Decongestant question for Canadians

[mevelandry]

Regular gravel is sold over the counter in Canada. You should not need to ask a pharmacist for it. But note it is he stuff that makes most people drowsy.

I have been living here forever (born here in Canada) and always had to ask the pharmacist. It is considered "over the counter" but it's never in the alley. They keep it behind the counter.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I have been living here forever (born here in Canada) and always had to ask the pharmacist. It is considered "over the counter" but it's never in the alley. They keep it behind the counter.

Shoppers has it on their shelves in our area.

 

[Starwind]

I have been living here forever (born here in Canada) and always had to ask the pharmacist. It is considered "over the counter" but it's never in the alley. They keep it behind the counter.

Around here every pharmacy sells it OTC out on the shelves.

SW

 

[Starwind]

I have been living here forever (born here in Canada) and always had to ask the pharmacist. It is considered "over the counter" but it's never in the alley. They keep it behind the counter.

Doing some digging, it appears Gravol being BTC for all forms may be/is specific to Quebec, though it is possible some other provinces also schedule so it must be sold "behind the counter". https://www.opq.org/fr-CA/grand-public/les-medicaments/medicaments-vendus-sans-ordonnance/ this is the law where it is made "schedule II" for all forms in Quebec even though on the national list some forms are schedule II (BTC) and some are schedule III (OTC). See below for more info on the national list.

In Ontario follows the national list for it.

In BC, it depends; from their Drug Schedule, where dimenhydrinate (i.e. Gravol) is an exception from the national list:

2 Dimenhydrinate and its salts (for oral use when sold in packages of greater than 30 dosage units or for parenteral use)
3 Dimenhydrinate and its salts (for oral use when sold in packages of 30 dosage units or less or for rectal use)

Where

Schedule II (Professional Service Area): Drugs which may be sold by a pharmacist on a non-prescription basis and which must be retained within the Professional Service Area of the pharmacy where there is no public access and no opportunity for patient self-selection.

Schedule III (Professional Products Area): Drugs which may be sold by a pharmacist to any person from the self-selection Professional Products Area of a licensed pharmacy.

see: http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/9_98

According to the national drug schedules:

(http://napra.ca/national-drug-schedules?keywords=Dimenhydrinate&schedule=)


Drug Name Comment Schedule Date

Dimenhydrinate and its salts for parenteral use II SEP / 98

Dimenhydrinate and its salts. for oral or rectal use [Note: Pharmacists are advised that in areas where there is evidence of abuse or particular concern about abuse, dimenhydrinate products should not be located in a self-selection area of the pharmacy]. III APR / 99

also, for reference, meclizine is schedule III: http://napra.ca/nds/meclizine-and-its-salts-0

Newfoundland's Pharmacy Board has an appendix in this document ( http://www.nlpb.ca/media/Drug-Schedules-August2017.pdf ) dedicated to dimenhydrinate...

SW

 

[Starwind]

and for "Pseudoephedrine and its salts and preparations in single entity products" it is "schedule II" in Canada's national drug schedule, which means it must be sold "behind the counter: "Schedule II (Professional Service Area): Drugs which may be sold by a pharmacist on a non-prescription basis and which must be retained within the Professional Service Area of the pharmacy where there is no public access and no opportunity for patient self-selection."

SW

 

[Starwind]

Visitors to Canada can import a smallness amount of pseudoephedrine for personal use during their trip.
However there are quantity limitations (including specific mass limits) and rules to follow.
If you plan to bring in any medication (Rx or otc) it is worthwhile doing some research to understand the rules. The Canada Border Services website is a good place to start.

As for the Bonnie/meclizine issue. It is not banned here you just can’t buy it because no company sell it in Canada. If you search the health Canada approved drug products website you will learn the meclizine is approved but not currently on the market.

Again becoming familiar with Canada’s rules for the importation of medications (includes Rx and otc) is wise for anyone planning to visit Canada and bring medication with them. Same goes for visiting other countries - some countries hve some unexpected rules (eg Benadryl is banned in at least one country).

For the rules, see https://www.canada.ca/en/health-can...ts-under-food-drugs-act-regulations-0084.html and in particular the sections "Personal Use Importations".

 

[mevelandry]

Ahhhh we are not under the same rules. So we were all right. Lol

 

[yowcruiser]

Although provincial rules may slightly differ, the general rule for pseudoephedrine in Canada is that it can be sold as OTC, in regular aisles, for as long as it is blended with another medication (eg: acetaminophen, ibuprofen and/or an anti-histamine). "Pure" pseudoephedrine is also available as OTC but only behind the counter and is not always easy to get as most drug stores now only carry a limited supply