Final answer:
Pseudoephedrine must often be kept locked or behind the counter to prevent its misuse in producing illegal substances like methamphetamine. The FDA ensures its safety and efficacy, resulting in both 'winners' protected from harm and 'losers' who face delays or increased costs for new medications.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the single active ingredient for a drug is pseudoephedrine, it often must remain locked or behind the counter due to its use as a precursor in the illegal production of methamphetamine. Pseudoephedrine is commonly found in cold and allergy medications and serves as a nasal/sinus decongestant, a stimulant, or as a wakefulness-promoting agent. While it provides relief for cold symptoms, its regulation helps prevent its misuse. Similarly, phenylpropanolamine (PPA) is used as a stimulant, decongestant, and anorectic agent in both human and veterinary medicine.
The regulation of such medications is overseen by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which ensures their safety and efficacy. However, this regulation can lead to negative impacts on consumers and pharmaceutical companies. The 'winners' in this scenario include those protected from unsafe or ineffective drugs. The 'losers' might include patients who suffer from delays in drug availability or increased costs due to prolonged testing and development periods required for regulatory approval.