Claritin Confusion Save Email Print
Plymouth, IN
Posted: 5:49 PM Oct 25, 2007
 Last Updated: 6:57 PM Oct 25, 2007
 Reporter: Stephanie Stang
Email Address: stephanie.stang@wndu.com
20 comments
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A Plymouth woman is almost arrested for stocking up on allergy medicine.

Jennifer Guriel says she takes Claritin-D every morning because of a severe allergy problem.

She decided to stock up on the drug before she left for a business trip.

She bought two boxes in one week at different locations not knowing it was against the law.

A Plymouth police officer stopped by with an arrest warrant, but did not make the arrest.

“I was flabbergasted for it. I've never done anything wrong. He basically told me I purchased to many grams of pseudoephedrine last month and I was devastated and embarassed,” says Guriel after the officer arrived.

Guriel says she wants other people to know about the law. Basically the law says a person cannot purchase more than three grams of ephedrine or psuedoephedrine in seven days.

Indiana is working to create a network between all of the pharmacies that will send out an alert if someone tries to buy medicines containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine illegally.

Currently any violations are caught when police cross reference purchase logs submitted by pharmacies.
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Posted by: dazed Location: angola on Nov 23, 2008 at 07:54 PM
The have arrested well over 100 people the last few months for this offense. Many have gone to the same store to purchase and was not told that this was to much in a week. One person purchased 3.12 grams in 6 days at the same store. The police really do not have enough to do here.
Posted by: Citizen on Oct 27, 2007 at 02:03 PM
After solving all the other crime in the area, these fine offices served a waarant for someone buying too much cold medicine. And how much meth could you produce from the amount she purchased? None is my guess. Total waste of time. STUPID GOVERNMENT! VOTE THEM OUT!
Posted by: Kathy Location: Elkhart on Oct 27, 2007 at 08:04 AM
How about the meth lab that was busted several weeks ago in Elkhart...as of right now NO ONE from that home is in jail!!!!
Posted by: Tracy Location: Granger on Oct 27, 2007 at 12:43 AM
I, too, get embarrassed when I have to sign a form to get pseudoephedrine. I feel like I'm sneaking around to get the "good stuff" because it's the only stuff that actually works - phenylephrine sucks!
Posted by: A Mom on Oct 26, 2007 at 09:27 PM
Yeah buddy I'm glad the cops are right on top of the ol' over the counter allergy medicine sales... Half of Marshall county knows who is selling actual illegal drugs to kids in & at school. But, I can see now why the cops don't have time for that.
Posted by: 5 in a household Location: North liberty on Oct 26, 2007 at 03:42 PM
Ok, get this, there are 5 members in our family. 3 of them are minors. 2 of the minors have bad seasonal allergies,they must take med. as directed on box, We have then already exceded the amount allowed by law. Then if you add in any of the other 3 of us that need the med at any given time we are way over the limit. It is stupid, goverment is hurting the good folks, it may make a dent in meth production to start but they will find another way. Luckley we have found a prescription nasel spray that works well for the kids and the allergies otherwise we would be in trouble with the law. I was told I could get a prescription on file, but it would be limited to that location. This makes it hard as we are in the country and seem to pick up the generic at what ever location we happen to be at. That is our goverment at work for us. Drugies will be drugies.
Posted by: SB Location: Walkerton on Oct 26, 2007 at 02:58 PM
In China they have a limit of one child per couple. In Indiana, you are only allowed one family member to have allergies or colds requiring this particular decongestant for relief. Makes sense to me. NOT! It's nice to know that we not only have insurance companies practicing medicine without a license, but the lawmakers are getting into it too!
Posted by: VK Location: SW Michigan on Oct 26, 2007 at 09:02 AM
I was not allowed to purchase Clariton D at Walgreens the other day because apparently I went over my limit because I had bought a 15-pack 13 days before. They couldn't even tell me when I would be able to purchase more, in two days or after the month was done. The whole thing was pretty embarrassing too in front of all the other customers. Not being able to buy it when it's convenient for me and having to make a special trip to the pharmacy really sucks too (especially when you walk away empty handed). They should have at least payed for my gas and time. lol
