FDA Bans over the Counter Sales of Morning after Pill

By Lauren Racine

The FDA has recently handed down a decision that prohibits a drug company, Barr Pharmaceuticals, from producing and distributing an over the counter form of the morning after pill, due to concerns over the accessibility of the drug to young teens. The pill, called Plan B, consists of two high dose birth control pills that either interfere with ovulation or block the implantation of a fertilized egg. The pill can be taken up to 72 hours after sexual intercourse. Currently, women in the US must receive the morning after pill from their doctors, but there has recently been a push by the women’s rights movement to make the drug available over the counter. The main hurdles that Barr Pharmaceuticals must overcome in a new round of testing include determining if women can diagnose the problem by themselves, treat the problem effectively, and understand the label and instructions without the help of a physician. However, many are seeing this as a political, rather than medical issue. “

“By overruling a recommendation by an independent F.D.A. review board, the White House is putting its own political interests ahead of sound medical policies that have broad support,” said Phil Singer, who is one of John Kerry’s campaign spokesman. “This White House is more interested in appealing to its electoral base than it is in protecting women’s health.” In contrast to this, there are some that still feel that this is a compelling issue that could seriously effect women’s health, “”The F.D.A. is right to be cautious about having a potent drug that can be harmful to women sitting next to candy bars and toothpaste,” says Wendy Wright, the Senior Policy Director at Concerned Women for America. The approval of the drug is not out of the question, but the FDA is requiring further clinical studies be done and that a proposition be made to set an age limit as to who can purchase the pill over the counter.

This is an issue that resonates with college students, especially college age women. While the morning after pill is available at Gettysburg’s health center, the convenience of buying the drug over the counter would undoubtedly be something many college students would embrace. However, until further studies that include larger numbers of teenagers are conducted, women must still go to their physicians in order to have access to the morning after pill. For more information on Gettysburg’s policies regarding contraceptive measures, visit the health services website.