How many of you think it is a major pain to have to purchase all products containing pseudoephedrine from behind the pharmacy counter? Sometimes the lines are long. Sometimes you have to wait for the staff to figure out someone else’s insurance problem. Sometimes you might be in the store but the pharmacy department is closed! Every time you have to hand over your driver’s license and have your purchase logged on a trackable database. I mean, you just have a stuffy nose. You know how to treat it. It’s not like you are buying some dangerous controlled substance. What’s the deal?
Pseudoephedrine purchase limits, or some call them Sudafed purchase limits, have been a practice for a relatively long time now, so most of us are used to it. It is just part of the deal if you want to buy pseudoephedrine. But, where did these rules come from and why were they implemented in the first place? And why does my spell check keep telling me I am spelling pseudoephedrine wrong? It is making me doubt myself.
This all centers around the tremendous problem that our country has with methamphetamine or “crystal meth”. Pseudoephedrine can be chemically broken down and the separated components can be used to manufacture methamphetamine. This is done in small, clandestine labs all over the country and the finished product is sold illegally. I could probably find a recipe to link here but, hopefully, my readers wouldn’t be interested in starting a lab. If you remember in Breaking Bad, as business started booming, Jessie was having problems getting enough “pseudo” to keep up with demand.
The Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 is where the federal government stepped in and decided to restrict access to pseudoephedrine for everyone, in hopes of curtailing the manufacture of crystal meth. The decision was made to create a pseudoephedrine purchase database to track all purchases across the country. It has helped to some extent, but it sure does make things difficult for all of us chronic allergy sufferers who need pseudoephedrine frequently. The pseudoephedrine purchase limits, as determined by the federal government, are no more than 3.6 grams per day and no more than 9 grams per 30 day period. To help you with the math: 1,000mg = 1 gram. Claritin D 24 hour contains 240mg per tablet so it only takes 15 tablets to get you to the daily max: 240 x 15 = 3600mg.
Fifteen tablets is enough to get you by, but what if your spouse takes it too? A lot of people think they can just go to another pharmacy and purchase more. A failed strategy. The database is kept up to date in real-time and you will be denied at another store the same day. The monthly pseudoepehdrine limit gives you a little more leeway, but not much. Your only real answer is to take turns buying pseudoephedrine products or only buy for yourself, and let your spouse buy their own.
Purchases exceeding the federal pseudoephedrine limits can result in misdemeanor arrest for possession.
Can I get a prescription?
Yes, that is actually a really good solution and it exempts you from all of the pseudoephedrine purchase limits. Because you are under the supervision of a physician, you may get as much as you need and you do not have to register that on the database. Another benefit to this plan is that you can pay with your flexible spending card if you have one. Unfortunately, your insurance will usually not pick up the tab for you because these products are still classified as over the counter. It will be up to your doctor if he or she wants to help you out. It is possible that some of the side effects may make them hesitant to give you more than what you can buy on your own.
Can I Look Up My Pseudoephedrine Purchase History?
Your pharmacy will tell you if you have exceeded either the daily or monthly limit. Sometimes you will have to come back another day. Other times, you might be eligible if you just ask for a smaller amount. If you do exceed the limit, your pharmacy can give you a transaction id number and you can use that number to track your psuedoephedrine purchase history at this site. I haven’t been able to find a place where you can search your pseudoephedrine purchase history without a transaction id number. The database, called nplexanswers, covers most states. States that do not use nplexanswers have their own systems to track purchase history.
Another way you might treat your sinus congestion is by using a steroid nasal spray. Steroid nasal sprays are easy to use, are sold over the counter, and may be a more effective way to control sinus congestion. Steroid nasal sprays will not increase your blood pressure and are particularly effective if your sinus congestion is allergy related. Read my review article to see which ones I recommend.
The moral of this story is: don’t be mad at your pharmacist for asking for your id, or telling you that you can’t have any more Sudafed right now. This is a federal law. We don’t have a choice. Our government wants to make sure you aren’t driving around in a Winnebago wearing a yellow hazmat suit and cooking meth with some Bunsen burners you stole. I guess this was their best idea to stop you. It isn’t fair to all of the law-abiding allergy sufferers out there, but there isn’t a thing we can do about it. I will be sure to update you as soon as there are any changes made to the pseudoephedrine purchase limits.
Love your articles, Brady!!
What if a pharmacy restricts Sudafed purchase and I have NOT exceeded the legal limit at all???? The database has me at 54 grams for one year, which is about half of legal yearly usage. Approximately 4.8 grams per month for sinus congestion that is so bad I get dizzy sometimes.
Felix, remember that federal limits are 3.6 grams in one day and 9 grams in a rolling 30 day period. Check to see if you have exceeded the 30 day limit. There is no specific yearly max. Some of my readers have mentioned that WalMart might have a more restrictive policy than is required. I am not sure if this is true but it is another question you might ask the pharmacy.
Wal-Mart Purchase Limits
You may not purchase more than 54 grams within a 365 day period.
ME: That is roughly 10 months.
