How to Know How Much Pseudoephedrine You Can Legally Buy

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By Lawrence N
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Know How Much Pseudoephedrine You Can Legally Buy

Pseudoephedrine is the active ingredient in over-the-counter medicines such as Claritin-D (not regular Claritin) which are used by people who have difficulty breathing due to allergies. Unfortunately, it is also used illegally as a component of methamphetamine (meth). To help fight the war on illegal drugs, Congress passed the "Combat Meth Act" in 2006, placing restrictive and potentially confusing limitations on how much pseudoephedrine a law-abiding allergy suffer could legally buy within given time periods.

It is very important to know these limitations because purchasers are responsible for keeping track of their consumption, and are subject to arrest if they break the law, even unknowingly. This article discusses the steps to take to understand the law.

Remember that the laws discussed in this article are subject to change at any time. Also, some states may impose even more restrictive laws than the ones outlined in this article. Always do your own research into any such important matter if you are concerned.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

For reference, note that a package of 15 Claritin-D 24-Hour tablets contains 3.6g of pseudoephedrine. To make this purchase, you will likely need to take a card from your drugstore's shelf, and hand it to the person at the pharmacy desk who has it behind the counter. If you are buying the product from a large chain drugstore such as Walgreens, and it is your first time buying it, they will ask for your driver's license, and they will need to take a few minutes to key in all of the data from your ID into their computer. You will also have to give them your signature, probably electronically. Future purchases will still require that you show your ID, but the transaction will be faster since they will only need to scan it and request your signature.
Step 2

If you are purchasing the product from a small, independent drugstore, you will have to show ID, and you will be asked to sign a logbook of some sort. In some cases this is an extremely low-tech implementation, and some people have expressed concerns over privacy since people can potentially see the names and information of other purchasers.
Step 3

With all that said, the daily limit of pseudoephedrine that may be purchased is 3.6g. This means that you cannot buy more than 15 of the aforementioned tablets in one day. Note that they are typically sold in packs of 5, 10, and 15. Exceptions are not made for the fact that you may be going on a vacation, or that it is difficult for you to get to the store, so don't give the clerk a hard time. In the case of a large chain drugstore, their computer will simply lock out the sale. In the case of a small independent drugstore, the shopkeeper is theoretically obligated to make a "good faith" effort to check the logbook to ensure that you are not over your daily limit. Obviously this has its shortcomings.
Step 4

In addition to a daily limit, there is also a 30-day limit on what you can buy. You cannot buy products containing more than 9g of pseudoephedrine in any 30-day period. This actually works out to 37 tablets, but since they aren't commercially available in smaller quantities than 5, it means that you can't buy more than a 35-day supply within 30 days. Again, this can be burdensome if you are going away on vacation to a place where it will not be available, or if you live in a remote area where travel to a store is difficult.
Step 5

Note that it is possible that you may come across trial-size packs of products containing pseudoephedrine, but these of course count towards your daily and 30-day totals. The store may not be obligated to keep a record of such sales, but do not use this to skirt around the law.
Step 6

It is also possible to obtain pseudoephedrine products via Internet drugstores. They will require that you fax a copy of your driver's license, and wait until you are approved and entered into their system. The 30-day limit on pseudoephedrine products purchased online is 7.5g, which is 31 tablets, or more practically, 30. Again, anything that you buy online counts toward the total that you have purchased by any means.
Step 7

Note that it is your responsibility as a consumer to ensure that you are not exceeding either the daily or 30-day limits. Obviously it is possible to do so if you buy the product from multiple stores that are not using a shared real-time database, or that are only using paper-and-pen logbooks. Ignorance is never accepted as an excuse for breaking the law, and obviously a drug offense is something that you don't want to be involved with, even if you are truly innocent for all intents and purposes.
Step 8

Be wary of anyone who asks you to buy pseudoephedrine products on their behalf. Even if you are not buying more than you are allowed to, you will be in a quite a mess if it turns out that the person was using the drug illegally. Still, if your elderly neighbor has difficulty getting to the store, you can use your best judgment as to whether or not to pick up the product for them, obviously purchasing it under your own name, which is your only option. Stores will not allow you to show someone else's ID and buy the product on their behalf. Here's to free (and legal) breathing!

Comments

buggers said

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on 10/11/2009 Step2 - No need to worry about privacy and what types of log books are used: the law basically says you have none. The DEA, FBI, local Sheriff, and anyone else in any related field that wants to know how well your sinuses are coping will read this at will.

Step4 - you should also note that minors cannot purchase it on their own behalf and any purchase you make for a minor will count against your own limit. If acute sinusitis runs in your family and you have more than one child, consider emigration to a free country.