Ames and university retailers are confident the law signed by Gov. Tom Vilsack on Tuesday will not affect the sale or availability of medication containing pseudoephedrine to the appropriate consumers.

Senate File 169 is intended to regulate pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in the manufacturing of methamphetamine, and will take effect 60 days from the date Vilsack signed it into law. In the interim, retailers are expected to take products containing the drug off the shelves. The law, however, will not restrict all over-the-counter sales of drugs containing pseudoephedrine.

Scott Sitzman, manager of the Target pharmacy, 320 S. Duff Ave., said small quantities of products like Robitussin and DayQuil will remain on shelves.

“Under the new law, we’re able to leave a few things over-the-counter, and we will because we don’t want to impede customers’ accessibility,” he said.

Sitzman also said the law limits shoppers’ purchases to one four-ounce bottle or 12-count packet of drugs containing lower doses of pseudoephedrine per day.

He said the time until the law takes effect will be enough for Target employees to move the eight to 12 feet of product space they have on shelves to the proper place, and said he thinks the law will benefit consumers.

“First, our guests will benefit from the decrease of meth production in the state,” he said.

“And second, it will be a sort of therapy for customers; they will have to interact with the pharmacy more.”

Monte Streit, store director of the Lincoln Center Hy-Vee, 640 Lincoln Way, said he is not concerned about having only two months to move the items, because the store is already planning how to use available space effectively.

Hy-Vee has already put medicines containing high doses of the drug in the pharmacy, Streit said. About a year ago, employees began to log purchases of drugs containing high doses of pseudoephedrine, and, with the help of law enforcement officials, were able to identify which medications were of higher interest to meth producers.

Because this type of system has already been in effect, Streit said he is not worried about a negative reaction from consumers.

“Everybody we’ve talked to is under agreement that it’s a large problem in Iowa and needs to be addressed,” he said.

Sitzman said the pharmacy in Target has also worked with law enforcement officials and has a very good system in place to monitor pseudoephedrine; however, he could not comment on the policy specifically.

“Between now and the next cough and cold season, I hope consumers will be used to the new plan so it doesn’t impact us all at once and at a vital time,” he said.

Greg Yeakel, chief staff pharmacist at Thielen Student Health Center, said new purchasing restrictions may be one reason why some consumers might be confused about the availability of medications containing pseudoephedrine.

“The law makes these medications Schedule V drugs,” he said, a classification that will require shoppers to access certain medicines through pharmacies; they also will have to provide valid identification and sign a log.

Yeakel said he predicts combination drugs, or those containing pseudoephedrine and another ingredient like antihistamine, will still be available on shelves; but pure pseudoephedrine drugs like Sudafed will definitely be available only through a pharmacy.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” he said. “Pharmacists are well-positioned and trained; they’re entrusted with the proper use of medicine and will be able to better match the right products with [a student’s] symptoms.”

Carl Chumos, manager of Clyde’s Sports Club and the West Side Market, spoke with several Department of Residence officials Wednesday and said they are still reviewing the policy in order to decide whether ISU Dining stores will continue to sell the products.

One option they are looking at may eradicate the need for medicines with pseudoephedrine.

“All stores will be selling Sudafed PE,” he said, a drug that contains no meth-making ingredients.

“We might stop selling pseudoephedrine products altogether because we’ll have a comparable decongestant.”

Chumos also said health and beauty products only account for about two percent of the total sales at residence stores like Onion’s and Hawthorn Market, so there should be space available behind counters if needed.