FDA to make morning-after pill available to 17-year-olds

[nnguyenc]

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http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/22/plan.b.age/index.html?eref=rss_topstories


omg...i'm so excited about the news...now i can
buy plan b without my mom [/sarcasm]

 

[Sparda29]

Watch, in a couple of years its going to be reduced to 16 years old.

 

[prevacid]

it doesnt matter, cuz friends just buy it for friends, or a family member gets it

the age limit is rather stupid

(many times ive sold plan b to 50 yr old woman with a younger woman with them, i mean of course i know whose using it)

every1 should be able to get plan b, the way i look at it, thats just one less kid on access 🙂

 

[Sparda29]

it doesnt matter, cuz friends just buy it for friends, or a family member gets it

the age limit is rather stupid

(many times ive sold plan b to 50 yr old woman with a younger woman with them, i mean of course i know whose using it)

every1 should be able to get plan b, the way i look at it, thats just one less kid on access 🙂

Really? So you would have no problem with the same teenager/tweenager coming back for Plan B?

Last weekend we had this ditz who came in, asked for Plan B and was talking on the cell phone at the same time. So apparently I guess the person she was talking to asked where she was, and she was like, oh I'm at the pharmacy, I gotta get some Plan B again.

 

[bacillus1]

It's stupid to have an age limit on Plan B. Sometimes it is hard for a girl to get to a physician to get a prescription in the short time window that she has to buy the drug, not to mention excessive costs (she has to not only pay the 50 bucks for the drug, but also pay the copay for the Dr. to write out the prescription, adding up to the cost, which can be hard for teenagers).

 

[prevacid]

Really? So you would have no problem with the same teenager/tweenager coming back for Plan B?

Last weekend we had this ditz who came in, asked for Plan B and was talking on the cell phone at the same time. So apparently I guess the person she was talking to asked where she was, and she was like, oh I'm at the pharmacy, I gotta get some Plan B again.

i just follow the law, which is no rx needed for anyone over 18...i check the id of the person who i sell it too, what that person does afterwards with it i dont really care

and i dont care if some1 needs to use plan b more than one time, eventually, they will learn their lesson...i just cant teach it to them

 

[FarscapeGirl]

i just follow the law, which is no rx needed for anyone over 18...i check the id of the person who i sell it too, what that person does afterwards with it i dont really care

and i dont care if some1 needs to use plan b more than one time, eventually, they will learn their lesson...i just cant teach it to them

Hmm... I respect that you have no problem dispensing Plan B and am glad that you see the benefits to having it easily available.

However, I have to question the "eventually, they will learn their lesson" statement. Birth control fails. Condoms rip. Perhaps the girl on the cell phone can't be on birth control because she's on her parents' insurance, and they would have something against her using birth control. It's kind of judgemental to assume that women need a lesson when they use Plan B more than once.

However, that doesn't mean that pharmacists can't advise them on an easier birth control method and perhaps make sure the current method is being used correctly. And I certainly see no problem with making a person get off their cell phone and hold a true conversation with the pharmacist before receiving their medicine!

 

[FarscapeGirl]

Really? So you would have no problem with the same teenager/tweenager coming back for Plan B?

Last weekend we had this ditz who came in, asked for Plan B and was talking on the cell phone at the same time. So apparently I guess the person she was talking to asked where she was, and she was like, oh I'm at the pharmacy, I gotta get some Plan B again.

Why do you have a problem with an older teenage using Plan B? There is no medical reason why it is currently allowed only to those 18 and above. Plan B is a very safe medication.

I can see making sure that no incest or rape is occurring, especially with young teenagers.

However, regardless of what society may want, teenagers have sex. They are on birth control pills. They buy condoms. They have unwanted pregnancies. Humans sexually mature at around 12. It's kind of ridiculous to assume humans will spend over six years, ten years, or more until they marry or are whatever 'old enough' is to actually have sex.

 

[Sparda29]

Why do you have a problem with an older teenage using Plan B? There is no medical reason why it is currently allowed only to those 18 and above. Plan B is a very safe medication.

I can see making sure that no incest or rape is occurring, especially with young teenagers.

