Most over-the-counter medicine in the United States has no age requirement at all. You can buy pain relievers, antacids, allergy pills, and cold remedies at any age. But a few specific categories of medication do carry age restrictions or ID requirements, and these are the ones that trip people up at the register.
Cough Medicine Containing DXM
Dextromethorphan (DXM) is the active ingredient in many popular cough suppressants, including brands like Robitussin DM, Delsym, and NyQuil. Because DXM can be misused in large doses, a growing number of states require buyers to be at least 18 years old. These laws apply to any over-the-counter product containing the ingredient, whether it’s a syrup, capsule, or combination cold medicine.
Washington State, for example, requires retailers to verify the buyer’s age unless the person reasonably appears to be 25 or older. Minors who are active-duty military with a valid military ID, or who have been legally emancipated, are exempt. The specific rules vary by state, but the 18-year minimum is the standard threshold wherever restrictions exist. Not every state has passed a DXM age law, so whether you’ll be carded depends on where you live. As of now, roughly 20 states and several local jurisdictions have some form of age verification in place for DXM products.
Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed and Similar Decongestants)
Pseudoephedrine is a nasal decongestant found in products like Sudafed. Because it can be used to manufacture methamphetamine, it’s regulated under the federal Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act. You must be 18 or older to buy it, and the purchase comes with several additional requirements.
To buy pseudoephedrine, you need to present a state or federal photo ID, then sign a logbook with your name, address, and the date and time of sale. The pharmacy keeps this logbook, and there are limits on how much you can buy in a single day and in a 30-day period. These products are typically kept behind the pharmacy counter rather than on open shelves, so you’ll need to ask for them. One small exception: if you’re buying a single package containing 60 milligrams or less of pseudoephedrine, the logbook requirement is waived, though the age and ID rules still apply.
Products labeled “PE” (containing phenylephrine instead of pseudoephedrine) are sold on regular shelves without any age or ID requirement.
Emergency Contraception
Plan B One-Step and its generic equivalents have no age restriction. The FDA approved these products for nonprescription use without any age requirement in June 2013. You do not need an ID, and you do not need to ask a pharmacist. These products are sold on regular store shelves alongside other reproductive health items. This applies to the one-dose levonorgestrel products specifically. Ella, a different type of emergency contraception, still requires a prescription.
Prescription Medications
There is no universal federal age requirement for picking up a prescription at a pharmacy. In practice, pharmacies often allow a parent, spouse, or other authorized person to pick up someone else’s prescription regardless of age. However, state laws on ID verification vary significantly.
Twenty-five states have laws that either require or allow pharmacists to check identification before dispensing prescriptions, with most of those laws targeting controlled substances specifically. Delaware has the broadest rule, requiring ID verification for every controlled substance pickup. Georgia requires ID only for Schedule II drugs (the most tightly controlled, like certain opioid painkillers and stimulants). New Mexico requires ID for new prescriptions of Schedule II through IV controlled substances. Some states, like Virginia, mandate ID checks for Schedule II drugs but leave it to the pharmacist’s discretion for less restricted categories.
Even in states without a specific law, individual pharmacy chains often have their own policies requiring ID for controlled substance pickups. If you’re picking up a prescription for someone else, calling the pharmacy ahead of time to ask what they need is the simplest way to avoid a wasted trip.
What About Tobacco-Related Products?
Nicotine replacement products like patches, gums, and lozenges are FDA-approved medications sold over the counter. There is no federal age requirement to purchase them, though some states and retailers impose their own age restrictions. Store policies vary, so you may be carded at some locations but not others.
Quick Reference by Product Type
- General OTC medicine (ibuprofen, acetaminophen, antacids, antihistamines): No age requirement
- Cough medicine with DXM: 18+ in states with restrictions; no federal law
- Pseudoephedrine products: 18+, photo ID and logbook required (federal law)
- Emergency contraception (Plan B and generics): No age requirement
- Prescription medications: No universal age requirement, but ID rules vary by state and drug schedule