NationStates Jolt Archive

"The FDA has been considering Barr's application for over- the-counter sales since 2003. Acting FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach's confirmation has been blocked pending a decision on the drug. Some members of Congress charged that the Bush administration was stalling to appease anti-abortion activists. Von Eschenbach is scheduled to appear before a Senate panel tomorrow to discuss his nomination.

``We expect to resolve these remaining issues in the next few weeks,'' agency spokeswoman Susan Bro said in an interview. ``We've committed to the company that we will devote all necessary resources in order to move to over-the-counter status.'' "
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aFxthcj5Ui_o&refer=home

I think its about time but I'm sure others don't think so. I'm positive others do not think so. So, here we are. Another debate about abortion and the morning after pill. YAY!

Less regulation = teh awesome

I find the "over 18" discussion to be rather interesting, considering that the FDA previously asked for studies specific to teenage girls - studies which found that they were no more likely to misuse it than those over 18. Makes me wonder if this new discussion is simply another way to stall.

I find the "over 18" discussion to be rather interesting, considering that the FDA previously asked for studies specific to teenage girls - studies which found that they were no more likely to misuse it than those over 18. Makes me wonder if this new discussion is simply another way to stall.
I agree that sucks but really, how easy was it to get cigarettes when you're 15? There shouldn't be an age limit at all but at least it doesn't require a prescription and tomfoolery with pharmacists ripping up said prescription.

Major events in the history of the morning-after pill:

-July 1999: Plan B is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for prescription use as an emergency contraceptive.

-April 2003: Women's Capital Corp. files an application with the FDA to make Plan B available without a prescription.

-October 2003: Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc. acquires Plan B.

-December 2003: An FDA panel votes 23-4 to recommend Plan B be sold over the counter.

-May 2004: The FDA says Plan B "not approvable" for over-the-counter use, citing concerns about young teens using the drug.

July 2004: Barr resubmits its application, proposing to restrict sales to older teens and women.

-April 2005: Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., announce they will block Lester Crawford's nomination as FDA commissioner until the agency issues a decision on Plan B.

-July 2005: Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt says the FDA will make a decision by Sept. 1. Clinton and Murray lift their hold on Crawford, who is later confirmed by the Senate.

-August 2005: The FDA delays action, saying it needs to write rules on how to enforce the proposed age restrictions.

-September 2005: Crawford resigns.

-October 2005: The Government Accountability Office calls the FDA's handing of Plan B "highly unusual."

-March 2006: Clinton and Murray block Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach's confirmation as FDA commissioner pending a Plan B decision.

-July 2006: The FDA says the new rules are not needed and invites Barr to amend its application to seek nonprescription sales to women 18 and older.

I'm not feeling the love. I'm not feeling the love at all.

The morning after pill should be available to anyone at the age of consent. It's a much needed drug since occasionally, even between the most responsible of partners, birthcontrol measures may fail at some point. Preventing citizens from getting Plan B as they wish is wrongheaded, and will only lead to problems down the road for those unlucky (and now pregnant) people who suffer failure of thier birth control measures.

EDIT:

I'm not feeling the love. I'm not feeling the love at all.

It's probably because we mostly agree on this, oddly enough. The poll currently shows ~87% supporting over the counter Plan B.

It's probably because we mostly agree on this, oddly enough. The poll currently shows ~87% supporting over the counter Plan B.
But there are always crazies willing to argue their point. Where are the crazies? I need my fix...

But there are always crazies willing to argue their point. Where are the crazies? I need my fix...

Hmm... well, there were those two that voted no on the poll. May they'll come back and tell us all about it?

Or maybe the one voter who never learned to read will come back and tell us his or her life story. That'd be fun too. :)

3 of every 4 fertilized eggs don't adhere to the uterine wall and are flushed out of the woman's body. I never understood the controversy in increasing that to 4 of 4. :confused:

RU486?
Yes, I am ;)

RU486?
Yes, I am ;)
Actually this is different than the RU486.

Actually this is different than the RU486.
Yeah, but you don't get the same cute jingle. ;)

I think plan B should be available to anyone who asks I don't see how teen pregnancy can be any more "sacred" than any other age

Oddly enough I have never heard about this in England

Actually this is different than the RU486.
Plan B has a vector math unit and the byte ordering is reversed.

Plan B has a vector math unit and the byte ordering is reversed.
Hey, humour!~:p

The morning aftter pill should be available to every female who needs it. However, she should have to see a doctor to get it so that he/she may inform her about better methods of birth control.

