PHARMACISTS REQUEST WITHDRAWAL OF PSEUDOEPHEDRINE

The Pharmacists' Division of the Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists & Managers, Australia, is calling for the immediate withdrawal of products containing pseudoephedrine from pharmacies. The group's action follows a dramatic increase in drug-related crime believed to be associated with what it calls a methamphetamine epidemic in Australia. Pseudoephedrine is the active ingredient in many OTC decongestants.

Spokesman Paul Gysslink said pharmacists have reported increased incidents of break-ins and raids even though measures had been taken to tighten controls on products containing pseudoephedrine. "Pharmacies are being targeted as a source of ingredients for illicit drug manufacturing," he said. "This is causing stress and anxiety to our members."

Some Australian states have laws that aim to restrict the sale of products containing the drug, but these measures have not reduced the incidence of pseudoephedrine-related crime, the group said. "These codes of practice also interfere with the time available for pharmacists to provide their professional services," Gysslink said.

"We are concerned for not only the safety of our members but also members of the public," he said. "That is why we are calling on the immediate withdrawal of pseudoephedrine in pharmacies around the country."

The group pointed out that Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration has said that pseudoephedrine can be replaced with phenylephrine in many decongestants. In the U.S. many companies have replaced pseudoephedrine with phenylephrine in their decongestant drugs due to new rules regarding the sale of pseudoephedrine-containing products.