When St. Charles County passed the ordinance that required a prescription for popular and safe products containing pseudoephedrine (PSE), I did not anticipate how negative the impact would be on my patients and my practice.

I hope that by sharing my experience, other local governments will hesitate before making a similar miscalculation.

Since the prescription requirement was passed for PSE, I have seen unhappy patients who are aggravated and angry that they have to consult with me before buying their cold and allergy medicines. Patients are busy (as are we) and now this medication law that varies from city to city or county to county and even across state lines creates confusing requirements both for the need for a prescription and for the number of tablets that can be dispensed.

My colleagues and I are equally frustrated that it requires a lot of time to explain these new requirements, taking time away from our ill patients who deserve our attention.

Most importantly, I don't believe that turning a law enforcement function over to doctors will be effective in the long term, as most career criminals will be able to find their way around the law. The decision about which medicines belong over the counter and which are available by prescription should be a function of the FDA, not local governments.

I hope that our experience in St. Charles County can be a warning to others — a prescription requirement for PSE does more harm than good.

Susan S. Berdy, M.D., Creve Coeur