# Excellent! Plan B (morning after pill) available OTC. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 24, 2006, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excellent-plan-b-morning-after-pill-available-otc/370040 "2006-08-24T14:22:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excellent-plan-b-morning-after-pill-available-otc/370040/21 "2006-08-24T23:01:19Z")
Oh My Gosh You Guys You Know What? This Means I Can Start Shopping At Target Again! ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excellent-plan-b-morning-after-pill-available-otc/370040/22 "2006-08-24T23:02:23Z")
Okay, that’s really strange. I typed that in all caps, and instead it posted in capitalized words only. Whatever. My vehemence has come through, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excellent-plan-b-morning-after-pill-available-otc/370040/23 "2006-08-24T23:32:41Z")
> [@](#): > > **Triskadecamus** said:Note: buying a pill, and giving it to someone who is not legally allowed to buy the pill is a violation of the law. The nature of the pill does not change that. > > Tris Sometimes you have to decide whether or not a law is worth following. If it’s illegal to buy it for a 17 year old, well, I’d do right by my conscience and hang the law. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excellent-plan-b-morning-after-pill-available-otc/370040/24 "2006-08-24T23:44:56Z")
[QUOTE=GingerOfTheNorth] Okay, that’s really strange. I typed that in all caps, and instead it posted in capitalized words only. Whatever. My vehemence has come through, I believe. [/QUOTE] Your vehemence, yes. Your meaning, not so much. Has Target been instrumental in pushing this through? Were you boycotting them for some reason? Have you not dared wear lacy underwear until now? I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excellent-plan-b-morning-after-pill-available-otc/370040/25 "2006-08-25T00:05:19Z")
[QUOTE=GingerOfTheNorth] Okay, that’s really strange. I typed that in all caps, and instead it posted in capitalized words only. Whatever. My vehemence has come through, I believe. [/QUOTE] The board’s set up not to allow thread titles or posts with nothing but caps. Very irritating when the topic of your thread title is actually in all caps. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excellent-plan-b-morning-after-pill-available-otc/370040/26 "2006-08-25T00:45:54Z")
Pardon if this question is a bit of a hijack; but are there any _other_ drugs that are OTC for adults and prescription for kids? Having no kids, the question has never been an issue for mem but I don’t recall hearing such a thing. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excellent-plan-b-morning-after-pill-available-otc/370040/27 "2006-08-25T01:04:30Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] Your vehemence, yes. Your meaning, not so much. Has Target been instrumental in pushing this through? Were you boycotting them for some reason? Have you not dared wear lacy underwear until now? I don’t get it. [/QUOTE] No. Target allowed their pharmacists to refuse to fill Plan B prescriptions. I don’t think they missed my money any, but I haven’t shopped there in a very long time. And holy crap have I missed it. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excellent-plan-b-morning-after-pill-available-otc/370040/28 "2006-08-25T01:55:22Z")
[QUOTE=GingerOfTheNorth] No. Target allowed their pharmacists to refuse to fill Plan B prescriptions. I don’t think they missed my money any, but I haven’t shopped there in a very long time. And holy crap have I missed it. [/QUOTE] Ah. All is clear now. Or rather, not. Are they going to allow their check-out people not to sell it now? Or are you assuming they’ll change their policy? ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excellent-plan-b-morning-after-pill-available-otc/370040/29 "2006-08-25T13:37:42Z")
I am hoping that making it OTC will end the ‘will they give it to me’ problem that exists with pharmacists being the only dispensers of it. ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excellent-plan-b-morning-after-pill-available-otc/370040/30 "2006-08-25T16:30:54Z")
But pharmacists are still going to be the only dispensers of it. They’re the ones checking the IDs. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excellent-plan-b-morning-after-pill-available-otc/370040/31 "2006-08-25T16:40:14Z")
Damn you and your Vulcan logic. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excellent-plan-b-morning-after-pill-available-otc/370040/32 "2006-08-25T16:51:03Z")
I don’t get how they make this OTC, yet my topical acne medication (not Accutane) still requires a prescription. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excellent-plan-b-morning-after-pill-available-otc/370040/33 "2006-08-25T17:20:42Z")
