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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri is developing a database to track purchases of cold medicine that can be used to make methamphetamine.

The database would automatically deny those trying to buy more than the state's limit on cold medicine.

Missouri tracks purchases of cold medications containing pseudoephedrine, and a 2008 law required the development of a real-time monitoring system. Pharmaceutical companies are paying to develop and run the database.

Gov. Jay Nixon said Monday that Appriss Inc. was picked to build the database. He says he the database could be online in three months.

Several lawmakers this year have proposed requiring a prescription to buy medications containing pseudoephedrine.