Montana News: OTC Plan B Raises Logistical and Administrative Challenges

January 1, 2007 4:18 pm Topics: Over the counter and Emergency contraception

Reprinted from the January 2007 Montana Board of Pharmacy Newsletter.

The August 24, 2006, FDA approval of the over-the-counter (OTC) sale of Plan B® to women 18 years of age and older was intended to make the drug more easily available within the narrow window of effectiveness; however, its new dual status as both a prescription and OTC drug raises a number of challenges for pharmacists, patients, and regulators. How will the issue of conscientious objection be affected by Plan B’s increased availability? How will authorities monitor age verification and record keeping? How will pharmacists receive training on the medication and its distribution? NABP published an article addressing the challenges associated with Plan B in its November/December 2006 Newsletter. The article can be downloaded from the NABP Web site at www.nabp.net. Just click on Newsletters, NABP Newsletter, and then select November/December 2006 from the drop-down menu.