How Long Does A 'Ban' On Sudafed Sales Last If You Are Over The Limit?

Answer

Thanks for contacting us! I'm more than happy to answer this for you.

The sale of pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine is regulated by the Controlled Substances Act and the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act (CMEA) in the United States. These regulations aim to prevent the misuse of these substances in the production of illegal drugs, such as methamphetamine.

According to the federal limits on the sale of pseudoephedrine, you cannot be sold more than:

• 3.6 grams of the base drug (pseudoephedrine) per day
• 9 grams of the base drug (pseudoephedrine) in a 30-day period
• For mail-order customers, the limit is set at 7.5 grams of the base drug (pseudoephedrine) in a 30-day period.

A comprehensive list of amounts and restrictions can be found on the DEA website.

Similarly, the FDA website has an informative FAQ on this topic.

How Long Does a 'Ban' Last?

You asked in your question how long a sales 'ban' on pseudoephedrine lasts if you are at your sales limit.

It's not so much a ban as it is a sales restriction, as you can't purchase (over-the-counter) beyond the limits outlined in the section above (3.6 grams per day and 9 grams per month).

So, how long a sales restriction is in place for you depends entirely on which limit you have reached.

For example, if you purchased 3.6 grams today, you wouldn't be able to purchase more than that day but could make another purchase tomorrow.

For the 30-day limit on pseudoephedrine, that 30-day period is calculated on a rolling basis, meaning the calculation considers the total amount purchased within the last 30 days from the current date, rather than a fixed calendar month.

In other words, there is a 30-day look-back period when determining how much pseudoephedrine you have purchased.

You didn't give me specific dates in your question but just know that you can't purchase more than 9 grams within a 30-day period. Your pharmacy likely has an electronic log of your purchases and can give you specific guidance on how much you have purchased and when you may legally purchase more.

As a final point here, I want to emphasize that when pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine are dispensed by prescription, they are exempt from the CMEA legal requirements mentioned earlier. The restrictions only apply to purchases 'over-the-counter'.

By obtaining a prescription from your doctor, you can ensure continued access to the medication while avoiding any bans or restrictions on over-the-counter sales.

Final Words

I hope you found this helpful!

You already beat me to my recommendation of requesting a prescription from your doctor so the sales restrictions don't apply to you (although you would still be subject to them if you buy the drug over-the-counter).

Nevertheless, hopefully, this gave you some more insights into what the OTC sales restrictions are.