Posted by: LCB on Oct 26, 2007 at 08:11 AM
Over 80% of the Meth in this country is made in high-tech superlabs in Mexico. Down there they can order massive amounts of the chemicals needed, with no regulation. Restricting claritin is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Time to close the border.
Posted by: dave Location: nortrhern IN on Oct 26, 2007 at 05:51 AM
another case of a looks good law, that does nothing but mess with the law abiding people, and we call this progress, and people wonder why I get so nasty in at the CVS stores when I get sudafed, facism is right in your face on this, issue, meanwhile,illegals kill 12 americans daily, and do you think law enforcement is giving the same effort to a real crime as compared to this petty too much cold medicine law, remember its far easier to mess with law abiding citizens than real criminals, rant mode offf,
Posted by: Theresa Location: Plymouth on Oct 26, 2007 at 05:44 AM
Put the bouncer in the slammer!
Posted by: K Location: Mishawaka on Oct 25, 2007 at 11:32 PM
Gee...What a brilliant idea...let's stop people from using over the counter medications due to ephedrine..when I can buy ephedrine....anywhere...anytime...and not have it tracked...additionally...I am sure that those that make meth with ephedrine, have long ago found an alternative to cold medicine....one step backward for Indiana....
Posted by: Mack Location: S. Bend on Oct 25, 2007 at 09:09 PM
Another example of the law punishing the good for the actions of a few. Just arrest the criminals for making meth and leave good people alone. We are all made to feel like criminals because some idiots made decisions to make illegal drugs out of over the counter medicines. The majority of the people are honest and are forced to purchase these items from behind the counter and fill out logs just because a few criminals. Maybe we should have everything in stores behind lock and key, that way no criminals can steal and we all have to wait for someone to help us purchase our items.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: plymouth on Oct 25, 2007 at 07:40 PM
so sad the world has come to this that those of us who are honestly using the meds have to go through that.I witnessed a man last winter try to buy 2 meds one for his wife one for his baby and he had to decide who to not buy for since he couldnt get both- he of course got the baby med and then selected another product for his wife but how sad it has come to that
Posted by: Rich Location: Niles on Oct 25, 2007 at 07:17 PM
My home was broken into last month and these fools are serving warants for Claritin!
Posted by: LCB on Oct 25, 2007 at 07:16 PM
Fortunatly my doctor told me about Clarimax-- the prescription version of Claritin. Basically the same thing, but I can get large amounts at once, and with my copay is signifcantly cheaper.
Posted by: LCB on Oct 25, 2007 at 07:15 PM
This whole claritin thing is ABSURD. Having to go to the pharmacy every 10 days to buy 10 pills is simply idiotic. At least allow a 30 day supply to be purchased at once.
Posted by: Steve Location: Granger on Oct 25, 2007 at 06:54 PM
Question please. We relocated here from IA a year ago. Now we are confused by the stories of the police officers getting paid while on admistrative leave. Why we ask? Why didn't they just get fired? What is this law the the Chief of Police was following?
Posted by: Ed Location: Goshen on Oct 25, 2007 at 06:43 PM
This law and the line of thinking behind it is a joke. It was suppose to decrease the Meth problem, yeah right like that has worked well. Kind of like the Governor & experts thinking that raising the tax/price on cigarettes is going to deter smoking, yet another, yeah right. The Moronic thinking of law makers and the so called experts is unbelievable. A drugy is going to get the drugs and the smoker their cigarettes. All it has done is cause problems for & inconvenienced the people that need and use these drugs properly and created a bigger black market for cigarettes not to mention placing an unfair tax & expense on smokers. As an ex-smoker trust me, you will buy (or steal) your next pack of cigarettes reguardless what it takes. Well drugies are the same way with their fix you idiot experts. I have allergies too and the only thing that ever worked for me was Non-Drowsie Drixoral which is no longer available thanks to the stupid experts mentality. I now just get to suffer it out.
Posted by: Elkhart Location: Elkhart on Oct 25, 2007 at 06:20 PM
It's funny how the police can find out fast about someone buying over the counter medicine but take FOREVER to find out who sells drugs :)
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