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The Uselessness of Phenylephrine

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Re: The Uselessness of Phenylephrine

#42
post #17

I wonder how difficult it would be to get the restrictions on pseudoephedrine rolled back now that it appears unlikely they're accomplishing their original goal of limiting the methamphetamine supply. Concern (legitimate and otherwise) over ability to breathe is a popular topic in politics lately.

Very difficult. Regulations live on regardless of their negative effects because there's very little incentive to get rid of them.

For a long time, I've had the idea in the back of my mind that all laws should have expiration dates, and the maximum duration shouldn't be very long (12 or 18 years would be two or three senate terms in the US). Ideally, it would be combined with something to keep the scope of each bill narrow.

Re: The Uselessness of Phenylephrine

#43
My drug of choice for colds is NyQuil. It's always been great for opening up my nasal passages enough to let me breathe easily and then knocking me the fuck out so I could sleep off most of the cold.

I remember several years ago when all of a sudden NyQuil stopped doing anything useful. I had no idea why but I directly observed that it was like it had been replaced with a non-functioning placebo.

Only a couple years later did I make the connection that this was right when they passed the law restricting pseudoephedrine. I got my hands on some NyQuil D and everything was back to normal and I had a functioning cold remedy again.

Phenylephrine is completely useless.

Re: The Uselessness of Phenylephrine

#44
post #13

The lack of availability of proper pseudoephedrine in USA led to situation where there are papers describing how to turn methamphetamine into pseudoephedrine, not the other way around. With explanation in abstract that its easier to buy meth than pseudoephedrine.

> With explanation in abstract that its easier to buy meth than pseudoephedrine.

People may laugh at this, as they should since it is an absurd situation, but this isn't entirely wrong.

Neither my wife or I drive and during the pandemic she gave up her license after getting an appointment at the DOL was difficult. Both of us carry US passport cards as our ID.

This has resulted in several situations where we've been turned down for purchasing restricted items like alcohol or drugs containing pseudoephedrine, particularly the latter, because a passport card can't be scanned by the usual point of sale systems. There are a couple of places in Seattle that are happy to accept a passport card but even at them it's sometimes been dependent on who is working the counter that day.

Re: The Uselessness of Phenylephrine

#45
post #18
post #13

The lack of availability of proper pseudoephedrine in USA led to situation where there are papers describing how to turn methamphetamine into pseudoephedrine, not the other way around. With explanation in abstract that its easier to buy meth than pseudoephedrine.

lol https://improbable.com/airchives/paperair/volume19/v19i3/Pse...

Thank you for making my day.

Re: The Uselessness of Phenylephrine

#46
Phenylephrine is utterly useless on me. Maybe it works for some people but it may as well be Pez for all the good it does me.

I make it a point buy a pack of actual pseudoephedrine from my pharmacist every 6 months or so, to ensure I have a stock when I need it. Fortunately, I don't need it too often, but there's no good substitute when I do.

Re: The Uselessness of Phenylephrine

#47
post #17

I wonder how difficult it would be to get the restrictions on pseudoephedrine rolled back now that it appears unlikely they're accomplishing their original goal of limiting the methamphetamine supply. Concern (legitimate and otherwise) over ability to breathe is a popular topic in politics lately.

> how difficult it would be to get the restrictions on pseudoephedrine rolled back

Likely a non-starter until the FDA revokes phenylephrine's designation as a decongestant.

Re: The Uselessness of Phenylephrine

#48
post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Difficult. Dianne Feinstein was the figure behind the changes, as part of her war on drugs. She wanted pseudoephedrine made prescription only too. https://www.drugcaucus.senate.gov/press-releases/feinstein-g... ironically, OR and MS, the states listed in that report, are so far the only 2 that are starting to roll back the restrictions. Our elected officials seem adverse to admitting something doesn't work well and r…

Every time she's mentioned, there's something to make me dislike Feinstein more than I already did. It does seem likely her strong opposition would be a high bar to clear, though as the oldest current senator, she may not be a factor for a long time.

It really is amazing how someone manages to be on the wrong side of seemingly everything, and yet is locked into office past the point of senility.

Re: The Uselessness of Phenylephrine

#49
post #13

The lack of availability of proper pseudoephedrine in USA led to situation where there are papers describing how to turn methamphetamine into pseudoephedrine, not the other way around. With explanation in abstract that its easier to buy meth than pseudoephedrine.

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