WP: For Plan B, A Broader Reach: 'Morning After' Pill Goes on Sale OTC

[DeepModem Mom]

For Plan B, A Broader Reach
'Morning After' Pill Goes on Sale OTC
By January W. Payne
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 21, 2006; Page HE01



Three months after the Food and Drug Administration decided that emergency contraception should be available to women 18 and older without a doctor's prescription, the over-the-counter version of Plan B -- the "morning after" pill -- began appearing in drugstores nationwide last week. Manufacturer Barr Pharmaceuticals shipped the drug after repackaging it to meet federal labeling rules for OTC medications, but as of Friday, some Washington-area stores had yet to receive it.

The idea of making Plan B available over-the-counter prompted more than two years of political debate, much of which focused on objections to selling the drug to minors. The FDA's August ruling settled that issue for now, but it sparked others. Here are answers to some of the most common questions about the product and its new status:

What is Plan B? Plan B, approved as a prescription drug in 1999, is a backup birth control method that consists of two high-dose pills of the hormone progestin, which has been used in birth control pills for more than 35 years. The medication reduces the risk of pregnancy by 89 percent if taken as directed, according to Barr. Plan B "acts primarily by stopping the release of an egg from the ovary," according to the FDA. "It may also prevent the union of sperm and egg," a process known as fertilization. Even if fertilization occurs, Plan B "may prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the womb," which is known as implantation. Plan B will not work if the egg is implanted before the drug is taken, the FDA reports.

How soon do I need to take Plan B for it to be effective? Barr advises that women take one tablet within 72 hours of unprotected sex, followed by the second pill 12 hours later. But some studies show that it may be more effective to take both pills at the same time, said Scott Spear, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and a member of Planned Parenthood's national medical committee. The studies "found it was a little more effective" to take the two pills together, which may be because "you're less likely to forget and . . . also likely to take it a little bit earlier."...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/17/AR2006111701744.html

[HockeyMom]

1. It's really just smart marketing

What we women did years ago who were already on the Pill. Miss a few pills? Double or triple up on them for a few days.

I am very surprised they didn't think of this sooner. In fact, I saw a website which gave each of the current popular BC pills and what the dosage would be for the "Morning After Pill". Sorry, I didn't bookmark it for posterity.