Good for what ails you
Pharmacist Karen Sekula Davis scanned the shelves behind the counter at Oswald's Pharmacy in Naperville and named the cold and flu remedies that have migrated there.
It's a long list.
"Regular Sudafed, Aleve Sinus, Advil Cold and Sinus, and generics with ibuprofen cold and sinus, Mucinex D, Tylenol, Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold and Cough, a lot of children's stuff ... all multi-symptom, cold and cough, cold and sinus, chest congestion," she said. "If they're not out front, they're back here."
Recent state laws -- aimed at curbing illegal drug-making -- required over-the-counter cold medications containing pseudoephedrine to be sold at pharmacy counters only. Meanwhile, some medicines changed to stay on the shelves but could leave cold sufferers with less relief than they expected.
"You have to read the product's ingredients carefully now," Davis said. "If it says 'PE,' that's phenylephrine. It has been in nasal sprays, and used topically as an alternative (decongestant) because you can't make methamphetamine from it."
However, PE is less effective than the old ingredient, she said. Consumers who are hoping to clear their stuffed-up noses must weigh that against waiting in line at the pharmacy, showing a picture ID and signing a log book that records their name, address, pseudoephedrine product and package size for authorities.
What major brands still have the ingredients you're looking for? The following symptom guide might help in navigating the new formulas.
Ingredient 1: Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride.
Found in: Sudafed, Aleve Cold and Sinus, Sinutab Sinus Allergy and others.
Ingredient 2: Phenylephrine hydrochloride (PE).
Found in: Alka-Seltzer Plus, Benadryl Allergy and Cold, Excedrin Sinus Headache, Robitussin Cough and Cold, Sinex Decongestant Nasal Spray, Sudafed PE, Theraflu, Triaminic, Tylenol Cold, Vicks DayQuil and others.
Ingredient 1: Ibuprofen.
Found in: Advil, Advil Cold and Sinus, Motrin, Nuprin and others.
Ingredient 2: Acetaminophen.
Found in: Actifed Cold and Sinus, Alka-Seltzer Plus, Benadryl, Excedrin Sinus Headache, Sinutab, Theraflu, Tylenol, Tylenol Cold, Vicks NyQuil and DayQuil and others.
Ingredient: Dextromethorphan (DXM).
Found in: Robitussin DM, Sucrets, Sudafed Cold and Cough, Triaminic, Vicks Formula 44, Vicks NyQuil and DayQuil and others.
Ingredient: Guaifenesin.
Found in: Mucinex D, Robitussin, Triaminic and others.
