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Pseudoephedrine and Ephedrine Frequently Asked Questions

Narcotics & Dangerous Drugs

What does it mean that cough and cold tablets containing pseudoephedrine and tablets containing ephedrine with other ingredients are schedule V controlled substances?
Where can I buy cough and cold medication?
Why do I have to buy cough and cold tablets containing pseudoephedrine and multi-ingredient ephedrine in a pharmacy?
Why can't convenience and grocery stores carry cough and cold tablets containing pseudoephedrine and multi-ingredient ephedrine?
Who is authorized to sell cough and cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine and ephedrine?
Is there a minimum age requirement for the purchaser?
Why do I have to show my photo identification before I can buy cough and cold medicine?
Will I have to have a prescription to purchase the schedule V products?
What information is stored in the log the pharmacy keeps for OTC cough and cold medicine purchases?
Who has access to the log the pharmacy keeps for cough and cold medicine purchases?
How much cough and cold medicine may I purchase?
How long will it be before I have to buy cough and cold medicine from a pharmacy?
How soon will pharmacies be tracking purchases in a log?
How long will pharmacies keep these logs?
Are there other records pharmacies must keep for these products?

What does it mean that cough and cold tablets containing pseudoephedrine and tablets containing ephedrine with other ingredients are schedule V controlled substances?
It has been found that solid dosage forms of over the counter (OTC) pseudoephedrine and multi-ingredient ephedrine products are used to illegally manufacture methamphetamine. A law was passed that added these products to the list of Schedule V controlled substances and requires that they may only be sold in pharmacies. Only a pharmacist or a registered pharmacy technician may sell the products. OTC cough and cold medicine in liquid and liquid-filled gel capsule forms are exempt from this scheduling action.

Where can I buy cough and cold medication?
OTC cough and cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine and multi-ingredient ephedrine in solid, tablet dosage forms may only be found behind the pharmacy counter in a licensed pharmacy. OTC cough and cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine and multi-ingredient ephedrine in liquid and liquid-filled gel capsule form may still be purchased from retail outlets such as convenience and grocery stores.

Why do I have to buy cough and cold tablets containing pseudoephedrine and multi-ingredient ephedrine in a pharmacy?
Effective July 15, 2005, solid tablet dosage forms of OTC pseudoephedrine and multi-ingredient ephedrine products are schedule V controlled substances and may only be sold from behind the pharmacy counter in a licensed pharmacy.

Why can't convenience and grocery stores carry cough and cold tablets containing pseudoephedrine and multi-ingredient ephedrine?
Only businesses registered with the Missouri State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration are permitted to stock controlled substances.

Who is authorized to sell cough and cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine and ephedrine?
OTC cough and cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine and ephedrine may only be sold by a pharmacist or pharmacy technician from behind the pharmacy counter in a pharmacy.

Is there a minimum age requirement for the purchaser?
Yes. A person must be at least 18 years of age to purchase OTC cough and cold tablets containing pseudoephedrine and multi-ingredient ephedrine.

Why do I have to show my photo identification before I can buy cough and cold medicine?
The pharmacist or registered pharmacy technician will record the name and address of each person purchasing OTC cough and cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine in either a written or electronic log. If the pharmacist or registered pharmacy technician does not know you or whether you are at least 18 years old, you will have to produce suitable photo identification.

Will I have to have a prescription to purchase the schedule V products?
No. Consumers may purchase OTC pseudoephedrine and multi-ingredient ephedrine products that are schedule V controlled substances without a prescription.

What information is stored in the log the pharmacy keeps for OTC cough and cold medicine purchases?
The written or electronic log that the pharmacy uses to track purchases of cough and cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine will track the name and address of the purchaser, the amount of controlled substance purchased, the date of the purchase, and the name or initials of the pharmacist or registered pharmacy technician selling the products.

Who has access to the log the pharmacy keeps for cough and cold medicine purchases?
The same agencies that may view controlled substance records may access these logs. Federal, state, local and municipal law enforcement officers may look at the logs. Representatives of the Missouri State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs and Board of Pharmacy may also look at the logs.

How much cough and cold medicine may I purchase?
You may purchase a maximum of 9 grams of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine that are contained in schedule V products in any thirty (30) period. This restriction does not apply if your doctor gives you a prescription for a larger quantity.

You may purchase a maximum of 9 grams of pseudoephedrine and ephedrine in liquid or liquid-filled gel capsule form in any one transaction.

How long will it be before I have to buy cough and cold medicine from a pharmacy?
The bills were signed into law by Governor Blunt and became effective on June 15, 2005. Retail outlets such as convenience and grocery stores have thirty (30) days from that date to remove all solid cough and cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine and ephedrine from their shelves (July 15, 2005). Pharmacies have that same amount of time to move the products behind the pharmacy counter where the public is not allowed. These businesses may have already chosen to move the products.

How soon will pharmacies be tracking purchases in a log?
The bills were signed into law by Governor Blunt and became effective on June 15, 2005. Pharmacies may begin tracking purchases immediately, but have ninety (90) days from the effective date of the law to have the log in place (September 13, 2005).

How long will pharmacies keep these logs?
The Missouri State Board of Pharmacy requires that pharmacy records be maintained for five years.

Are there other records pharmacies must keep for these products? Yes. Effective on the date that the law becomes effective, pharmacies must keep the same types of records for schedule V cough and cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine that are maintained for other controlled substances.