New allergy medicine promises relief from sinus congestion and the pain caused by meth labs

Releva, a new allergy medicine that relieves sinus congestion, may prove to be a significant game-changer in the battle to put an end to meth labs.

Using a proprietary formula, known as Tarex™, Highland Pharmaceuticals has announced that it has developed a drug that contains pseudoephedrine , but with one major difference. The Missouri based company says that it can’t be used to make methamphetamine.

Tarex™ technology, according to the Missouri drug company, prevents meth labs in two ways. It can not be crushed or milled in to a powered form and meth-makers can’t extract the active ingredient they need to make methamphetamine.

The key benefits of  Tarex™, according to a  Highland Pharmaceutical report, lists the benefits of their new technology as:

1. The active ingredient cannot be extracted or made ready for illicit drug making. Methamphetamine makers and abusers no longer have a vice to distribute or consume.

2. Efficacy of this medication is not negatively impacted. Thus, healthcare professionals can continue to suggest pseudoephedrine products to patients in a safe and healthy environment. And, cold and allergy patients in need of these medications are not hindered in their ability to acquire them.

3. Pseudoephedrine products could return to store shelves and be sold as over-the-counter medications. Current “gate keeping” practices could be abandoned and retailers and physicians would subsequently reduce their labor, documentation and administrative costs.

4. Current support and funding for enforcement, rehabilitation and educational activities could be reduced. These funds could be redirected to mandate or incent manufacturers to produce this product in an extraction-resistant format.

Additionally, the company says that  Tarex™ technology could be used to prevent drug abusers from crushing prescription medicines like Oxycodone and Hydrocone, thereby eliminating the practice of reducing prescription pills to powder form in order to inject or inhale them.

Jim Bausch, president and CEO of Highland Pharmaceuticals, says that production of Releva will begin as soon as it receives final government approval. Once approved, it would be available to consumers in about 90 days.