2008 Woodie Awards
Plan B pill now available at Cutler without prescription
Jennifer Hersey
Issue date: 11/6/06 Section: News
The Cutler Health Center at the University of Maine now offers the emergency contraceptive Plan B over the counter for students 18 years and older. Also known as the "morning-after pill," Plan B has been available at Cutler by prescription since early 2001. It will remain a prescription-only product for UMaine students 17 and under at Cutler.
On August 24, 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Plan B as an over-the-counter option for women aged 18 and older. According to the FDA Web site, it is a safe and effective method of preventing pregnancy after a failed contraceptive or unprotected sex. Plan B has been available over-the-counter at Cutler since the FDA approval.
Cutler's Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Bonnie Clark is comfortable about Plan B being offered over-the-counter. Clark said it is a time-sensitive medication.
"The sooner [Plan B] is available after unprotected intercourse, the more effective it is," she said. Clark estimated that Cutler has been "one of the biggest prescribing clinics in the state" of emergency contraceptives in the 20 years they have been offered.
Last year, Cutler dispensed 158 packages of Plan B by prescription. Cutler's Pharmacy Coordinator, Kelly Estremera, does not believe this amount will increase with Plan B now available over the counter.
"According to studies already published," Estremera said, "usage had not increased with pharmacists being able to dispense emergency contraception at the counter, but time will tell." Cutler will compare the difference at the end of the year.
The over-the-counter option allows students to purchase extra packages of Plan B to have on hand when Cutler's pharmacy is not open. "The sooner [students] obtain it, the better," Estremera said.
The cost for Plan B at Cutler is $15. Students are able to purchase using cash, check, credit card, or Black Bear Bucks, or have the cost billed to their student account. Estremera said that students' account bills will only list a CHC Pharmacy Charge and will not provide any details about the items the pharmacy fills for students who want to purchase them privately.
On August 24, 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Plan B as an over-the-counter option for women aged 18 and older. According to the FDA Web site, it is a safe and effective method of preventing pregnancy after a failed contraceptive or unprotected sex. Plan B has been available over-the-counter at Cutler since the FDA approval.
Cutler's Women's Health Nurse Practitioner Bonnie Clark is comfortable about Plan B being offered over-the-counter. Clark said it is a time-sensitive medication.
"The sooner [Plan B] is available after unprotected intercourse, the more effective it is," she said. Clark estimated that Cutler has been "one of the biggest prescribing clinics in the state" of emergency contraceptives in the 20 years they have been offered.
Last year, Cutler dispensed 158 packages of Plan B by prescription. Cutler's Pharmacy Coordinator, Kelly Estremera, does not believe this amount will increase with Plan B now available over the counter.
"According to studies already published," Estremera said, "usage had not increased with pharmacists being able to dispense emergency contraception at the counter, but time will tell." Cutler will compare the difference at the end of the year.
The over-the-counter option allows students to purchase extra packages of Plan B to have on hand when Cutler's pharmacy is not open. "The sooner [students] obtain it, the better," Estremera said.
The cost for Plan B at Cutler is $15. Students are able to purchase using cash, check, credit card, or Black Bear Bucks, or have the cost billed to their student account. Estremera said that students' account bills will only list a CHC Pharmacy Charge and will not provide any details about the items the pharmacy fills for students who want to purchase them privately.
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