Also, the Walmart I frequent scans the box and the driver’s license.
The thing that bothers me is that they don’t tell you why you were denied when what you are asking for is totally legal, and they just have a company policy that is more restrictive. They really ought not keep their more-restrictive-than-necessary policies a secret from you – especially after they have flagged you and refused to sell. I keep records of my purchases and knew I was within the legal limit; I’m thinking that somehow someone else must be using my name to buy.
When I asked about my denial, they would not tell me anything; they just gave me this site. So anybody in line who heard me ask for pseudophedrine is probably thinking that I am trying to purchase an illegal amount. There wasn’t much of a line today, but you never know when someone you know may be nearby. Yes they have their little windows, but some people have big ears…
Make sure it is a valid form of Identification. The store I work at only accepts U.S. state driver’s license, U.S. passports and U.S. military id. I had a guy try to purchase with his conceal and carry card, when I wouldn’t take that he tried his V.A. I’d. I’m sorry but by law in my state I can’t.
Your article has several errors. First of all, this is a democracy. There ARE things you can do to change this policy. I have worked as a legislative staffer for a number of years at the Federal and State levels. Write your elected officials (House of Representatives Member, Two Senators, and the President) and tell them why this is a stupid policy, because it is. I’ve gotten several drug laws passed, but I think this one is stupid and overbearing and unnecessary. We can’t let the anti-drug and security nuts use anti-drug scares to manipulate our freedoms. This one goes too far. They’re doing the same with some of the opioid drug laws and it’s a scandal, especially since many people’s lives depend on being able to take those drugs so they can at least get their pain levels to a bearable level. If over zealous law enforcement nuts and “victim” groups who want to be well meaning but who too often have a singular point of view and little actual knowledge continue down the path unabated, when you or your loved ones get to the point where one day they need those medications to live a normal life, it might not be there or it will be so restricted they won’t get what they need when they need it. Don’t let scare mongers whose comments show me how they do not understand the science of pain and pain relief take over this field. Another error in this article is your assumption that pharmacies can tell me what my limit is, why they’ve denied it, etc. I have no idea and get no help from any pharmacy I’ve ever asked these questions. They tell me they have no idea (here in Virginia). By the way, a pharmacist suggested that next time I use my husband’s driver license to purchase additional amounts of Sudafed.
Hi Jamie, Thanks for reading and for your thoughts. Contacting elected officials is definitely an option if you don’t agree with the way pseudoephedrine is legislated. I can see how a reasonable per person would object to the registry concept. Pharmacies can tell you when your limit has been exceeded and, as stated in the article, can try a reduced order size to see if that would fit under your allowable purchase limit. From my experience the purchase history is only available at the nplexanswers link in the article and can be searched by either the patient or the pharmacy. From the pharmacy’s perspective, looking at the history does not change the outcome so it is really just available for patient information. In almost all cases I have seen, the patient had a previous transaction they had forgotten about and the limit was indeed exceeded. As for using your husband’s drivers license, it is a perfectly fine alternative assuming he is present with you at the time of purchase.
Dear Jamie,
Thanks for all the information on this subject. It’s great to find it all in one place. I had been looking all over for it. I am a 67 yr. old woman who has been disabled for 27 yr. I rarely leave the house but because of this UNFAIR law I have to leave my house every 9 days to go buy more sinus medicine. This is really hard for me (physically) to do. They can’t mail it to me either. I tried the RX SCRIPT also. The Pharmacist at the Exton, Pa WALMART refused to fill the script because she said and these are her words (“I don’t like how it is worded”). She didn’t give it back to me either. The really weird part is she was the one who suggested I get the script. I am going to try Walgreens next with a new script. If you want, I will let you know how it works out.
The response from The Helpful Pharmacist was right in that we can tell our elected representives that we don’t like what they did and we want it changed. They (congress) passed this law this way because it was easy peasy for them. They also know that most people won’t do any thing about it. Well I HAVE HAD IT !!! I AM REALLY SICK AND TIRED OF THIS CONGRESS NOT DOING ANY WORK. I want ALL elected officials to go back to work and do something good for the country and us.. I myself am going to write my Congressman and Representatives and I will keep writing to them every month. I am also going to lobby Pa. govt. Officials to try and come up with a better system. SOMEBODY HAS GOT TO DO SOMETHING. I don’t know how to organize a revolt against the law on Pseudoephedrine I will just ask anyone who reads this response to write their elected officials and ask for the law to be changed.
Thanks for letting me rant. Please keep us informed.
Respectively, Tracy Ingle
Hi Tracy, Thanks for your thoughts on the pseudoephedrine laws. I do think getting a prescription for your medication would be the best option for you, even though it didn’t work on your first attempt. Keep trying and hopefully you will have a positive experience, which will allow you to limit the number of trips you have to make to the pharmacy. You also might want to consider whether or not you really need to take pseudoephedrine every day. It is really meant to be a short term medication to take only when you have sinus congestion. Long term use can cause increased blood pressure, nervousness, and difficulty sleeping. Don’t feel like you need to discuss your health condition here, just consider my question. As for writing your lawmakers, I think it is a great idea. Any time you have an issue you feel strongly in support of or against, it is a great way to have your voice heard.