However, regardless of what society may want, teenagers have sex. They are on birth control pills. They buy condoms. They have unwanted pregnancies. Humans sexually mature at around 12. It's kind of ridiculous to assume humans will spend over six years, ten years, or more until they marry or are whatever 'old enough' is to actually have sex.

What I meant is that then 12 year olds - 15 year olds will start coming into the pharmacy a lot more often. Oh yeah, that patient that came in to buy the Plan B was like 26.

 

[prevacid]

Hmm... I respect that you have no problem dispensing Plan B and am glad that you see the benefits to having it easily available.

However, I have to question the "eventually, they will learn their lesson" statement. Birth control fails. Condoms rip. Perhaps the girl on the cell phone can't be on birth control because she's on her parents' insurance, and they would have something against her using birth control. It's kind of judgemental to assume that women need a lesson when they use Plan B more than once.

However, that doesn't mean that pharmacists can't advise them on an easier birth control method and perhaps make sure the current method is being used correctly. And I certainly see no problem with making a person get off their cell phone and hold a true conversation with the pharmacist before receiving their medicine!

that previous statement came out imcompletely...i meant if they engage in reckless behavior then i dont care....but yes i understand accidents happen or special circumstances happen

most of my experience involves with a young lady coming down with her head down, hardly making any eye contact and definietly not in the mood for any conversation....so i just sell the product (offer counseling of course) and off they go, i dont think that interaction is the right time for a sex education convo

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Really? So you would have no problem with the same teenager/tweenager coming back for Plan B?

Yeah...and the alternative is some ******* girl raising a child with about 45,000 psychological issues due to incompetence in parenthood that has a 50-50 chance of becoming a serial killer.

F' that. They should just put everyone under 18 on birth control. Just like mandatory vaccinations...

 

[eightball]

all morality aside, there should be no age limit on plan B. There wasnt one anyways. People old enough to buy them would do so for their friends, families etc

The cost of not "treating" is larger than the $25 at the counter and some disapproving looks from pharmacy staff.

If you want to inject morals into this, tell parents to teach their kids how to avoid landing into the situation in the first place.

 

[eightball]

Yeah...and the alternative is some ******* girl raising a child with about 45,000 psychological issues due to incompetence in parenthood that has a 50-50 chance of becoming a serial killer.

F' that. They should just put everyone under 18 on birth control. Just like mandatory vaccinations...

Beat me to it...my point exactly

 

[FarscapeGirl]

Yeah...and the alternative is some ******* girl raising a child with about 45,000 psychological issues due to incompetence in parenthood that has a 50-50 chance of becoming a serial killer.

F' that. They should just put everyone under 18 on birth control. Just like mandatory vaccinations...

I'd love to see someone in politics propose that! As it is, some parents don't want their daughters getting Gardasil b/c their precious child of course could not be having sex at 11. Nor planning to anytime soon. And of course, they'll only ever have sex with their husband.

 

[samuricool]

Yeah...and the alternative is some ******* girl raising a child with about 45,000 psychological issues due to incompetence in parenthood that has a 50-50 chance of becoming a serial killer.

F' that. They should just put everyone under 18 on birth control. Just like mandatory vaccinations...

Hell yes. Besides, in the long run, it will probably be less money spent for those worthess sob's on welfare. And speaking of, why arent those that are on welfare given birth control?

 

[PharmDstudent]

They should just put everyone under 18 on birth control. Just like mandatory vaccinations...

Like...ummmm... No! The side effects suck! Why not just put all of the teenage boys on prozac? I doubt they could get a good lift with that, and the random school shootings would decrease.

 

[samuricool]

I'd love to see someone in politics propose that! As it is, some parents don't want their daughters getting Gardasil b/c their precious child of course could not be having sex at 11. Nor planning to anytime soon. And of course, they'll only ever have sex with their husband.

We have tried it here in Ohio, actually. Unfortunately, we are still in the bible belt of the U.S. so all of the conservatives get their panties in a bunch when something like gardasil is brought up. They think that because they are giving their child a vaccination that it will give their children the idea that they are allowed to have sex now because they are protected from STD's. What happened to the day when your parents could talk to you about sex? Clearly, they would just rather their kid have the chance at getting HPV and not have to talk to their kids about sex.

