Sudafed is a brand name and registered trademark for a family of over-the-counter (OTC) decongestants based on pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and manufactured by Pfizer Inc. for sale in the United States, theUnited Kingdom, Australia and Canada. Wikibooks has more about this subject: Marketing A brand is a collection of images and ideas representing an economic producer; more specifically, it refers to the concrete symbols such as a name, logo, slogan, and design scheme. ... A trademark, trade mark, ™ or ®[1] is a distinctive sign of some kind which is used by an organization to uniquely identify itself and its products and services to consumers, and to distinguish the organization and its products or services from those of other organizations. ... Over-the-counter substances, also abbreviated OTC, are drugs and other medical remedies that may be sold without a prescription and without a visit to a medical professional, in contrast to prescription only medicines (POM). ... A decongestant is a broad class of drugs designed to symptomatically treat ailments affecting the respiratory system. ... Pseudoephedrine (commonly abbreviated as PSE) is a sympathomimetic amine commonly used as a decongestant. ... In chemistry, hydrochlorides are salts resulting, or regarded as resulting, from the reaction of hydrochloric acid with an organic base (mostly amines). ... Pfizer, Incorporated (NYSE: PFE), is a global pharmaceutical company based in New York City. ...

Switch to phenylephrine

In late 2004, Pfizer started publicly disclosing its plans to make available a new OTC product, Sudafed PE, which does not include pseudoephedrine. Sudafed PE contains a different decongestant called phenylephrine, in a formulation sold for years in Europe. The new product became available on January 10, 2005. Sudafed products which combine the decongestant with other ingredients will be completely converted to phenylephrine later in 2005, though original Sudafed will still be offered. 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Phenylephrine or neosynephrine is an α-agonist used primarily as a decongestant, as an agent to dilate the pupil, and rarely to increase blood pressure. ... January 10 is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The new product was prompted by existing and proposed restrictions on the availability of pseudoephedrine-based products. State laws imposing such restrictions were in response to pseudoephedrine's role as an ingredient used to produce the illegal and highly addictive stimulant methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth. Drug addiction, or dependency is the compulsive use of drugs, to the point where the user has no effective choice but to continue use. ... Stimulants are drugs that increase alertness and wakefulness. ... Methamphetamine (sometimes referred to as methylamphetamine or desoxyephedrine) is a psychostimulant drug used primarily for recreational purposes (under the street-name crystal meth), but is sometimes prescribed for Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy under the brand name Desoxyn. ...

Pfizer and its predecessor Warner-Lambert had studied at least two alternatives to its current formula in anticipation of pressure from state regulators and the Food and Drug Administration: Pfizer, Incorporated (NYSE: PFE), is a global pharmaceutical company based in New York City. ... The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is responsible for regulating food (humans and animal), dietary supplements, drugs (human and animal), cosmetics, medical devices (human and animal) and radiation emitting devices (including non-medical devices), biologics, and...

• In 1996, the company began testing a patented decongestant ingredient known as "minus" pseudoephedrine. The company claimed animal tests showed this altered version offered sinus relief comparable to the current "plus" pseudoephedrine. The difference was that it couldn't be converted to meth. Pfizer did not bring the new ingredient to market because of the cost and time involved in gaining regulatory approval.
• Pfizer spent $12 million trying to develop additives for Sudafed that might make it harder to remove the pseudoephedrine it contains. They abandoned the project in 2003, seven years after announcing its existence.

According to L. Hendeles of the University of Florida, "Phenylpropanolamine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylephrine are the most common decongestants. Although all are sympathomimetic amines, their efficacy varies. In particular, phenylephrine is subject to first-pass metabolism and therefore is not bioavailable in currently recommended doses."[1] 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) is a drug of the phenethylamine family used as a decongestant and also as an appetite suppressant. ... Sympathomimetic drugs are substances that mimic the effects of the hormone adrenaline. ... The first pass effect (or first pass metabolism) is a phenomenon of drug metabolism. ...

In Australia Sudafed with 60mg of pseudoephedrine is available with a doctor's prescription only.

External links and sources

• Sudafed® Nasal Decongestant, a summary from the manufacturer
• Was the West's methamphetamine epidemic allowed to happen?, a five-part series published in The Oregonian in October 2004