Over The Counter Medications

**cat lover** · #1 (**permalink**) 09-15-2010, 04:16 AM

Been watching the news with another possible OTC medication being made impossible to buy without a prescription from a doctor. I know they are trying to stop the illegal drugs from being made, but how much more is it going to cost the everyday person just to treat minor ailments with OTC drugs? Now they are talking about making cough syrup impossible to buy without a "note" from a doctor. What do you think of this? Don't you think they should go after the "illegal" drug makers better rather than cost people just trying to treat minor illness at home without the added cost of a doctor office call? What do you think?

**Sammi1961** · #2 (**permalink**) 09-24-2010, 06:20 AM

Catlover, I so agree with you. If you need to get a note from your doctor to get OTC cough syrup, wouldn't that mean you (or your insurance co.) would have to pay for a doctor's visit? As it is a lot of stores now have their OTC cough and cold medications in the pharmacy and though you don't need a doctor's note to buy them, you do have to ask for them. Isn't that inconvenience enough? I know this fall (as I always do) I have stocked up on cold medicine, cough medicine, Ibuprophen,Tylenol, cough drops and vitamin C and Pepto bismal so that when cold and flu season starts, I don't have to run to the store. I think most people only buy these drugs when needed and use them as directed. It would be sad to punish the majority because of the illegal activities of a few.

RobertaD · #3 (**permalink**) 09-24-2010, 07:52 AM

I thought they were putting it behind the counter like the decongestants where you have to show ID and are limited on how often you can purchase.

Roberta

Lifestar · #4 (**permalink**) 09-24-2010, 07:59 AM

I think they should treat it the same way pseudephedrine is treated. It's been moved to behind the pharmacy counter, and you need to show ID and sign a log book to purchace it. I don't think a Dr. note is reasonable. You're asking people to incur the cost of a Dr visit when all they need is a shot of Nyquil and a box of tissues.

I believe the cough medicine issue isn't so much about illegal drugs as it is about preventing "Robo-tripping"... Kids drinking the "Robotussin" and other cough medicines, thinking that they contain enough alcohol to give them a buzz. But the truth is that there isn't any significant alcohol content in most cough medicines ( NyQuil does have some) But these kids are getting dangerous doses of the cold medicines and it's causing serious damage.

Whatever we can do to make it harder for kids to get a hold of these meds is in my opinion a good thing. I don't mind sacrificing convenience in the cause of keeping kids safe from themselves.

**Sammi1961** · #5 (**permalink**) 09-24-2010, 08:18 AM

Lifestar, I agree with putting the cough meds behind the counter so you have to ask for them (you are so right about the teens abusing OTC medications) but I don't agree with needing a doctor's note. Can you imagine if we all had to go to the doctors because we had a common cold just so we could get cough meds? Most doctors are over booked now as it is. We do need to keep OTC medications away from the teens who want to get high from them. Teens never seem to realize that the "fun" they try to have now can damage them for a lifetime if not kill them.

apricot · #6 (**permalink**) 09-24-2010, 04:12 PM

I work in a clinic and you're right that most doctors are overbooked already and am definitely against needing a doctor's note. Teens getting a buzz from cough syrup is not a new thing. Way back when I was in HS teens did the same thing with OTC cough medicine that still had a small amount of codeine in it at the time and they also sniffed glue. Maybe putting the cough syrup behind the counter would help but I don't think it is the same thing as the cold and cough medicine that was being bought by those who were using that to make large batches of crystal meth to sell.

**happymomof4** · #7 (**permalink**) 09-25-2010, 12:31 PM

Parents need to pay attention to what there kids are doing. I don't think making the cough medicines unavailable will except by a doctors note is going to help. Are they going to make whipcream in the cans or paint also illegal?

Apricot I agree with you. Kids have been doing this for years. If they can't find one thing they will find something else to get high with.

I don't stock up on cold medicines and over the counter drugs because we don't use them very often. Then when I do need them they have expired used by dates. I went thru my medicine cabinets last winter and thru stuff away that had used by dates over 2 plus years. Now I only buy as we need them.