so much was getting stolen/shoplifted from stores for meth.
posted
Yeah, I agree that this is a little bit extreme. Plus, it affects me because I live in Oregon *shrugs*.
Posts: 1466 | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I sincerely understand the desire to do something about the problem, but requiring a prescription is just ridiculous.
I see no problem with keeping it behind the pharmacy, as long as the pharmacy is open during store hourse. The limits on how many can be purchased at once make sense, but being required to order it and sign for it seem too intrusive to me.
Posts: 1480 | Registered: Dec 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
I had to buy some the other week. I had to sign for it at the pharmacy. It's pretty ridiculous. (My husband has bad sinus problems.)
I don't really care that I have to ask at the pharmacy for it, but I hate the idea that we'd have to get a prescription. Do they have any idea how much doctor visits cost?!
posted
Also, the guy who worked in the pharmacy made a comment that the people who make meth just get a prescription from their doctors anyway. (I guess for a larger amount.)
posted
I'm so tired of our entire culture right now... We've become so reactionary that we no longer consider the ramifications of our actions... As soon as we identify a problem, we make a law. Nevermind that it doesn't address the root cause of the problem, and has a detrimental effect on ordinary law-abiding citizens. We have to be seen as doing something, taking some action, just to perpetuate the myth that everything is under control...
Posts: 1480 | Registered: Dec 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Porteiro, I don't make meth. I also don't grow pot. Should we require that people order and sign for potting soil, UV lights, and gardening equipment to make sure that no one else grows pot?
Posts: 1480 | Registered: Dec 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'm surprised that insurance companies didn't fight this (I assume). Isn't this going to cost them a lot of money?
Also, as is my understanding, a lot of drug addicts (those addicted to painkillers, etc.) "doctor-hop" to get their perscriptions filled. I just wonder how effective this measure will be in the long run.
Posts: 3037 | Registered: Jan 2002
| IP: Logged |
quote:I sincerely understand the desire to do something about the problem, but requiring a prescription is just ridiculous.
I see no problem with keeping it behind the pharmacy, as long as the pharmacy is open during store hours.
I agree.
quote: The limits on how many can be purchased at once make sense, but being required to order it and sign for it seem too intrusive to me.
I disagree -- why is signing for it a big deal? (I'm also not entirely convinced it is useful but that's another story.)
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
quote: quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The limits on how many can be purchased at once make sense, but being required to order it and sign for it seem too intrusive to me. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I disagree -- why is signing for it a big deal? (I'm also not entirely convinced it is useful but that's another story.)
Rivka, Unless this information is consolidated, cross-referenced, and utilized by some central agency it isn't useful to anyone. If it is being cross-referenced and utilized by an agency, then my privacy to treat a cold is being intruded upon without due process. Posts: 1480 | Registered: Dec 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
I use sudafed to help fight my migraines. If I start needing a prescription for this I'm gonna be pissed.
I can't even go into the store and stock up on them because they'll think I have a methlab at home. grr.
Posts: 7085 | Registered: Apr 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) is one of the only over the counter drugs that I have been completely convinced that its actually doing something for me.
Have terrible sinus pressure and runny/clogged nose? Take a sudafed, and it clears up within twenty minutes. Then when the symptoms come back, its in almost exactly 4 hours, when the box says to take it again. Really great stuff.
Now I haven't gotten many prescription meds in my life, but would this require that I actually go to the doctor and have him look at me before I could buy Sudafed? (if this were my state)
If so, I would NOT be happy. Could I just call my doctor and have him write the script? Blow my nose over the phone or something?
I agree that this is over the line.
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
What complicates the situation for those of us with children is that generally the stores that are open at 3:00 A.M. (when you will inevitably need the medicine) don't have pharmacies that will be open.
Posts: 1480 | Registered: Dec 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
There is a reformulated Sudafed that is (and will be) available over the counter. Look for Sudafed PE. It should be right where the Sudafed was. And if Sudafed was effective for you, then the reformulation is supposed to work also.
