Photo ID card needed to buy some medicines

Washington: Consumers must show a photo ID and sign a log to purchase some nonprescription sinus, cold and allergy medicines such as Claritin-D and Sudafed drugs that will now be locked behind the counter.

A federal law bans over-the-counter sales of medicines containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine to curb illegal production of crystal methamphetamine, an addictive drug made with the ingredients. Officials said online purchasers will face similar restrictions under the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act.

"This is crazy," said Jerry McIntosh, 71, a customer at the Wakefield Pharmacy in New York. "I wanted to get a little NyQuil cold medicine. I have a little cold and it makes you feel a little better, but I have to give my phone number and address. This makes no sense. If this is going to be a pain in the neck, I can live without it."

His pharmacist said while he understood the need to curb illicit drug production, the restrictions were a hardship to him and his customers. "It takes time to log in the information. Some customers walk out without buying anything. They say, 'I am not going to do it, I just have a cold,' or 'I should not be harassed just because I have allergies'."