Hope For Morning-after Pill Without Prescription In USA

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Main Category: Fertility
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 01 Aug 2006 - 11:00 PDT

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After years of dragging its feet, the FDA says there is now a good chance it will approve the morning-after contraceptive pill as an OTC drug for adult women. The FDA communicated with Barr Pharmaceutical, saying it wanted to discuss how adults may be allowed to buy 'Plan-B' over-the-counter (OTC) while at the same time keeping it as a prescription only drug for girls under 18.

The FDA announced that if discussions progress well Plan-B could become an OTC drug for adults in the USA in a matter of weeks rather than months.

Who knows whether this change in attitude coincides with Andrew von Eschenback, FDA's acting Commissioner, having to appear before a Senate Committee tomorrow to consider whether or not he becomes the agency's permanent boss. In the Senate Committee there are two Democrats who have said they will block a vote on his nomination if Plan-B does not become an OTC drug.

Democrat Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Patty Murray said "Today's announcement is nothing more than another delay tactic. The FDA continues to shirk its duty to serve as an independent agency dedicated to no other goal than the promotion of sound science and the well-being of the American people."

Plan-B is a high dose of the ingredient found in common contraceptive drugs. If a woman has unprotected sex and takes the drug within 72 hours, her chances of getting pregnant are reduced by 89%. The treatment consists of taking two pills.

Plan-B has been on the market in the USA since 1999 as a prescription drug. In 2003 an FDA Advisory Panel recommended that it become an OTC drug. The FDA usually follows the recommendations of the panel, but for some reason it did not do so on this occasions. In 2005 a decision on the future of the drug's status was delayed. The FDA was accused of allowing conservative political pressure cloud its neutral scientific judgement.

Some conservative say that making Plan B more easily available will encourage promiscuity among young people.

The FDA's domestic and international reputation as a non-political body has been badly damaged by all this.

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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