Some Cold Drugs Could Be Prescription Only In Michigan Under New Bills

It could soon be much harder to obtain certain cold medicines in Michigan.

House Bills 6339, 6340 and 6341 were introduced into the Michigan House of Representatives this month. 6339 would add drugs containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine to the definition of “prescription drugs” in Michigan law. It would also would disallow the online sale of pediatric products containing the chemicals and products containing them in which they are not the only active ingredient.

6340 and 6341 appear mainly to be clerical changes, updating references to current law that would be altered.

Ephedrine is often used to prevent low blood pressure during surgery, while pseudoephedrine is a decongestant often included in over the counter cold and allergy medications such as Sudafed, Claritin-D and Allegra-D. The drugs are a key ingredient in the manufacture of methamphetamine. If these bills pass, you would need to get a prescription from a doctor to get them.

The bills, introduced by Republican Representative Beau LaFave of the Western Upper Peninsula, were referred to the House Committee on Health Policy.