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This is a section where I speak out for or against things that come to my attention that I think deserve a public comment.
To comment on the following opinions please email me. Use Speak Out as the subject so I won't accidently delete it as SPAM. |
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New OTC Sinus Medication Restrictions
For at least three quarters of my fifty one years, I have suffered from some form of allergy or sinus conditions which seem to have become more cronic in the past five to ten years. Happily, I found that a combination of 2 OTC sinus and allergy drugs, relieved my symptoms greatly. I take one Sinus & Allergy (Nasal Decongestant, Antihistamine) and one Non-Drying Sinus (Nasal Decongestant, Expectorant) pill every four to six hours when my condition is acting-up. The second pill was added to this drug cocktail when I discovered that I needed the extra Expectorant to relieve the pressure. Recently, my partner and I went to our local Walgreens as I had run out of both medications. When I got to the usual aisle I noticed that all the usual racks were empty. I was about to leave and try another Pharmacy when I saw a new section with cards, imprinted with box cover designs from the many cold and sinus medications that were missing from their customary slots. I groaned with disgust when I realized what was happening, both medications contained Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, one of the ingredients in the dangerous, recreational drug “Crystal Meth.” What was usually a five minute in and out errand would now become a thirty minute nightmare! The information on the cards instructed that purchases of these drugs had to be made at the pharmacy counter, not at the regular check-out counter – no wonder Walgreen pharmacists are overworked. Luckily, there wasn’t much of a line so I thought, OK, not too bad. I gave the pharmacist the two cards. “You need your Driver’s License” declared the man behind the counter as he opened a large book in front of me, “and you need to put your ID number, name, address, and phone number in this log.” At this point I became rather irritated and felt as if I had just entered some not so distant future world from a Science Fiction novel. I grudgingly, followed his instructions as he went to fetch my two purchases. A few moments later he returned to inform me that I could buy only one of the two needed medications. Not only that but I could buy only one of the boxes in the time period of one week! It was then that I lost my temper and misdirected my anger to the group of pharmacists. I was informed by the oldest of the group that they were only following new government regulations and there was nothing they could do about it. He suggested I write a letter to the appropriate governmental official. I still needed both boxes so I turned to my partner, then back to the pharmacist and declared that I would buy one box and my friend would buy the other. Of course my friend had to show his Drivers License and fill-in the necessary information in their log. When we left the store with our purchases, which were placed by the pharmacist into the same bag, I was angry with Walgreens and our government – especially our current administration. Much of our population seems to be over 50. What about eighty year old Aunt Tilly, who has to take a bus to the pharmacy and inch her way down the aisle in her walker, with a similar sinus condition that requires two different types of drugs both containing Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride? What will she do when she finds that she has to get on another bus and travel to a different pharmacy to fulfill her meager needs? Is this how our government decides to solve the “Crystal Meth” problem? If so, I think we need a change. Many people might think, So what, It doesn’t pertain to me, I don’t have a sinus problem. Well, from watching the news we know that fertilizer is a main ingredient in bombs used by terrorists. Does this mean that somewhere down the line we might have to show our Driver’s Licenses and fill-in a log at the Home Depot when we want to fertilize our lawns and gardens? |
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CEGUR LIKES ...... CEGUR DISLIKES
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