Plan B approved for sale prescription free

[DealMonkey]

Oh I see.

Well at least some states -- Alaska, California, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Washington and Vermont -- already allow certain pharmacies to sell Plan B without a doctor's prescription to women of any age. Minors won't see any change in those states, because the pharmacist already technically writes the prescription, according to the American Pharmacists Association.

So this age restriction will only apply selectively depending on where you live.

 

[f95toli]

Originally posted by: slsmnaz
The problem is that younger people might see this as an alternative to birth control. Unprotected sex and then just pop this afterward. The lack of education could open up a whole new problem.

A "morning after" pill has been available for a few years in Sweden. AFAIK there has been no reports of any serious sideeffects.
However, from what I understand it can be VERY unpleasant causing nausea/vomiting, headaches etc.
Now, this is still obviously better than an unwanted pregnancy -meaning it won't stop anyone taking it- but I think the side effects are unpleasant enough to disuade anyone from tconsidering this to be a serious alternative to condoms.

 

[Dissipate]

Scientists believe the resulting surge of hormones interferes with ovulation and fertilization or may prevent implantation of a brand-new embryo in the uterus. The medical community generally doesn't consider this to be abortion, but some anti-abortion groups do.

WTF, how could that be considered abortion? The sperm never even meets the egg.

I think it is a great thing this is going to be offered over the counter. Less unwanted births and probably less abortions as well. Good all around.

 

[mattpegher]

The age restriction may be more legal than moral. The FDA and the manufacturers don't want to be held libel if someone underage or their parents decide to sue. The laws re: medical care of a minor is a slippery slope. I can treat a minor for reproductive care/STD, mental health, and drug dependency, but then the liability is on me as the prescriber.

 

[Aegeon]

Originally posted by: mattpegher
The age restriction may be more legal than moral. The FDA and the manufacturers don't want to be held libel if someone underage or their parents decide to sue.

As far as the FDA is concerned, this is an INCREADABLY dubious reason. The FDA is part of the US Federal Government, and is basically immune to lawsuits period. The real reason is clearly the moral one. The manufacturer of this drug is fine selling it to people under 18 in a whole bunch of other countries, so clearly they are not sweating the under 18 detail especially.

The reason for this decision to restrict it to people under 18 clearly heavily has to do with the Christian right in America, and ignores that allowing this would actually serve to reduce the amount of teen pregnancies occuring in the United States.

 

[dmcowen674]

Always a kick to watch males talking about female issues as if they had the problem.

That's it. They wanted to be a woman so they talk about woman problems.

 

[randym431]

So I want to understand some of you. Your FOR paying big welfare bucks to that single lady with 8 kids, but not for this???? I just want to be clear.

 

[slsmnaz]

Originally posted by: randym431
So I want to understand some of you. Your FOR paying big welfare bucks to that single lady with 8 kids, but not for this???? I just want to be clear.

That welfare lady will not use this. Why would you tear up the ghetto lottery ticket?

 

[Aegeon]

Originally posted by: slsmnaz
That welfare lady will not use this. Why would you tear up the ghetto lottery ticket?

Believe it or not, especially for individuals who are getting pregnant for the first time, many of them would be willing to consider this. Pregnancies are not exactly an easy thing to go through, and its far more difficult to get a decent education if you're single and already have children to worry about taking care of.

Its also true that the amount of additional welfare money you get for having more children isn't that huge, while there are clearly additional expenses involved, so the calculations are generally not the way you are currently portraying them.

 

[slsmnaz]

Originally posted by: Aegeon

Originally posted by: slsmnaz
That welfare lady will not use this. Why would you tear up the ghetto lottery ticket?

Believe it or not, especially for individuals who are getting pregnant for the first time, many of them would be willing to consider this. Pregnancies are not exactly an easy thing to go through, and its far more difficult to get a decent education if you're single and already have children to worry about taking care of.

Its also true that the amount of additional welfare money you get for having more children isn't that huge, while there are clearly additional expenses involved, so the calculations are generally not the way you are currently portraying them.

Well, if a woman has 8 kids and is still not sure how to prevent them we have bigger issues. Condoms are free, use them! There is a reason the kids are there and it's the $$$.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Originally posted by: f95toli

Originally posted by: slsmnaz
The problem is that younger people might see this as an alternative to birth control. Unprotected sex and then just pop this afterward. The lack of education could open up a whole new problem.

A "morning after" pill has been available for a few years in Sweden. AFAIK there has been no reports of any serious sideeffects.
However, from what I understand it can be VERY unpleasant causing nausea/vomiting, headaches etc.
Now, this is still obviously better than an unwanted pregnancy -meaning it won't stop anyone taking it- but I think the side effects are unpleasant enough to disuade anyone from tconsidering this to be a serious alternative to condoms.

Those of us that are actually informed on the issue have tried to get that message across but few in the rabid opposition will listen. Despite what the CWA or FRC say about 'concern for girls/womens health' . . . they don't mean it. They are against abortion and in their ignorance they think this is abortion.

