Nation IN BRIEF : NATIONWIDE : Stronger Capsule Safeguards Urged

The national Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta called for tighter safeguards to prevent tampering of over-the-counter medications after the deaths of two people from cyanide-laced Sudafed cold capsules in Washington state. The CDC noted that capsules have been the chosen target for tampering and that some manufacturers have substituted larger tablets for capsules to make tampering easier to detect. In Washington state, the State Board of Pharmacy is considering banning capsules, which can be taken apart and refilled. The FDA has said it also will consider whether capsule non-prescription drugs should be banned.