You Really May Need a Prescription for your Allergy Medication in the Near Future

Jun 25, 2013 at 07:51 pm by bryan


WGNS has yet another story of a city or county in Tennessee ending the sales of over the counter pseudoephedrine containing drugs.

Pharmacies in Grundy County could be the NEXT to require a prescription for a slew of cold medications. As you have heard in the past, Tennessee has not been able to pass legislation to restrict the sale of pseudoephedrine. Now members of law enforcement are taking matters into their own hands, encouraging cities to pass an ordinance to require prescriptions in their communities.

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Under state law, pharmacies are the only place in town you can buy cold medications that contain pseudoephedrine, the primary ingredient used in the production of meth.

In 2012, 1,811 meth labs were discovered statewide. “We are on track right now to have the dubious distinction of being number one in the nation,” said Tommy Farmer, Director of the Tennessee Meth and Pharmaceutical Task Force.

A grassroots effort, led by Farmer and members of law enforcement, is hoping to change that. Franklin County is soon to become the first county in the state to require prescriptions for pseudoephedrine-based medications.

Manchester is considering enforcing the ordinance as the cities of Winchester and Estill Springs have already done and Decherd will vote on the issue this week. The ordinance restricts the sale of pseudoephedrine to prescription only.

Oregon and Mississippi are the only two states that require a prescription for pseudoephedrine-based cold medicines.

Tracy City, Monteagle, and Altamont in Grundy County have vowed to push an ordinance through in their communities.

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