I'm old enough to remember when Plan B was first up for approval. My first thought was great idea. After seeing the typical side effects, I thought, "damn who would use this more than once?!" Barr is actually providing a real humanitarian service as opposed to the typical drug company approach of fleecing the public. Granted, they will make money on this product. Several million unplanned pregnancies a year and a million abortions signifies a huge potential market . . . for Barr . . . as well as anyone that makes STD treatments.

For the record, there are real health consequences to the regular Pill (granted it's often a patch these days). If a woman has really infrequent sex, using a barrier method + Plan B ain't a bad idea. If a woman has frequent sex then there's no better combination than a barrier method + da Pill or da Patch or da Ring.

 

[DealMonkey]

For what it's worth, you can also simulate Plan B by simply taking an increased number of regular birth control pills over the course of two days. I forget the number of pills. Something like 4-5/day, but don't quote me on it.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Originally posted by: DealMonkey
For what it's worth, you can also simulate Plan B by simply taking an increased number of regular birth control pills over the course of two days. I forget the number of pills. Something like 4-5/day, but don't quote me on it.

Ballpark . . . there aren't any hard and fast rules anymore b/c there are a lot of different formulations on the market now.

 

[bozack]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Always a kick to watch males talking about female issues as if they had the problem.

That's it. They wanted to be a woman so they talk about woman problems.

its an issue Dave that effects people, I fail to see what the problem with discussion of the topic at hand is...

Personally while I don't necessarily see this as a bad thing I do feel that it will be abused by more than a few...could the number of people infected with STDs rise...sure...but would that be a bad thing or just natural selection at work yet again.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: CaptnKirk
Of course this will lead to the downfall of our nation as we know it.

Abstinence was our last hope.

No, Luke was our last hope, though I heard rumors that there may be another.

 

[OFFascist]

Good news hopefully this will result in less abortions.

 

[slsmnaz]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc

Originally posted by: f95toli

Originally posted by: slsmnaz
The problem is that younger people might see this as an alternative to birth control. Unprotected sex and then just pop this afterward. The lack of education could open up a whole new problem.

A "morning after" pill has been available for a few years in Sweden. AFAIK there has been no reports of any serious sideeffects.
However, from what I understand it can be VERY unpleasant causing nausea/vomiting, headaches etc.
Now, this is still obviously better than an unwanted pregnancy -meaning it won't stop anyone taking it- but I think the side effects are unpleasant enough to disuade anyone from tconsidering this to be a serious alternative to condoms.

Those of us that are actually informed on the issue have tried to get that message across but few in the rabid opposition will listen. Despite what the CWA or FRC say about 'concern for girls/womens health' . . . they don't mean it. They are against abortion and in their ignorance they think this is abortion.

I'm old enough to remember when Plan B was first up for approval. My first thought was great idea. After seeing the typical side effects, I thought, "damn who would use this more than once?!" Barr is actually providing a real humanitarian service as opposed to the typical drug company approach of fleecing the public. Granted, they will make money on this product. Several million unplanned pregnancies a year and a million abortions signifies a huge potential market . . . for Barr . . . as well as anyone that makes STD treatments.

For the record, there are real health consequences to the regular Pill (granted it's often a patch these days). If a woman has really infrequent sex, using a barrier method + Plan B ain't a bad idea. If a woman has frequent sex then there's no better combination than a barrier method + da Pill or da Patch or da Ring.

Good post.

 

[Drift3r]

Originally posted by: CaptnKirk
Of course this will lead to the downfall of our nation as we know it.

Abstinence was our last hope.

Buwahahahahahahahahaaaaaaa !! Good one.

 

[fitzov]

Originally posted by: OFFascist
Good news hopefully this will result in less abortions.

Only for people over 18, unfortunately.

 

[slsmnaz]

Originally posted by: fitzov

Originally posted by: OFFascist
Good news hopefully this will result in less abortions.

Only for people over 18, unfortunately.

A condom is easy, even for the dumbest of teenagers.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc

Originally posted by: DealMonkey
For what it's worth, you can also simulate Plan B by simply taking an increased number of regular birth control pills over the course of two days. I forget the number of pills. Something like 4-5/day, but don't quote me on it.

Ballpark . . . there aren't any hard and fast rules anymore b/c there are a lot of different formulations on the market now.

Well, each different formulation contains so much of the two particular hormones used for Plan B. So, they have charts now that show how many of each pill to take. For some it is just a couple, and for others it is 6. Regardless, hopefully Plan B being OTC will help inform the public of not just emergency contraception, but also traditional contraception.

 

[fitzov]

Originally posted by: slsmnaz

Originally posted by: fitzov

Originally posted by: OFFascist
Good news hopefully this will result in less abortions.

Only for people over 18, unfortunately.

A condom is easy, even for the dumbest of teenagers.

and?

seriously, I love non sequitur

 

[nageov3t]

if we let our women prevent the fertilization of their eggs then, well, the terrorists have won :|