Why is cold medicine not sold over the counter anymore?

Question

I know its because people use it to make stuff. Is there actually a combination of cold medicine people put together to make a cheap simulation of stuff? By the way I don't care if this question is removed because I'm sure I would find out one way or another. I am just curious after seeing people fake it in so many movies.

No one has a reason to get worked up, I'm not asking so I can attempt to make anything, I am an adult that could simply go out and buy alcohol if I need a cheap thrill. Just asking out of curiousity.

Answer 1

It is because the psuedoephedrine and dextromethorphan in the cold medicines (over the counter, or OTC) are used to make drugs such as meth or ecstasy. To purchase these cold medicines are now required to show identification only because it is so often used now to make illegal drugs. In fact, most kids use it to get high, just on its own, in higher quantities. Its easy for teens to get, its legal and adults usually have no idea that they are using it. As far as synthesizing drugs from it, i'm not sure exactly how that works, but I do know that the psuedoephedrine is the main ingredient being used to produce the drugs.

Answer 2

Because the disregard of the law and a lack of self-control on the part of a very small percentage of the population have once again prevented the rest of us from doing something legally, expediently, and conveniently.

Making methamphetamine is not a top secret or classified process. It's been shown on TV several times, easily viewed if one watches the Discovery and National Geographic channels. You need to crush and then heat up the pills containing pseudoephedrine hydrochloride. It is, however, quite dangerous, as the whole thing can blow up and/or emit noxious toxic fumes.

You can probably see footage from these programs on the Internet somewhere, if you're really curious. Use Dogpile or Google and go hunting.

Some colds medicine containing a substitute decongestant is now available on the shelf again. Apparently this one can't be used for illicit purposes -- yet. I think the ingredient is phenylephedrine, or something like that; there's a PE on the front label of the newer kind, but I'm not completely sure of the name of that new ingredient. It works almost as well as the old kind, in my experience.

Answer 3

It is still sold over the counter, however there is a limit to how many bottles, packages, you can buy. Most stores it is two packages. This is because the main ingredient in the decongestant is pseudoephedrine, which is a main ingredient in the street drug methamphetamine. It's not a cheap simulation, it is the real thing, concentrated from cold medicine most of the time. It is now housed behind the counter, but you don't need a prescription to buy it, hence it is still over the counter, even though it is now behind the counter.

Answer 4

One of the ingredients (pseudoephedrine) found in over the counter cold remedies like Sudefed can be used to manufacture Methamphetamine.

Our beloved Gov't feels the meth problem is so bad and so pervasive that the only way to try to slow illegal production is to remove Sudefed-like drugs from the selves, and limit the number of doses you can buy at one time.

All in all, quite ridiculous really. But, there you have it. The Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave, so long as you don't need relief from a stuffed nose.

Answer 5

Meth users are stupid people and ruin buying cold medicine over the counter for the rest of us "Normal People"

Answer 6

All this talk about meth... What about DXM which is found in all cold medicine as a cough suppressant

Answer 7

It is the sudafed that they use to make meth, somehow. That is why it is all behind the counter now.

Answer 8

people make meth from it some just like to get high on it alone

Answer 9

Meth addicts have ruined it for the rest of us. Idiots.

Answer 10

it*s cuz all the dope heads buy it to make meth !!!!!