The emergency contraceptive Plan B is only available by prescription in the United States.WASHINGTON (CNN) — The Food and Drug Administration will consider allowing over-the-counter sales of a morning-after-pill to women ages 18 and over, the government said Monday, moving closer to a decision put off for some time.
Duramed, a subsidiary of Barr Pharmaceuticals, has been trying for more than two years to get its drug, called Plan B, available without a prescription.
The pill works by stopping ovulation or, if a woman’s egg has been fertilized, by increasing the chance it won’t attach to the uterus. When used within 72 hours of unprotected sex, Plan B lowers the risk of pregnancy by almost 90 percent.
The government had agreed Plan B was safe, but resisted delayed allowing its over-the-counter sale due to fears teenagers may use it. The FDA now says, in order to limits its distribution to those 18 and over, the pill will be sold like cigarettes are now, with a pharmacist checking the age of women before selling them the pill.
The agency wanted to outline its thinking on Plan B before acting commisioner Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach appears at his Senate confirmation hearing this week, an FDA spokeswoman said.
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The emergency contraceptive Plan B is only available by prescription in the United States.
WASHINGTON (CNN) — The Food and Drug Administration will consider allowing over-the-counter sales of a morning-after-pill to women ages 18 and over, the government said Monday, moving closer to a decision put off for some time.
Duramed, a subsidiary of Barr Pharmaceuticals, has been trying for more than two years to get its drug, called Plan B, available without a prescription.
The pill works by stopping ovulation or, if a woman’s egg has been fertilized, by increasing the chance it won’t attach to the uterus. When used within 72 hours of unprotected sex, Plan B lowers the risk of pregnancy by almost 90 percent.
The government had agreed Plan B was safe, but resisted delayed allowing its over-the-counter sale due to fears teenagers may use it. The FDA now says, in order to limits its distribution to those 18 and over, the pill will be sold like cigarettes are now, with a pharmacist checking the age of women before selling them the pill.
The agency wanted to outline its thinking on Plan B before acting commisioner Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach appears at his Senate confirmation hearing this week, an FDA spokeswoman said.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, May 3rd, 2006 at 8:27 am and is filed under Uncategorized.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.