A lot of divers I know start taking decongestants a few days before a dive trip. Fearing a sinus problem will be a real headache (no pun intended) while diving, they often take Sudafed to dry up their sinuses. However, thanks to a revision in the USA Patriot Act, buying Sudafed just got a lot tougher. In fact, you can't buy it over the counter anymore.

The renewed USA Patriot Act, signed into law in March, includes the "Combat Meth Act," which is aimed at reducing production of methamphetamines, made from pseudophedrine (a major ingredient in Sudafed). In 2004, Sudafed announced its plans to change the "recipe" for its popular decongestant to comply with the "Combat Meth Act." Today, customers can purchase Sudafed PE -- which contains a different decongestant called phenylephrine -- over the counter, but to get the old stalwart, you have to approach the pharmacist directly. According to Paul Boutin, to buy original formula Sudafed, "go to your supermarket or drugstore and look in the cold remedies sections where it used to be. They now have little fake boxes or cards you take to the pharmacist to say 'I want one of these.' The pharmacist checks your ID and you sign for it." Customers are limited to one box a day and three a month, and they need to present a photo ID and sign a log for the pharmacist.

What does the "Combat Meth Act" have to do with terrorism? Um...not much. The idea behind the law is to keep meth dealers from buying Sudafed in quantity to cook it into addictive drugs. Unfortunately, it also means some divers will have to assess whether a particular dive is Sudafed-worthy.

[Thanks, Karen!]