Be well,
HP
Do you know if my Dr. can give me a prescription for Claritin D, even though it is an OTC drug? This would be a big help.
Yes, he or she can definitely do that. Your insurance likely won’t cover it, but it will allow you to exceed the federal purchase limits.
So if I were to purchase a 15 pack every 16 days I would never exceed the limit, correct?
Hi Mat, that is correct. Purchasing (1) 15-count box of a 24-hour version of any of the pseudoephedrine products will bring you to your daily limit which is 3.6 grams. Your next limit is a rolling 30-day period. So, you could purchase another box the next day, providing your previous 30 days didn’t have any purchases. Or your 1 box every 2 weeks plan would be fine.
HP
There is something screwed up with this system because I keep getting denied! I am purchasing sinus 12-hour, but a lot of times I am only taking it once a day. These 20 caplets should only last me about 10 days if I take it twice daily. According to the national database, just buying this once a month means I am buying too much & it won’t be allowed. This doesn’t make any sense to me at all! Perhaps I will need to have my primary care send in a script to my pharmacy. That way I wouldn’t have to deal with this frustration! I remember when you were allowed to just go into the store & buy this off the shelf, but unfortunately those days are over!
Hi Cheryl,
Thanks for your feedback. The 12 hour pseduoephedrine formulation contains 120mg in each tablet. If you purchase 20 tablets at once then you are receiving 2,400 mg (or 2.4 grams). Your daily limit is 3.6 grams so you are well under that limit. The 30-day limit is 9 grams (9,000mg). So, using this math, you may purchase 20 tablets up to 3 times during a 30-day period (60 x 120 = 7,200mg) and still have some room left over to purchase a little more. What may be getting you is the fact that this is a ROLLING 30-day period. For example, I could purchase a 20-count box on each of the next 3 days and not be flagged. However, any time I tried to do it again over the next 28 days I would be denied due to being over the 30-day limit. If you are the only one in the house taking this medication you can easily purchase enough so that you won’t run out. If other people are also taking it, then you may need them to go purchase their own at some point. I hope this clears things up a little for you. If not, feel free to reach out again.
Be well,
HP
I know that I used to count out the days so that I didn’t try to buy it before the 10 days should be gone. I used to be able to purchase it twice monthly, but now that is a challenge & I really don’t know how to fix this! I should be able to purchase this pkg. twice a month, but for some reason the database is not allowing me to do!
Cheryl,
You definitely should be able to purchase 2 or 3 boxes of that product every 30 days. Here is how you fix this issue: the next time you are denied purchase, ask the pharmacy to give you the transaction id number that was provided to them with the denial. Go to this website https://nplexanswers.com/NPLExAnswers/startForm.go and enter your transaction id number. The website will allow you to view your purchase history so you can understand why you are over the limit. You may be able to use a transaction id from a successful purchase, but I have never tried that before. Hope this helps! Let me know what you find out.
Be well,
HP
Hi….I was not denied but the Pharmacist gave me a slip of paper with an ID number and web site to go on to see to that point how much I had purchased. (I ask what the limits were and she didn’t know) Bought 4-3-20. I have tried several times and it still won’t take my info. Thanks
This is the website to go to https://nplexanswers.com/NPLExAnswers/startForm.go. If it doesn’t work then ask someone to help you at home. This website, to my knowledge is the only way to view your history.
Thanks,
HP
I called about the same issue. Walmart has their own annual limit not matching the State or Federal law. It is 54 mg per 360 days.
I was denied at Walmart pharmacy. They said I had went over my limit. I purchased a box 5 months ago. Is it possible that my ID was compromised and someone else is using my information?
Angela, possible but I suspect unlikely that someone is using your driver’s license number. Pharmacies are supposed to be looking at your id and not just asking for the number. A lot of them actually scan your id, not sure what Walmart does. Go back and try again. Ask them for your transaction number and use that to access the database where you can view your purchase history. The link is in this article. That should give you a good picture of what happened.
HP
Dear Helpful Pharmacist,
I have pretty bad hay fever and during allergy season I have to take Claritin D-24 every day. My nose runs like a faucet without it. I used to have a prescription for Claritin before it became an over-the-counter drug. Problem is, now I am restricted to one 15-count box per month, which only covers two weeks. Every month I hit my limit and have problems buying it, which makes it difficult to cover the other two weeks. Since I am surely not the only person who has this problem, what agency could I write to inform them of this oversight? I guess I will get a prescription in the meantime.
best,
George
George,
A 15-count box of Claritin D 24-hour contains 15 tablets equaling 3.6 grams of pseudoephedrine. This will last you 15 days. The monthly purchase limit is 9 grams, so you can see you would be able to buy 1 more box during a 30 day period and still have room to purchase 1.8 more grams of another product if needed.
Obtaining a prescription would certainly eliminate any confusion, but you should easily be able to manage your condition with otc purchases.
Regards,
HP