I know someone who had HPV and had the advanced stages of cervical cancer. Should she have had the chance to use gardasil, she would still have the other half of her cervix.

The heart of my message, I blame irresponsible parenting.

 

[Regnvejr]

Last weekend we had this ditz who came in, asked for Plan B and was talking on the cell phone at the same time. So apparently I guess the person she was talking to asked where she was, and she was like, oh I'm at the pharmacy, I gotta get some Plan B again.

You think it is a good idea for that "ditz" to become a parent instead?

 

[spacecowgirl]

Yeah...and the alternative is some ******* girl raising a child with about 45,000 psychological issues due to incompetence in parenthood that has a 50-50 chance of becoming a serial killer.

F' that. They should just put everyone under 18 on birth control. Just like mandatory vaccinations...

all morality aside, there should be no age limit on plan B. There wasnt one anyways. People old enough to buy them would do so for their friends, families etc

The cost of not "treating" is larger than the $25 at the counter and some disapproving looks from pharmacy staff.

If you want to inject morals into this, tell parents to teach their kids how to avoid landing into the situation in the first place.

That. NEWSFLASH: withholding Plan B is not going to change anyone's sexual behaviors. Abstinence only education is not going to stop all kids from having sex but it will increase the chances of them not using protection (ahem Bristol Palin ahem).

Mediating patients' relationships with their respective Higher Powers is not in my job description.

 

[blueclassring]

Look what is happening all around you! I believe these trends will continue in our society. Keep the mind entertained is the motto of those in power....

"As political and economic freedom diminishes, sexual freedom tends compensatingly to increase. And the dictator will do well to encourage that freedom. In conjunction with the freedom to daydream under the influence of dope and movies and the radio, it will help to reconcile his subjects to the servitude which is their fate." Julian Huxley, 1950

 

[esduhovny]

Hi everyone!

I'm a college student working on a research paper about this and I wanted to gather some opinions to write about in my paper.

If you are a pharmacist or if you are not and just give your opinion it would help me! Below are the questions! Feel free to write your responses here or to message me!

Thanks,
E


1. What are your thoughts on Plan B being made available without a prescription?


2. What are your thoughts on the FDA’s decision to allow 17 year olds to buy Plan B without a prescription as well?


3. If a 17-year-old female came to buy Plan B, what would you ask her before allowing her to purchase the Plan B?


4. How about for an 18-25 year old female?


5. How about for a 25-35 year old female?


6. How about for a female over age 35?


7. Would you sell Plan B to a male? Would it matter how old he was?- please explain



8. Have you sold Plan B to anyone in the last two years? Feel free to elaborate.

 

[Sparda29]

You think it is a good idea for that "ditz" to become a parent instead?

Err, no. But perhaps it would be a good idea for someone to change that ditz's attitude. I mean, it seemed like she had no shame in telling everyone within a 20 foot radius that she was picking up Plan B.

 

[Regnvejr]

Err, no. But perhaps it would be a good idea for someone to change that ditz's attitude. I mean, it seemed like she had no shame in telling everyone within a 20 foot radius that she was picking up Plan B.

Maybe she doesn't? Should she have shame? People do weird stuff all the time and even keep doing it after it is shown to be stupid.

Certainly, the last thing she needs is a pregnancy. Change attitude? That would be nice. We all have good ideas about what others' attitude should be😀 I know what I feel others attitude towards access to contraception and Plan B should be. But some people here are just so stubborn!!!

 

[xiphoid2010]

it doesnt matter, cuz friends just buy it for friends, or a family member gets it

correct. Anyone could get an older friend to buy their plan B. The age limit was never enforceable. It might as well not have existed. Ethical issue is a non-issue when it so circumventable in reality. 😀

 

[Old Timer]

correct. Anyone could get an older friend to buy their plan B. The age limit was never enforceable. It might as well not have existed. Ethical issue is a non-issue when it so circumventable in reality. 😀

It was meant to encourage/require parental involvement. What about a 12 year old? Would you feel comfortable with that? A 16 year old friend could buy it for the 12 year old. Taken to it's logical extreme, anyone could buy it.