[QUOTE=PunditLisa] I don’t get how they make this OTC, yet my topical acne medication (not Accutane) still requires a prescription. [/QUOTE] Doesn’t Accutane cause horrendous birth defects? I sure wouldn’t want my daughter taking it OTC. It’s one thing to end a pregnancy, it’s another to raise a baby with no arms because you used Clearasil (Now Improved With Accutane!) before you knew you were pregnant. At least requiring a prescriptions means the doctor can inform you that you better not get pregnant on it. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excellent-plan-b-morning-after-pill-available-otc/370040/34 "2006-08-25T22:44:19Z")
\*\*WhyNot[/n] - Note **PunditLisa’s** - **NOT** Accutane. StG ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excellent-plan-b-morning-after-pill-available-otc/370040/35 "2006-08-25T22:48:15Z")
[QUOTE=StGermain] \*\*WhyNot[/n] - Note **PunditLisa’s** - **NOT** Accutane. StG [/QUOTE] :smack: Yeppers. I am an idiot. My apologies. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excellent-plan-b-morning-after-pill-available-otc/370040/36 "2006-08-26T00:23:26Z")
And of course the state of Georgia, in their infinite stupidity, are already discussing banning it. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excellent-plan-b-morning-after-pill-available-otc/370040/37 "2006-08-26T00:37:49Z")
[QUOTE=appleciders] Correct me if I’m wrong, but Plan B essentially forces a woman’s period, doesn’t it? I think it’s unlikely that a woman planning ahead would choose that over other forms of birth control. [/QUOTE] I’ve taken the equivalent of Plan B twice (once when, shortly after we had started trying for a second child, I, the sole wage earner, lost my job, and once when I removed a diaphragm to discover, to my horror, that it was in tatters). It did not disrupt my cycle. My period arrived at the expected time. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excellent-plan-b-morning-after-pill-available-otc/370040/38 "2006-08-26T00:58:27Z")
[QUOTE=GingerOfTheNorth] Damn you and your Vulcan logic. [/QUOTE] Heh, really – but it’s true: like with some other products, this would be a true “over THE counter” nonprescription medication: the Pharmacist still has to be the one to dispense it. Not “off the rack”. The advantage is that if you run across an “objector” pharmacist you can turn around and head for another one with minimal hassle. (BTW non-Rx also means, usually, that medical insurance will have no obligation to cover it) > [@Really Not All That Bright](#): > > No it isn’t. You are not in violation of the law when you give your kids cough syrup. True. But _use_ of cough syrup is non-prescription even for minors. Dollars to doughnuts that a not-insignificant number of states will legislate/regulate so that THIS medication is illegal for someone of legal age to purchase to provide to a minor, absent a prescription for the minor, and it would be ruled well within their scope of authority to do so. ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excellent-plan-b-morning-after-pill-available-otc/370040/39 "2006-08-26T15:14:03Z")
[QUOTE=appleciders] Correct me if I’m wrong, but Plan B essentially forces a woman’s period, doesn’t it? I think it’s unlikely that a woman planning ahead would choose that over other forms of birth control. [/QUOTE] Not true. By and large it works by delaying ovulation long enough for the sperm to die off in your system before the egg is released. It also thickens the cervical fluid to make it more difficult for sperm to get through and fertilize an egg, and thins the uterine lining to make it a less hospitible place for the egg to implant. It does not “force a period”. Some women will experience breakthrough bleeding roughly 7-10 days after taking it, mostly (as I understand it) due to the dose of progestin throwing your cycle out of whack. Your period might come on time, might come early, might come a bit later, might be heavier and might be lighter. Little bit of a crapshoot, that. I’ve used it twice with zero side effects either time. Women _should not_ choose Plan B as a primary method of birth control for several reasons. It’s absolutely not intended for that purpose, and it’s not nearly as effective as… well, most other methods. It’s called “Plan B” for a reason. It’s 75-89% effective if taken within the first 72 hours after unprotected intercourse, putting it well below condoms or any hormonal method for efficacy. The really big downside to taking it all the time is that you will really never know what your normal fertility cycle is like and that will make it much more difficult to predict a)when you’re fertile (for those using any form of fertility awareness) b) when your period is due (breakthrough or withdrawal bleeding is NOT equivalent to menstruation) and c) if you might be pregnant. Plus, cost. We sell it for $14 a pack to full-pay patients. For a one-time dose that’s a whole lot more pricey than a pack of birth control pills or a bag of condoms. Disclaimer: IANAD, just work for Planned Parenthood and give this schpiel about six thousand times a day, minus the bit about my personal use 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excellent-plan-b-morning-after-pill-available-otc/370040.md?page=1)