Got snot? Help is behind the pharmacy counter

March 28, 3:53 PMSt. Louis Family & Parenting ExaminerAngela Atkinson

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Original Sudafed: Worth the trouble, experts say.

Since I was a kid, I've taken Sudafed for allergies and mild colds. It always worked great and didn't cause any noticable side effects.

And, unbeknownst to most average Americans at one time, the drug contained in Sudafed could also be used to make methamphetamine.

Two years ago, the FDA pulled it from the shelves, requiring that pharmacists keep Sudafed and other medicines containing pseudrophedrine behind the counter. They also now require that you present identification and enter your name, address, and signature in a log book kept by the pharmacy and available to law enforcement officials upon request.

Many people quit buying Sudafed then, some to avoid the hassle, others who didn't care to share their information and still others who felt that it was an invasion of privacy.

As a result, Sudafed and other drug companies introduced a newly formulated version of their products (most containing phenylephrine) which could be sold on open store shelves.

While this may have increased the company's sales, it did consumers no favor. According to recent research published by the University of Florida, phenylephrine has been found to be a mere ten percent more effective than a placebo.

"If you've got a stuffy nose and you can't function, a ten percent improvement is not enough. Pseudoephedrine is clearly more effective," says Leslie Hendeles, a clinical pharmacist who worked on the study.

So next time you need a little allergy relief, hit the pharmacy counter. Be prepared to show your ID and take a moment to fill out the registry. Apparently, it's worth your trouble.