Meds shortage

Tyrone Reid, Enterprise Reporter

A SHORTAGE of medication containing pseudoephedrine, the main ingredient in many cold and flu medicines sold in Jamaica, is being linked to the illegal manufacturing and sale of methamphetamine (commonly called meth).

It is a powerful stimulant that alters the functions of the central nervous system, and pseudoephedrine, it is believed, is being used to 'cook' the hard drug meth.

Several pharmacies checked by The Sunday Gleaner are out of stock of pseudoephedrine because Jamaica has reportedly already used up all its supplies under limits imposed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"Among my members, I have determined that there is some shortage with drugs such as Zyrtec-D and Clarinase," said Valerie Germain, president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Jamaica. These drugs, along with Allegra-D, contain pseudoephedrine.