Pubdate: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 Source: Charlotte Observer (NC) Copyright: 2005 The Charlotte Observer Contact: http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/78 Author: Daniel Costello, Los Angeles Times GOT A COLD? EXPECT TO FIND NEW MEDICATIONS THIS FALL Consumers could face a challenge this coming cold and flu season as restrictions aimed at curbing methamphetamine abuse make it more difficult to stock up on popular over-the-counter remedies. Even as Congress considers legislation that would require prescriptions for some cold medications, drug makers are scurrying to get reformulated remedies onto pharmacy and store shelves. The newer cold medications -- expected to hit the market this fall -- are slightly less effective than most products now available. Over time, however, the new products could replace many of the medications consumers have used for decades because their ingredients can't easily be used to make methamphetamines. One product, Sudafed PE, is already available, and as many as half a dozen other reformulated medications are expected soon. They will not contain pseudoephedrine, a popular decongestant that has been used in many cold and allergy medications such as NyQuil, Tylenol Flu and Claritin-D. Pseudoephedrine is a key ingredient in producing methamphetamines when it's boiled and mixed with household ingredients. Some drug companies such as Pfizer Inc., which manufactures Sudafed, plan to continue offering both versions of their products indefinitely while others, including Procter & Gamble Co., which makes NyQuil and DayQuil, said they would phase out all medications containing pseudoephedrine later this year. Newer medications use a different decongestant, phenylephrine, which is considerably more difficult and expensive to convert into methamphetamines. The drawback for consumers is that the medications are slightly less effective in treating colds and allergies in some people, according to several manufacturers and doctors. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth