So my interview's group project was about abortion.

[ethyl]

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My interview a couple months ago had us do a presentation about a drug identical to RU-486. It got me to thinking... In 4+ years, is it expected that this drug or its future generics (or even OTC) will be in retail pharmacies? Today, it's mostly dispensed in clinical settings right?

 

[beccala33]

My interview a couple months ago had us do a presentation about a drug identical to RU-486. It got me to thinking... In 4+ years, is it expected that this drug or its future generics (or even OTC) will be in retail pharmacies? Today, it's mostly dispensed in clinical settings right?

I had the same question... it was weird, we all agreed that the woman should find other work if she was going to let her beliefs interfere with her professionalism. The woman who was conducting the group discussion said it was the first time that ever happened!
On the topic of retail RU-486, that's where we're headed it seems... I actually know someone who has taken it, and apparently it's no walk in the park. She was doubled over in agony for hours and bled so much she thought she was hemoraging. It seems to me like something that should require some serious counseling beforehand! What do you guys think?

 

[xturquoise]

I had the same question... it was weird, we all agreed that the woman should find other work if she was going to let her beliefs interfere with her professionalism. The woman who was conducting the group discussion said it was the first time that ever happened!
On the topic of retail RU-486, that's where we're headed it seems... I actually know someone who has taken it, and apparently it's no walk in the park. She was doubled over in agony for hours and bled so much she thought she was hemoraging. It seems to me like something that should require some serious counseling beforehand! What do you guys think?

Wow, that sounds really serious! 😱 Is that a typical outcome of the drug?? If so, I think this drug should really require counseling!

 

[insipid1979]

I had the same question... it was weird, we all agreed that the woman should find other work if she was going to let her beliefs interfere with her professionalism. The woman who was conducting the group discussion said it was the first time that ever happened!

Really? That is pretty much how I and everyone I have asked have viewed the issue.

I am not going to get a job at the DMV under the assumption I am not going to give out driver licenses to people with SUVs because morally I am against SUVs. I would expect to lose my job...and I don't really feel that sorry for the pharmacists in Illinois that have been fired because they refused to fill the birth control prescriptions.

People should learn to keep their moral beliefs to themselves and stop trying to push them onto other people.

I know it has been discussed in here before...but it seems that the people who are defending the pharmacists right fill it or not only do so because pharmacists shouldn't be forced to fill anything...while I can agree with that...I don't agree that not filling a prescription based on morals or religious beliefs is a legitimate excuse

 

[ethyl]

I had the same question... it was weird, we all agreed that the woman should find other work if she was going to let her beliefs interfere with her professionalism. The woman who was conducting the group discussion said it was the first time that ever happened!
On the topic of retail RU-486, that's where we're headed it seems... I actually know someone who has taken it, and apparently it's no walk in the park. She was doubled over in agony for hours and bled so much she thought she was hemoraging. It seems to me like something that should require some serious counseling beforehand! What do you guys think?

😉 My group seemed pretty conservative. We concluded that if a pharmacist or doctor objected to the use of the drug, then another employee should be called in or the patient should be referred to the next nearest clinic.

The interviewer then narrowed things to where we couldn't call anyone in and there were no other hospitals in the area. We offered to let the pharmacist refuse to dispense until someone was available but the lady narrowed things further.

The situation was now an emergency with the woman being a rape victim and the pill works more safely and effectively the earlier it's administered. Primary concern is the patient's health so we finally had to give in and said the pharmacist should dispense.

Then she moved onto whether or not we should allow birth control to be objected to... as well as Immunosuppresants for organ transplant recipients. 😱

As for RU-486, even with counseling, Planned Parenthood screwed things up for a few. 🙁
This story came out today.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/04/10/D8GTBDL00.html

 

[sdn1977]

To answer the OP's question..who knows what is going to happen in the future? FDA decisions like these are so vulnurable to the political climate. But, yes, it is currently dispensed under tightly controlled conditions and by an authorized prescriber. You can find all the info on the Danco website.

As for the pt who took it - she did have information given to her, which perhaps she did not read nor understand. The federal law states the pt must be given a standardized sheet of information & sign a consent which includes acknowledging the information. The information clearly states the side effects of cramping (due probably to the misoprostol part) & bleeding. It even goes so far as to indicate how much bleeding is too much. But...for anyone who might have sufferred a miscarriage or is around patients who have, you know how much bleeding there can be....more than just a regular menstrual cycle. Thats why they give clear, specific information on how much is too much.

As a pharmacist, I think its helpful to read all the information on this website since I occasionally will dispense 2 Cytotec capsules along with an rx for ibuprofen or other analgesic which is most often a post-abortificient therapy. It helps to know what procedure the pt might have had done so you can provide good counseling on your end. Just my opinion!

 

[Miss Sushi]

RU-486 made the news today- check out this article on CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/04/10/abortion.pill.ap/index.html there are upsides & downsides to pretty much all meds...
RU-486 is mostly dispensed from Planned Parenthood clinics, I believe. Enjoy the article. 😳

My interview a couple months ago had us do a presentation about a drug identical to RU-486. It got me to thinking... In 4+ years, is it expected that this drug or its future generics (or even OTC) will be in retail pharmacies? Today, it's mostly dispensed in clinical settings right?

 

[sdn1977]

The articles didn't state much about these women, but I think one of the cases happened close to where I live a few years ago. There were lots of details left out. One of the complicating factors was the girl was under 18 which throws a whole other wrench in the political works.

Anyway...this girl & her partner went to PP - received mifepristone & was told to come back 2 days later for the misoprostol dose. She didn't. A few days later she started to bleed & went to an ER, this time without her partner. Apparently she did not disclose her previous pregnancy & use of mifepristone. The ER evaluated her & sent her on her way with instructions to follow up with her gyn. I don't think at that time they determined anything other than heavier than normal bleeding, but no infection at that visit. A few days after that, she became septic & by that time she had made contact with her Dad & told him she was sick. He took her to a different ER where on examination she now has overt signs of sepsis & has retained products of conception. She undergoes a d&c, but dies later of overwhelming sepsis. Dad found out about the pregnancy & mifepristone use during her hospitalization

I think Dad has sued both PP & the first ER & the lawsuits are still pending. I may have gotten the details wrong, but this was the gist of one of them. This occurred in N.CA - East Bay area - not that it couldn't have happened anywhere! It has stimulated lots and lots of discussion amongst ER personnel about how much you can rely on young pts history, which is where some of the delay may have been causative in how this case ended.

 

[ginephre]

i heard somewhere (maybe on my local news?) that they are considering trying out RU-486 in lower dosages as regular contraception....anyone else heard this or am i completely out of my gourd?

 

[sdn1977]

i heard somewhere (maybe on my local news?) that they are considering trying out RU-486 in lower dosages as regular contraception....anyone else heard this or am i completely out of my gourd?

I think there have been many international studies on this & altho it is useful as a contraceptive, there are practical problems with its administration & the recovery of the pituitary-gonadal function to be practical on a routine basis. However, I think it has shown more promise in the treatment of endometriosis, leiomayas, etc...I'm not really up on this tho - you'd have to do a medline search.

 

[ethyl]

i heard somewhere (maybe on my local news?) that they are considering trying out RU-486 in lower dosages as regular contraception....anyone else heard this or am i completely out of my gourd?

In small doses, it's supposed to prevent ovulation and conception... along with the elimination of periods and PMS... and reduce breast cancer risks.