Where does pseudoephedrine come from?

Although the drug occurs naturally in certain plants (eg, ma huang), the majority that is produced derives from yeast fermentation of dextrose in the presence of benzaldehyde. Pharmaceutical manufacturers in China and India produce the bulk of commercially available pseudoephedrine.

Is iodine used to make drugs?

Iodine crystals, which are used legally for a variety of commercial and medical purposes, frequently are used illegally to produce high quality d-methamphetamine. The following ephedrine/pseudoephedrine reduction method utilizes iodine in the production process.

Is methylamine used to make drugs?

In the United States, methylamine is controlled as a List 1 precursor chemical by the Drug Enforcement Administration due to its use in the illicit production of methamphetamine.

What drugs contain pseudoephedrine?

Common brands containing pseudoephedrine:

• Advil. ®
• Alavert. ®
• Aleve. ®
• Claritin. ®
• Mucinex. ®
• Sudafed. ®
• Triaminic. ®
• TYLENOL. ®

Can you make pseudoephedrine?

The drug can be easily made in small clandestine laboratories, with relatively inexpensive over-the-counter ingredients such as pseudoephedrine, a common ingredient in cold medications.

What is the Nagai method?

The reduction of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine hydrochloride using hydriodic acid and red phosphorus, known as the Nagai route, is preferred in the Asian and South Asian region. The method is straightforward and can be used for large-scale production (Figure 1).

What is a DEA List 1 chemical?

“List I Chemical” refers to a chemical specifically designated by the Administrator in 21 CFR 1310.02(a) that, in addition to legitimate uses, is used in manufacturing a controlled substance in violation of the Controlled Substances Act (herein referred to as ‘the Act”) and is important to the manufacture of a …

How do you make phenylacetone?

One method of creating phenylacetone is via: phenylacetic acid (C8H8O2) + acetic anhydride (C4H6O3) + pyridine catalyst → phenylacetone (C9H10O) + carbon dioxide (CO2) + water (H2O) Sodium acetate has been used instead of pyridine.

How do you make methylamine hydrochloride?

Methylamine hydrochloride is obtained by heating two equivalents of formaldehyde (as formalin) with ammonium chloride at about 100°. Any dimethylamine hydrochloride formed may be removed by extraction with chloroform.

What will 60 mg of pseudoephedrine do?

Pseudoephedrine is used for the temporary relief of stuffy nose and sinus pain/pressure caused by infection (such as the common cold, flu) or other breathing illnesses (such as hay fever, allergies, bronchitis).

Why is pseudoephedrine a controlled substance?

Pseudoephedrine can be misused as an ingredient for the illicit manufacture of methamphetamines. In 2005, the FDA created the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act, which banned over-the-counter sales of cold medicines that included the ingredient pseudoephedrine, requiring them to be sold behind the counter.

What Sudafed is used to make drugs?

Pseudoephedrine (PSE) is the main ingredient used to make methamphetamine (meth), a highly addictive stimulant drug.