SNIFFLES MAY NOT STOP

Consequences Of Behind-The-Counter Rules

Medicines On Shelves Called Weaker

Stuffed up?

You might want to check the label before grabbing your favorite
medicine off the drugstore shelf.

In response to new laws to curb illegal methamphetamine production,
the makers of Sudafed, Tylenol and other drugs have reformulated
their cold medications this winter to eliminate the decongestant
pseudoephedrine.

Its substitute, phenylephrine or PE, isn't as effective and must be
taken more frequently, experts say.

A study released this fall by Claritin maker Shering-Plough found PE
gave as much nasal relief as a placebo. Some consumer advocates and
members of Congress want a reluctant Food and Drug Administration to
re-examine 30-year-old PE dosage standards.

To get pseudoephedrine medicines, you must go to the pharmacy
counter, wait in line and hand over your driver's license.

"I feel like a crook, like I'm going to cook some meth," said Anna
Smith, who was buying the medicine at a Target in Matthews. "It
doesn't make me feel any safer, any better."

Plus, driver's license data used to track sales are entered at
registers that are vulnerable to ID theft, said Avivah Litan of the
Gartner Group: "This is far from the best system." Retailers say
customer data are safe.

An N.C. law pushed pills containing pseudoephedrine behind pharmacy
counters in January. South Carolina passed a similar ban this spring.
A federal law in October sent back the remainder.

The number of N.C. meth labs found has fallen 43 percent to 186 in
the past year.

"It's a small inconvenience for a major public safety benefit," N.C.
Attorney General Roy Cooper said. Consequences of Behind-the-Counter Rules

Nasal Decongestants

Pseudoephedrine (PSE) -- Former medicine of choice, but used to make
methamphetamine. Was in 200 products on the market last year; now in
30, CVS says.

Phenylephrine (PE) -- Replacement but must be taken every four hours
instead of six for PSE. Almost nonexistent a year ago; now in 100 products.