The morning aftter pill should be available to every female who needs it. However, she should have to see a doctor to get it so that he/she may inform her about better methods of birth control.

Can't they just give her a pamphlet and send her on her way?

I'm pretty sure most women don't need an explanation from thier doctor on how condoms work.

Can't they just give her a pamphlet and send her on her way?

I'm pretty sure most women don't need an explanation from thier doctor on how condoms work.
Obviously they do need information or else they wouldn't require the drug. And written info is too easy to ignore. All it is is a two minute lecture about how to plan better next time. It doesn't take away their rights or hurt them in anyway.

Obviously they do need information or else they wouldn't require the drug. And written info is too easy to ignore. All it is is a two minute lecture about how to plan better next time. It doesn't take away their rights or hurt them in anyway.

Condoms do break sometimes, even when properly used.

Besides, if it's a two minute lecture, then the pharmacist can do it if you insist that it has to be done.

The morning aftter pill should be available to every female who needs it. However, she should have to see a doctor to get it so that he/she may inform her about better methods of birth control.
Tell ya what, why don't YOU go and get the lecture and come back and tell us how much fun that was and then see if you still recomend that?

The morning aftter pill should be available to every female who needs it. However, she should have to see a doctor to get it so that he/she may inform her about better methods of birth control.
So, basically they would need a prescription.

Hmm what are the odds a person knows about Plan B and that it's available over the counter but not about the shot, the pill, condoms, norplant etc.

How about when this is concievably a problem in like 20 years we solve the problem with a technological marvel of a box for Plan B. This box would, upon opening, scan the contents of a room as well as the person holding the box and thus deduce the precise shrill pitch of that persons mother, then it will launch into a tireless disapproving rant which will not stup until the box detects sobbing and snot bubbles.

Tell ya what, why don't YOU go and get the lecture and come back and tell us how much fun that was and then see if you still recomend that?
Well, I did. Not just now but months ago. Even though I knew how to prevent pregnancies I still appreciated the doctors concerns about young women needing to look after their health. I didn't need a perscription and I didn't even have to pay for the drug (I am Canadian).

Well, I did. Not just now but months ago. Even though I knew how to prevent pregnancies I still appreciated the doctors concerns about young women needing to look after their health. I didn't need a perscription and I didn't even have to pay for the drug (I am Canadian).
Well, shit... if its going to be free, I say let them lecture all they want. We're not so lucky down here.

Also, some of my friends have been ignorant towards birth control and only been informed about morning after pill after sharing their experiance with their friends. I heard one girl remark that she'd accompanied the same friend three times to the doctor's office to get the morning after pill.

Hmm what are the odds a person knows about Plan B and that it's available over the counter but not about the shot, the pill, condoms, norplant etc.

How about when this is concievably a problem in like 20 years we solve the problem with a technological marvel of a box for Plan B. This box would, upon opening, scan the contents of a room as well as the person holding the box and thus deduce the precise shrill pitch of that persons mother, then it will launch into a tireless disapproving rant which will not stup until the box detects sobbing and snot bubbles.
The purpose is not to shame the person, but to educate them. Doctors deal with delicated issues everyday and will be able to inform in a way that does not critisize.

Also, some of my friends have been ignorant towards birth control and only been informed about morning after pill after sharing their experiance with their friends. I heard one girl remark that she'd accompanied the same friend three times to the doctor's office to get the morning after pill.
Why would it matter if it were 7 times or 59 times?

Why would it matter if it were 7 times or 59 times?
Because it isn't that good for you, its pretty harsh on your body compared to a condom.

Because it isn't that good for you, its pretty harsh on your body compared to a condom.
Actually, you're kind of right. From what I understand the effectiveness is reduced the more you use it but actual physical effects don't seem to be too horrible. At least, not as bad as an abortion pill. I'd need to read more of this though:
http://www.go2planb.com/PDF/PlanBPI.pdf

The purpose is not to shame the person, but to educate them. Doctors deal with delicated issues everyday and will be able to inform in a way that does not critisize.
Ah if we were that lucky... but considering that the US currently has states that are gleefully making sure that should the bag clerk object to putting this drug in your shopping bag can refuse to do so and not let you have it less they have moral outrage in helping perform an abortion.

I think its about time but I'm sure others don't think so. I'm positive others do not think so. So, here we are. Another debate about abortion and the morning after pill. YAY!
I don't see why abortion should even come up in this discussion, considering that the usage of this pill does not correlate with such a procedure.