My concern is that with the cost of gasoline being what it is, all those trips across the border to buy Sudafed is really going to cut into the profit margin of my Methamphetamine factory. This is practically obstruction of trade. Any corporate lawyer-types out there who can give me some advice?
(The winking graemlin is to indicate that the above paragraph was meant in a satiric light, and not to be taken to indicate that I endorse the illegal manufacture or trafficking of drugs. That is all. End of disclaimer)
Posts: 10397 | Registered: Jun 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Indiana has all products containing it stored in the pharmacy now, and while it's moderately inconvenient, it really isn't a big deal. If they start requiring prescriptions, though, that would be very annoying.
I don't go to the doctor for every little sniffle I have. Heck, I don't go to the doctor unless I think it's something major (and yes, I know that's not the best way of proceeding, but, eh). Bleah.
Posts: 4077 | Registered: Jun 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I think that requiring a prescription is ridiculous. Fortunately, this is not law yet. It still must pass the Oregon senate. This morning, I called my senator to ask him to vote against it. It was the first time I called any politician about anything.
Hooray for the democratic process!
(And boo for the stupid people who make meth. It's a nasty drug. And they're ruining things for everyone else.)
Posts: 3546 | Registered: Jul 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
There is already a reformulated version of Sudafed OTC without a prescription. The new version contains phenylephrine instead of pseudoephredrine. The latter is what can be converted to methamphetamine. Phenylephrine CANNOT be converted to meth and is therefore the replacement to the older version of Sudafed.
Actually, this is not the first time for a decongestant to go through an overhaul. P.P.A. containing products were pulled a few years ago. Guess what manufacturers replaced them with? Pseudoephredrine.
All we have done is move the older Sudafed to a behind-the-counter location. You can buy it without a prescription and do not have to sign for it in PA.
So come on down! Pay me a visit and I will even cut you a deal...
Posts: 1870 | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
quote: P.P.A. containing products were pulled a few years ago.
Yes, but that was for safety reasons, neh? Worries that the drug could cause serious side effects? Anyway, I find that the reformulated products are NOT as good as the old stuff.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
You are absolutely right about the PPA recall. As far as phenylephrine, it is a decongestant that has widely been reserved for prescription-only RX products until now. And, of course, the prescription drugs are ALWAYS better than the OTC stuff, right?
Kwea,
You frickin rock, my friend. Hope life is treating you and your family well!
P.S. I was sorry to see PPA go. Personally, I thought it was the best oral decongestant of the bunch. Posts: 1870 | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
Sudafed makes me super-jumpy and racy and high. Why they bother cooking it down into methamphetamine is beyond me; it seems fine just the way it is straight out of the box.
Posts: 10397 | Registered: Jun 2005
| IP: Logged |
quote:As far as phenylephrine, it is a decongestant that has widely been reserved for prescription-only RX products until now. And, of course, the prescription drugs are ALWAYS better than the OTC stuff, right?
I am going to assume that is sarcasm. In my experience, for me personally, OTC decongestants and antihistamines work better than or equally well as the prescription stuff -- at least if we're talking about pills. The (very expensive!) prescription spray I use for my allergies these days doesn't work as quickly as the OTC stuff, but it has almost no side effects (for me -- my mom had significant side effects with the same drug), and doesn't cause severe rebound within 2-3 days of use. Instead, it makes my allergies gradually disappear over the course of week. Before this, an attack could easily trigger 3-4 weeks of symptoms.
quote:P.S. I was sorry to see PPA go. Personally, I thought it was the best oral decongestant of the bunch.
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Mad]](mad.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
(The winking graemlin is to indicate that the above paragraph was meant in a satiric light, and not to be taken to indicate that I endorse the illegal manufacture or trafficking of drugs. That is all. End of disclaimer)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
