If you need Sudafed that works, go to the phamacist and ask for "real sudafed". You might have to scan your ID if you live in certain states and you actually need a Rx if you're in Oregon (lol), but for most free states you're good to just purchase it at the counter.
The “certain states” involved being “the United States” since 2006, unless you are buying a “single sales package” with less than 60mg of pseudoephedrine [0] (which is the dose in two Sudafed caplets [1].)
[0] https://www.fda.gov/drugs/information-drug-class/legal-requi...
[1] https://www.sudafed.com/products/sudafed-sinus-congestion
That’s mostly incorrect, both are “otc” (over-the-counter) wherever you can buy them without a prescription. That’s what that means.
If you were able to purchase Sudafed without having someone get it from the back or out of some locked cabinet, and also hand over your ID, it wasn't psuedophedrine.