Opinion divided over 'prescription-only' cold medicines

Health professionals are divided over the Government's decision to make pseudoephedrine-based cold medicines prescription-only, with some warning it will not stop determined P cooks.

Prime Minister John Key has announced the move as part of new policies designed to crack down on the trade of methamphetamine – or `P'.

Police estimate that one-third of the pseudoephedrine used to make P is bought or stolen from New Zealand pharmacies.

Auckland GP Jim McVeagh said the move to prescription-only was "silly".

"It's not going to make any difference at all.

"It's just making the GPs the police for pseudoephedrine instead of pharmacists."

The other initiatives John Key announced – including 40 more customs officials devoted to drug detection – were reasonable, he said.

However, he thought tougher sentencing for people importing pseudoephedrine would have a greater effect than restricting sales of the drug here.

Fellow GP Brian McAvoy said the restriction alone would not wipe out the P trade, but it would cut off one line of supply.

"It will certainly make it more difficult for people who are trying to access pseudoephedrine for use in clan labs."

There were cheaper alternatives for consumers that were probably more effective, he said.

"I strongly recommend things like steam inhalations with menthol or eucalyptus, and paracetemol."

The Pharmaceutical Society has warned that New Zealanders would no longer have access to effective cold remedies, but pharmacists The Dominion Post spoke to agreed with the Government's decision.

Wellington pharmacist Julie Keenan said consumers would not suffer.

"Our main issue is that people have an alternative – which we do have already."

Some studies had shown phenylephrine – the main alternative to pseudoephedrine – to be less effective, but Ms Keenan said customer complaints were rare.

A few people had visited the pharmacy yesterday hoping to stock up on the drug, she said.

"But we have to knock them back because of the whole [P] problem anyway."

Another Wellington pharmacist said the restriction was worth it if it put a dent in the P trade.

"For the average consumer, it's quite unfortunate ... but in saying that something does need to be done."

She had not noticed an increase in pseudoephedrine sales yesterday.

Ken Ng, a pharmacist at City Medical Centre, said the centre's pharmacy had already removed pseudoephedrine from its shelves "some time ago".

"It was too much hassle – trying to decide who is and who isn't for real."

No date has been set for the prescription-only change, but Mr Key said legislation would be introduced to Parliament soon.

- © Fairfax NZ News