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CVS ditches common cold meds after FDA advisers say they're useless

arstechnica.com

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Re: CVS ditches common cold meds after FDA advisers say they're useless

#101

Post by heavyset_go »

wutwutwat wrote: post #84
techsupporter wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You just have to go up to the counter and ask. You have to show ID, just like you do for liquor (and, because purchases of psuedoephedrine are rate-limited, they're going to log your purchase) Up to the counter and ask...when the counter is open that is increasingly a problem as pharmacies close and hours are limited (the two nearest me close at 6pm, right at the end of working hours). Show ID...that the pharmacist…

> Up to the counter and ask...when the counter is open that is increasingly a problem as pharmacies close and hours are limited (the two nearest me close at 6pm, right at the end of working hours). Probably covered by the FMLA or any boss who isn't an asshole, or since it's OTC, have someone grab it for you, or get it on your lunch, or task rabbit it. > Show ID...that the pharmacist will accept (not all of us drive o…

There are regulations that exist specifically to stop people from buying pseudoephedrine for someone else, anti-"smurfing" laws. Some places make you sign a government waiver that confirms you're only buying Sudafed for yourself, a family member, or someone in your household. There are limits on how much a single person and household can buy or have, as well.

It's not something you can use Task Rabbit for, and anyone that does pick it up for someone else because an app told them to is potentially opening themselves up to criminal liability.

Re: CVS ditches common cold meds after FDA advisers say they're useless

#102

Post by sneak »

mattmcknight wrote: post #79
tptacek wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's already easy to buy the stuff that works. You just have to go up to the counter and ask. You have to show ID, just like you do for liquor (and, because purchases of psuedoephedrine are rate-limited, they're going to log your purchase). You'll need to get over that, because I don't think the rate limit is going anywhere: psuedoephedrine essentially is methamphetamine, and it's the worst conceivable kind: the kind…

I'm never giving up on this as an issue. You don't just have to go up to the counter and ask and wait behind all of the people getting prescriptions filled- you get rate limited, never mind if you are buying it for a whole family, never mind if your previous supply was destroyed. I almost wish it were illegal, as black markets would make it easier to buy.

You can usually get it via personal shopping services. When I had a cold and a passport (and Walgreens/CVS’ systems could only deal with state IDs) I was able to get some by using Postmates.

Re: CVS ditches common cold meds after FDA advisers say they're useless

#103

Post by heavyset_go »

nkozyra wrote: post #78
techsupporter wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You just have to go up to the counter and ask. You have to show ID, just like you do for liquor (and, because purchases of psuedoephedrine are rate-limited, they're going to log your purchase) Up to the counter and ask...when the counter is open that is increasingly a problem as pharmacies close and hours are limited (the two nearest me close at 6pm, right at the end of working hours). Show ID...that the pharmacist…

> Rate-limited...at a quantity too low for a household that has a sinus infection running around. I don't think so. I actually buy this stuff for allergies because it's the only thing that works for me and doesn't disrupt my sleep one way or another. I get 60 pills which are 2x what's in cold medication. I get that it's annoying but for an illness it's more than enough for a large family.

If you have two people who take it everyday for allergies, you've already hit your limit with 60 pills.

Re: CVS ditches common cold meds after FDA advisers say they're useless

#104

Post by siegecraft »

wutwutwat wrote: post #84
techsupporter wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You just have to go up to the counter and ask. You have to show ID, just like you do for liquor (and, because purchases of psuedoephedrine are rate-limited, they're going to log your purchase) Up to the counter and ask...when the counter is open that is increasingly a problem as pharmacies close and hours are limited (the two nearest me close at 6pm, right at the end of working hours). Show ID...that the pharmacist…

> Up to the counter and ask...when the counter is open that is increasingly a problem as pharmacies close and hours are limited (the two nearest me close at 6pm, right at the end of working hours). Probably covered by the FMLA or any boss who isn't an asshole, or since it's OTC, have someone grab it for you, or get it on your lunch, or task rabbit it. > Show ID...that the pharmacist will accept (not all of us drive o…

I really doubt you could buy pseudoephedrine via taskrabbit, but then again I've never tried it.

Re: CVS ditches common cold meds after FDA advisers say they're useless

#106

Post by maxerickson »

Waterluvian wrote: post #68
dartos wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a difficult comment to parse

People blissfully treated with placebos because the stuff that actually worked can be kind of hardcore. My (I’ve learned: unpopular) opinion is that not everything is a cosmic wrongness that demands a 1Hr Photo of a fix. It’s okay to just work through a cold with rest and water and warm beverages.

Pseudoephedrine makes me feel fairly off, but it's really great for nasal congestion to last like 2 days less if that is the price (in addition to 20 cents for the pill or whatever it is).

Re: CVS ditches common cold meds after FDA advisers say they're useless

#107

Post by wutwutwat »

siegecraft wrote: post #104
wutwutwat wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Up to the counter and ask...when the counter is open that is increasingly a problem as pharmacies close and hours are limited (the two nearest me close at 6pm, right at the end of working hours). Probably covered by the FMLA or any boss who isn't an asshole, or since it's OTC, have someone grab it for you, or get it on your lunch, or task rabbit it. > Show ID...that the pharmacist will accept (not all of us drive o…

I really doubt you could buy pseudoephedrine via taskrabbit, but then again I've never tried it.

Task rabbit, uber eats, door dash, all have offerings where a person will do your shopping on your behalf. It includes over the counter meds afaik.

Re: CVS ditches common cold meds after FDA advisers say they're useless

#108

Post by Waterluvian »

jen20 wrote: post #83
Waterluvian wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People blissfully treated with placebos because the stuff that actually worked can be kind of hardcore. My (I’ve learned: unpopular) opinion is that not everything is a cosmic wrongness that demands a 1Hr Photo of a fix. It’s okay to just work through a cold with rest and water and warm beverages.

> It’s okay to just work through a cold with rest and water and warm beverages. Spot the person with no children and no job responsibilities!

(Has a four and a six year old)

Re: CVS ditches common cold meds after FDA advisers say they're useless

#109

Post by jcampbell1 »

tptacek wrote: post #18
techsupporter wrote: post #8

And this means we're going to have an easier time buying the stuff that works...right? ...right?

It's already easy to buy the stuff that works. You just have to go up to the counter and ask. You have to show ID, just like you do for liquor (and, because purchases of psuedoephedrine are rate-limited, they're going to log your purchase). You'll need to get over that, because I don't think the rate limit is going anywhere: psuedoephedrine essentially is methamphetamine, and it's the worst conceivable kind: the kind…

Enantomeric imported Mexican meth goes for $40 a gram. No way you can buy pseudoephedrine and shake’n’bake for less. You have to buy expensive lithium batteries and cold packs.

Re: CVS ditches common cold meds after FDA advisers say they're useless

#110

Post by siegecraft »

jameshart wrote: post #96
ars wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Homeopathic stuff is placebo, that's what it is. And placebos work very well. Who cares if they are not medicines? Sometimes all you need a placebo. You should not discount just how effective placebos actually are! Although I do recognize the potential for fraud here - they disclaimers they put on there should be more prominent.

How do you know placebos work? You can’t do a randomized placebo controlled trial to test them.

Why not? Give a bunch of people actual placebos, half are told it won't work, half are told it will, see what happens?
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