Tougher limits on buying cold and flu drugs to combat 'Breaking Bad' crystal meth labs

Customers are to face tough restrictions when buying over-the-counter cold and flu medicines from pharmacies in a bid to curb Breaking Bad -style crystal meth manufacturing labs.

The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) — formerly the Irish Medicines Board — is to introduce restrictions on the sale of medicines containing pseudoephedrine — the majority of which are available without prescription in pharmacies for the treatment of nasal congestions associated with colds and allergic conditions. Popular medicines containing pseudoephedrine include Sudafed, Nurofen Cold and Flu, and Benylin 4flu.

Following a consultation process, the HPRA has announced that medicine packs containing more than 720mg of pseudoephedrine will not be available without a prescription, and that all pharmacy sales of all medicines containing pseudoephedrine will be limited to one pack per transaction.