JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Several hundred Missouri pharmacies are connected to drug-industry funded database designed to combat methamphetamine production.

State regulations require pharmacists selling medicines with pseudoephedrine to enter details about the buyers into a real-time electronic database. The database is designed to prevent people from buying more than the maximum daily or monthly amount. Pharmacists have been required to use paper logs since 2005.

Pseudoephedrine is in some cold medicines and is a key ingredient in meth.

The Department of Public Safety said 343 pharmacies are now connected to the database. Officials plan regional training sessions about the database across the state for pharmacies.

More than 10 states that require electronic tracking. Two states require prescriptions for the medicines.

The database is being managed by Appriss Inc. The database would automatically deny those trying to buy more than the state's limit on cold medicine.

Appriss Inc. website states that the MethCheck system "provides automated tools that give law enforcement the ability to monitor suspicious buying patterns."

Check out the MethCheck Fact Sheet from Appriss Inc.