Pseudoephedrine
Although pseudoephedrine has a legitimate place in the relief of nasal congestion associated with acute or chronic rhinitis, it can also be diverted for the production of illicit amphetamines.
Project STOP™
Pharmacists are required to record all over the counter (OTC) sales of pseudoephedrine products on Project STOP™. This means pharmacists have access to ‘real-time’ records of pseudoephedrine purchases from pharmacies across Western Australia. Use of Project STOP™ reduces the chances of inappropriate purchases of pseudoephedrine products from a pharmacy as the system allows the pharmacist to review the history of previous supplies which supports quality use of medicine in individual patients and aids in reducing diversion.
You can report suspicious requests for pseudoephedrine products can to the WA Police Chemical Diversions Desk:
Therapeutic need
A therapeutic need must be established for a sale of pseudoephedrine, and the amount sold must be reasonable for the individual therapeutic circumstances.
Sales and supplies
A pharmacist, or a pharmacy intern or technician under the personal supervision of a pharmacist, may sell a pseudoephedrine product to a purchaser providing:
- the purchaser is known; or
- the purchaser’s identity has been verified by photographic evidence.
The product must be labelled with the name and address of the pharmacy and a unique number or alpha-numeric code. The sale must be recorded in Project Stop™ with the following information:
- date of sale
- name and address of purchaser
- name and address of the person the medicine is intended to treat (if not the purchaser)
- name and quantity of medicine supplied
- unique identification number or alpha-numeric code.
Records of pseudoephedrine sales must be kept for at least 2 years.
More information
Medicines and Poisons Regulation Branch
Mailing address: PO Box 8172, Perth Business Centre, WA 6849
Phone: 9222 6883
Email: MPRB@health.wa.gov.au