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.