title: The advent of a new pseudoephedrine product to combat methamphetamine abuse.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The personal and societal effects of methamphetamine abuse are well documented. The ease of accessibility to methamphetamine and the quality of the "high" it produces makes the drug highly desired by its abusers. Over time, many methamphetamine users will also become methamphetamine cooks, where pseudoephedrine in over-the-counter cold products is converted to methamphetamine through a simple, albeit extremely dangerous, process. New laws limiting access to these products have had limited success. No existing commercial pseudoephedrine products offer significant impediments to slow or limit the extraction and conversion of pseudoephedrine in clandestine methamphetamine laboratories.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A new pseudoephedrine 30 mg tablet product using Impede technology (Nexafed®) to deter methamphetamine production has recently been introduced into the marketplace. Using methods designed to mimic clandestine laboratory processes, the ability of this product to disrupt extraction and conversion of pseudoephedrine to methamphetamine yet provide therapeutic effectiveness was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Impede™ technology tablets limited the extraction and/or conversion of pseudoephedrine to methamphetamine when compared to a commercially marketed pseudoephedrine product (Sudafed®). Nexafed® tablets were also shown to be bioequivalent to the same control product, thus ensuring therapeutic equivalence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With the advent of new pseudoephedrine products in the marketplace with features to limit the extraction and conversion of pseudoephedrine to methamphetamine, new tools are now available to minimize the clandestine manufacture of the drug and potentially limit its social impact.
authors: Acura Pharmaceutical Technologies, Inc., Culver, IN 46511, USA. abrzeczk@acurapharm.com
authors: Albert W
authors: AW
authors: Brzeczko
authors: Ronald
authors: R
authors: Leech
authors: Jeffrey G
authors: JG
authors: Stark
mesh_terms: D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000600:supply & distribution; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D014663:Nasal Decongestants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D054199:Pseudoephedrine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D013607:Tablets; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D014663:Nasal Decongestants; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D013607:Tablets; D008694:Methamphetamine; D054199:Pseudoephedrine
references: Pediatrics. 2002 Aug;110(2 Pt 1):258-66
references: 12165576