Your argument is silly.

 

[xiphoid2010]

It was meant to encourage/require parental involvement. What about a 12 year old? Would you feel comfortable with that? A 16 year old friend could buy it for the 12 year old. Taken to it's logical extreme, anyone could buy it.

Your argument is silly.

You mean the 12 year old can only find a 16 year old friend but can't find a 17 year old friend? 🙄

If you want something to happen, put some teeth in it. Don't waste time with making rules that anybody could get around. That's my point.

 

[Old Timer]

You mean the 12 year old can only find a 16 year old friend but can't find a 17 year old friend? 🙄

If you want something to happen, put some teeth in it. Don't waste time with making rules that anybody could get around. That's my point.

How do you put teeth in it?

 

[xiphoid2010]

How do you put teeth in it?

That's not my problem. I don't care either way on this issue. But for any law to be effective, it can't have a giant loophole and it must carry a penalty for trying to circumvent it. Other wise it's just a waste of tax payer's money to even write it.

 

[Old Timer]

That's not my problem. I don't care either way on this issue. But for any law to be effective, it can't have a giant loophole and it must carry a penalty for trying to circumvent it. Other wise it's just a waste of tax payer's money to even write it.

Stop thinking like a childish dolt. Start thinking like a health professional. How do you put this needed medication in the hands of people that need it without making it as unavailable as prescription medication?

The I have no idea, but your way is stupid lacks professionalism and common sense. Do you really think there is massive movement of 18 year old women buying plan b for younger women?

How young do you take it. Can 12 year old girls buy it? What about 10 year old girls? What is your idea. The implication is you want to criminalize the straw purchase of Plan B?

 

[Quiksilver]

laws are often less specific for that exact reason; provide ambiguity to have loop holes to exploit. Pharmacy law is no exception.


This argument is ridiculous in its own right, by doing this, you are going to cut down health costs. Think about how mature n smart TYPICAL teen mothers are. Do you think the children are going to grow up in a productive enviroment. That is not to say that they won't stop drinking/doing drugs/smoking while being pregnant. Think about how state medicaid will foot the bill to pay for these children's health care. Hell, I'd give the stuff away for free because I know that the difference in cost. Cost cost cost, then you don't have to worry about cutting reimbursement rates to pay for these unwanted children

 

[xiphoid2010]

Stop thinking like a childish dolt. Start thinking like a health professional. How do you put this needed medication in the hands of people that need it without making it as unavailable as prescription medication?

The I have no idea, but your way is stupid lacks professionalism and common sense. Do you really think there is massive movement of 18 year old women buying plan b for younger women?

How young do you take it. Can 12 year old girls buy it? What about 10 year old girls? What is your idea. The implication is you want to criminalize the straw purchase of Plan B?

Yeah, calling names and resorting to personal attacks is so mature of you.

I don't make a stance on this issue because both sides have valid reasons. That's why I don't particularly care which side wins the argument.

Professionalism? How about pragmatism? Making laws that any 6 year old can figure out how to get around is sooo effective. 🙄

I will obey the law and only dispense to those allowed. But I'm not going to play police to check on where it ends up.

 

[xiphoid2010]

laws are often less specific for that exact reason; provide ambiguity to have loop holes to exploit. Pharmacy law is no exception.


This argument is ridiculous in its own right, by doing this, you are going to cut down health costs. Think about how mature n smart TYPICAL teen mothers are. Do you think the children are going to grow up in a productive enviroment. That is not to say that they won't stop drinking/doing drugs/smoking while being pregnant. Think about how state medicaid will foot the bill to pay for these children's health care. Hell, I'd give the stuff away for free because I know that the difference in cost. Cost cost cost, then you don't have to worry about cutting reimbursement rates to pay for these unwanted children

Correct. Not all loopholes are bad. But some loopholes are so big, it practically screams "use it to nullify the law". And in this case, there are cases to be made for and against it, and I'm not going to take sides.

