Ephedrine; prescription required.

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(1) Except as provided in subsection (2), any product that contains any quantity of ephedrine, a salt of ephedrine, an optical isomer of ephedrine, or a salt of an optical isomer of ephedrine may be dispensed only upon the prescription of a duly licensed practitioner authorized by the laws of the state to prescribe prescription drugs.

(2) A product containing ephedrine described in paragraphs (a)-(e) is exempt from subsection (1) if it may lawfully be sold over the counter without a prescription under the federal act; is labeled and marketed in a manner consistent with the pertinent United States Food and Drug Administration Over-the-Counter Tentative Final or Final Monograph; and is manufactured and distributed for legitimate medicinal use in a manner that reduces or eliminates the likelihood of abuse, when considered in the context with: the package sizes and the manner of packaging of the drug product; the name and labeling of the product; the manner of distribution, advertising, and promotion of the product; the duration, scope, health significance, and societal cost of abuse of the particular product; the need to provide medically important ephedrine-containing therapies to the public for United States Food and Drug Administration approved indications on an unrestricted, over-the-counter basis; and other facts as may be relevant to and consistent with public health and safety.

(a) Solid oral dosage forms that combine active ingredients in the following ranges for each dosage unit:

  1. 1. Theophylline (100-130mg), ephedrine (12.5-24mg).

  2. 2. Theophylline (60-100mg), ephedrine (12.5-24mg), guaifenesin (200-400mg).

  3. 3. Ephedrine (12.5-25mg), guaifenesin (200-400mg).

  4. 4. Phenobarbital (not greater than 8mg) in combination with the ingredients of subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2.

(b) Liquid oral dosage forms that combine active ingredients in the following ranges for each (5ml) dose:

  1. 1. Theophylline (not greater than 45mg), ephedrine (not greater than 36mg), guaifenesin (not greater than 100mg), phenobarbital (not greater than 12mg).

  2. 2. Phenylephrine (not greater than 5mg), ephedrine (not greater than 5mg), chlorpheniramine (not greater than 2mg), dextromethorphan (not greater than 10mg), ammonium chloride (not greater than 40mg), ipecac fluid extract (not greater than 0.005ml).

(c) Anorectal preparations containing less than 5 percent ephedrine.

(d) Nasal decongestant compounds, mixtures, or preparations containing 0.5 percent or less ephedrine.

(e) Any drug product containing ephedrine that is marketed pursuant to an approved new drug application or legal equivalent under the federal act.

(3) The department may implement this section by rule.

History.—s. 7, ch. 94-309; s. 1, ch. 95-415; s. 61, ch. 2003-1; s. 24, ch. 2008-207.


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