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Plan B [Emergency Abortion Pill] FAQs

"Morning After Pill" Primer by Peggy Pace, RPh, BS Pharm

Oral [so-called] "Contraceptives" FAQs: a Pill you may not want to swallow

• Q: Is Plan B an abortifacient drug or a contraceptive?

• A: [PFLI Note: Numerous studies support the notion that the high dose, high powered steroid(s) found in Emergency Abortion drugs like Plan B are abortifacient 75 to 89% of the time, as reported in the Medical Letter and from FDA data.] Rarely will a drug like Plan B and similar generics work to suppress ovulation and truly prevent the meeting of the male and female gametes PRIOR to the moment of conception.

• Q: Who is able to purchase Plan B OTC?

• A: At present, men of any age and women age 15 and older may purchase Plan B OTC . It is very possible a sexual predator could buy Plan B to cover up and hide one or numerous instances of underage statutory rape or incest. This current FDA policy is be contested in a variety of lawsuits before Judge Edward Korman of NYC and the O'Bama Regime. PFLI's policy is to oppose drugs like Plan B because they are chiefly abortifacients, can be used to cover up crimes of rape, incest and sexual slavery; and have long term negative consquences that are not well studied in young women. Other similar high dose steroids have been shown to have serious health dangers for women up to and including stroke, heart attack, various cancers and death.

• Q: Where can patients obtain Plan B OTC in the pharmacy?

• A: At present, patients may obtain Plan B OTC at the pharmacy counter; it can also be bought OTC where it is so stocked. Plan B OTC may not be available in places that do not have a licensed pharmacist or prescriber at the facility (i.e. gas stations, convenience stores, food marts, etc.).

• Q: Can patients obtain Plan B OTC at other healthcare facilities such as clinics?

• A: Yes. Plan B OTC may be available at other healthcare facilities such as clinics.

• Q: Who can sell Plan B OTC?

• A: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandates that a healthcare professional (e.g. pharmacist or prescriber) be available to answer questions or address any concerns that the patient may have about Plan B OTC. Individual pharmacy practice will determine which staff members (e.g. pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, student pharmacists) will be allowed to sell the medication. It is possible an unqualified non-licensed staff member may end up dispensing this potent abortifacient steroid without any knowledge of medical or drug history and conditions of the end user. Currently OTC and/or Rx placement is being contested in various courts [as of 5/10/13].

• Q: What kind of proof of age will be required for consumers 15 and older to purchase Plan B OTC?

• A: The FDA has not issued specific guidelines regarding proof of age. However, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently published a list of acceptable forms of ID for another drug product. Pharmacies may decide to follow these same guidelines, which include driver’s licenses, passports, and school ID’s. The complete DEA list is provided at the end of this document.

• Q: How will the age restriction be monitored and enforced?

• A: No known monitoring of age is uniformly in place in all states. Pharmacists of conscience are encouraged to monitor area pharmacies and to report instances of non-compliance to their respective board of pharmacy and/or the FDA.

• Q: Can states place additional restrictions on access to Plan B OTC?

• A: It is possible and very liekly. Many states have enacted statutes to prohibit the sale of medications that have an abuse potential or that are harmful to the health of the patient. As well some states, based on the recent scandal of Planned Parenthood centers not reporting cases of statutory rape and incest in KS, IN and OH, may lead to more restriction to protect underage girls from sexual predators. It is too early to know whether the states will use this authority.

• Q: Will the switch impact pharmacist’s prescribing authority that currently exists in certain states?

• A: The product’s dual-status will not impact collaborative agreements in the states that provide pharmacists prescriptive authority for emergency contraception. Patients under 15 in these states will continue to be able to access Plan B from pharmacists who have this authority to prescribe and dispense Plan B. Patients 15 or older will be able to purchase Plan B OTC. Check with your state laws and regulations through your state board of pharmacy for any additional requirements.

• Q: When will the OTC version of Plan B become available?

• A: Reports indicate that the first shipments of Plan B OTC were sent to distributors the first of November and are currently in circulation.

• Q: Will the labeling on the new version differ from the Rx version?

• A: At present, the prescription (Rx) version will be replaced by a dual label (Rx/OTC) version. It will include a drug facts section and a patient brochure; it will also have the statement “Rx for age 15 and younger” imprinted on the packaging.

• Q: Are there quantity limits or registration procedures required for purchase?

• A: No. The FDA has not specified any quantity limits or registration procedures. Systems to document that the pharmacy has checked the patient’s age may be established by each individual pharmacy.

• Q: Can I invoke my rights of conscience when Plan B OTC is requested?

• A: PFLI fully supports an individual pharmacist’s ability to choose not to dispense or counsel with respect to a medication for personal, religious and moral reasons PFLI also encourages pharmacists with objections to dispensing any medications, including Plan B OTC, should work with their management to protect their rights of conscience in advance, preferably in writing. A simple way to deal with this product is simply not to ever stock it, if possible. For employee pharmacists with a conscience, this may prove difficult, as corporate policy may allow or even mandate stocking Plan B.

• Q: Where can I get more information?

• A: PFLI has several resources on line at: http://www.pfli.org/main.php?pfli=kemikalkill

  Updated: 13 May 2013 AD