It's just funny that if the conservatives really want to prevent 12 year olds from getting it, they shouldn't have wrote the law the way it is. If they liberals really want to make it available to everyone, then they could have skipped the age requirement altogether.

Perhaps it's the only way they could come to a compromise. But as it is, it's hardly better than have any age requirement. We get 18 year old guys come into get it, and I'm not even going to guess how old their flavor of the week is.

Being a guy, I don't know what exactly goes on through a teenage girl's head when they realized they screwed up last night. But I'm going to guess it's not "tell mom and dad".

 

[Old Timer]

Yeah, calling names and resorting to personal attacks is so mature of you.

I don't make a stance on this issue because both sides have valid reasons. That's why I don't particularly care which side wins the argument.

Professionalism? How about pragmatism? Making laws that any 6 year old can figure out how to get around is sooo effective. 🙄

I will obey the law and only dispense to those allowed. But I'm not going to play police to check on where it ends up.

I'm calling you out because you have criticized something and have no response on how to improve the situation. Who said you should cross examine each purchaser to ensure there is not a straw purchase. I really think the number of straw purchases of Plan-B are negligible.

So what's your beef. So what if someone can get around something? It's not happening every day.

 

[Regnvejr]

..It's just funny that if the conservatives really want to prevent 12 year olds from getting it, they shouldn't have wrote the law the way it is. If they liberals really want to make it available to everyone, then they could have skipped the age requirement altogether...

It is strictly pandering to the rightwingers. The sooner the fundie nuts are marginalized, the sooner we get insane moralism out of health care and private lives.

 

[xiphoid2010]

I'm calling you out because you have criticized something and have no response on how to improve the situation. Who said you should cross examine each purchaser to ensure there is not a straw purchase. I really think the number of straw purchases of Plan-B are negligible.

So what's your beef. So what if someone can get around something? It's not happening every day.

My beef? It was you who got all argumentative when I pointed out that the current age requirement is a farce in reality. Besides, I don't mind straw purchases at all.

I already stated that I have no problem with whatever age requirement they choose. C'mon, with bullet proof laws like this, how could I possibly improve it? 🙄

 

[xiphoid2010]

It is strictly pandering to the rightwingers. The sooner the fundie nuts are marginalized, the sooner we get insane moralism out of health care and private lives.

I'm a moderate. So on one hand, I support trying to do more to discourage young people from irresponsible acts. On the other hand, I don't believe that trading freedom for more and more laws is going to make things better.

Going too far both ways will just do more harm than good. On this issue, I'm pretty much evenly split, and ok with which ever way the pendulum swings ( as long as it doesn't swing too far).

 

[ffpickle]

Stop thinking like a childish dolt. Start thinking like a health professional. How do you put this needed medication in the hands of people that need it without making it as unavailable as prescription medication?

The I have no idea, but your way is stupid lacks professionalism and common sense. Do you really think there is massive movement of 18 year old women buying plan b for younger women?

How young do you take it. Can 12 year old girls buy it? What about 10 year old girls? What is your idea. The implication is you want to criminalize the straw purchase of Plan B?

Ironic

 

[transzincIIB]

I guess in the future, there'll be a "low libido pill" or "anti-mojo shots immunization requirement" for teenagers... (as opposed to viagra)

 

[charfdorn]

I guess in the future, there'll be a "low libido pill" or "anti-mojo shots immunization requirement" for teenagers... (as opposed to viagra)

Mandatory vasectomy at age 12. You can apply for a reversal at 18 (or whenever you want), but you have to prove that your situation is stable and that you can afford to raise a child. Then we wouldn't have to worry about any of this stuff.

 

[Pharmavixen]

It is strictly pandering to the rightwingers. The sooner the fundie nuts are marginalized, the sooner we get insane moralism out of health care and private lives.

👍

There are no restrictions on it where I live, and we don't have children lining up to buy it. (Mostly, I have sold it to late teens, early twenties.)

 

[Quiksilver]

I guess in the future, there'll be a "low libido pill" or "anti-mojo shots immunization requirement" for teenagers... (as opposed to viagra)

you could just give them beta blockers

 

[eightball]

you could just give them beta blockers

or even better, SSRIs

no depression as side effect