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22DESIGNER DRUGSFigure 2.3 The chemical structures of the common coldand allergy medicines ephedrine and pseudoephedrine (illustratedhere) are very similar to, and can be used to synthesize,the illegal stimulants amphetamine and methamphetamine.Methamphetamine is much more potent than amphetamine.Methamphetamine is synthesized, or “cooked,” by a simplechemical reaction from its precursor pseudoephedrine (Figure2.3), a stimulant commonly found in over-the-counter allergyand cold medications (such as Sudafed®). Because methamphetamineis made relatively easily from pseudoephedrine,many pharmacies and drug stores now restrict the amount ofpseudoephedrine-containing medications that individual customerscan buy to avoid the possibility of “stockpiling” pseudoephedrinefor the purpose of making methamphetamine.Meth dealers and makers in the United States have also been