What drug is in Advil Cold & Sinus?

Search: advil cold and sinus meth

Why: According to my mom:

No, take this [Advil Cold and Sinus]. They keep it behind the counter because people use it to make meth. You have to sign a document and everything.

Answer: The chemical is pseudoephedrine, commonly used as a decongestant and in antihistamines, acetaminophen (Tylenol), and ibuprofen (Advil). It's also used for its stimulant properties. It is very similar in chemical structure to amphetamines:

Long-distance truck drivers and sports athletes, for example, have reportedly used pseudoephedrine as a stimulant to increase their state of alertness/awareness. It is doubtful that pseudoephedrine would be of significant benefit, except in sensitive individuals, because of its minimal effect in the central nervous system.

The similarity in chemical structure to the amphetamines has made pseudoephedrine a sought-after chemical precursor in the illicit manufacture of methamphetamine and methcathinone. As a result of the increasing regulatory restrictions on the sale and distribution of pseudoephedrine, many pharmaceutical firms have reformulated, or are in the process of reformulating medications to use alternative decongestants, such as phenylephrine. Many retailers such as Target, CVS, and Winn-Dixie have created corporate policies restricting the sale of pseudoephedrine-containing products. Their policies restrict sales by limiting purchase quantities and requiring a minimum age with proper identification.

Source: WunderKraut, Wikipedia

The More You Know: I totally just took an Advil Cold & Sinus WITH a Mucinex. Then I sniffed some Afrin.

It might disturb you that in my search, I came upon the question, "What effect does methamphetamine use have on pregnancy?" At least they spelled everything correctly...