IMS Health DEA Ephedrine/Pseudoephedrine Usage Estimation Methodology Methodology Used in Developing Preliminary Estimates of Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is required, as part of the Methamphetamine Epidemic Elimination Act, to develop annual quotas for the manufacture and importation of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine products for legitimate utilization in the U.S. At DEA’s request, IMS Health (IMS) identified an approach for generating estimates of 2005 usage for ephedrine and pseudoephedrine based upon the integration of the data assets IMS has available, which include outlet sales, consumer purchases, and medical claims. Due to the veterinary use of phenylpropanolamine, consideration of approaches for this product will be addressed in a later document. This memorandum documents the methodology used in developing preliminary estimates of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine usage. The results obtained yield preliminary estimates of 379.1 million grams of Pseudoephedrine compounds and 3.5 million grams of Ephedrine compounds as the preliminary legitimate use volumes for 2005.