I don't see why abortion should even come up in this discussion, considering that the usage of this pill does not correlate with such a procedure.
But that is only because you are being rational. Many people believe that life begins at conception.

But that is only because you are being rational. Many people believe that life begins at conception.
I wouldn't say "many." Just a very vocal minority.

According to all of the major medical associations in the United States, pregnancy begins when the embryo is implanted inside the uterus. The Plan B pill stops the embryo from being implanted in its latest stages of usage; thus, it prevents the pregnancy from even beginning. And if you're a member of the "life at conception" camp, if the pill can be accessed quick enough, it prevents fertilization itself; it couldn't be argued from any stand point that preventing fertilization kills anything. Thus, all the more reason for allowing over-the-counter sales of the pill to allow for the early functioning of the pill, which doesn't even affect the an embryo.

I wouldn't say "many." Just a very vocal minority.

According to all of the major medical associations in the United States, pregnancy begins when the embryo is implanted inside the uterus. The Plan B pill stops the embryo from being implanted in its latest stages of usage; thus, it prevents the pregnancy from even beginning. And if you're a member of the "life at conception" camp, if the pill can be accessed quick enough, it prevents fertilization itself; it couldn't be argued from any stand point that preventing fertilization kills anything. Thus, all the more reason for allowing over-the-counter sales of the pill to allow for the early functioning of the pill, which doesn't even affect the an embryo.
You're right. But why'd you have to win the argument so soon? I need my fix, man! I'm freaking shaking....















i'm so cold...

But that is only because you are being rational. Many people believe that life begins at conception.
I can't understand why that is considered the beginning. Since life has to come from life, then sperm is life and eggs are life. So sperm should only be used for procreation and there should be an attempt to fertilize every egg. Otherwise life is being killed every time sperm is used for any other purpose and a baby is lost with every cycle.

The purpose is not to shame the person, but to educate them. Doctors deal with delicated issues everyday and will be able to inform in a way that does not critisize.
Then the problem is that people are getting inadiquate medical care from their general practicioners. True for everyone, but especially for women if you're having sex, you need to be seeing a physician regularly. Part of that is the soliciting and recieving of expert advice about the care, function and operation of one's body. In fact that's sort of the point. People with shitty healthcare will make shitty health decisions, people with good healthcare might too, but at least it'll be a more informed mistake.

Can't they just give her a pamphlet and send her on her way?

I'm pretty sure most women don't need an explanation from thier doctor on how condoms work.
The percent of effectiveness on birth control devices is an ideal not a real life. In real life 5% of pregnant women report they were on the pill---the most sure method. A simple thing like stress can cause the pill to fail. Almost 50% of pregnant women report they were using some form of birth control. Condoms have the highest failure rate. Then there are those that actually think "plug and pull" works.

The women who need the information the most are the least educated and therefore least likely to read a pamphlet.

It's too bad that we can't better educate everyone and that the churches don't take a lead in sex education rather than trying to suppress knowledge. They could give the real facts as well as the morality if they weren't trying to govern the government.

The morning after pill's not available without prescription in the US? Whyever not?
(Someone asked about England earlier - it's available over-the-counter here, although I think it's fairly expensive.)

As for "life begins at conception"... Well, the cells were already "alive", weren't they? Who cares if you kill a couple of cells? Nothing you don't do when scratching your nose, or drink a cuppa that's too hot...

The morning aftter pill should be available to every female who needs it. However, she should have to see a doctor to get it so that he/she may inform her about better methods of birth control.

These two things will often be incompatible - hence the reason for the push to make it OTC.

The morning after pill is only effective for up to 72 hours after the sexual activity - and is more likely to be effective the sooner you take it. Getting to see a doctor in that time period can be difficult, if not downright impossible, for many women.

Also, as has been pointed out, a woman is highly unlikely to even know about the existence of Plan B without knowing about other forms of birth control. Chances are that she was even using one of those other forms.

Obviously they do need information or else they wouldn't require the drug.

What an incredibly ridiculous statement. The drug is marketed exactly as its name implies. It is there in case an accident occurs - a broken condom, a missed birth control pill, etc. - or a rape. Any woman who is sexually active, no matter how careful she is, may have need of this drug at some point.

Also, some of my friends have been ignorant towards birth control and only been informed about morning after pill after sharing their experiance with their friends. I heard one girl remark that she'd accompanied the same friend three times to the doctor's office to get the morning after pill.

How many of your friends have never heard of condoms? Or birth control pills? I doubt there are many.