WASHINGTON -- Gas stations and convenience stores would not be allowed to offer Plan Boften referred to as emergency contraception or the morning after pillas an over-the-counter (OTC) option, according to a letter submitted by its maker, Duramed, a subsidiary of Barr Pharmaceuticals, to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
The FDA is working with Duramed to resolve the remaining policy issues associated with the marketing of Plan B for OTC sale.
The letter said that Plan B would be available only to pharmacies agreeing [image-nocss] to keep the OTC version of the drug behind the pharmacy counter and to dispense the drug only to a consumer with a valid photo identification card establishing the consumer's age (18 and older).
The FDA said it hopes that the process can be wrapped up in a matter of weeks.
Plan B contains an ingredient used in prescription birth control pillsonly in the case of Plan B, each pill contains a higher dose and the product has a different dosing regimen. Like other birth control pills, Plan B is currently available to all women as a prescription drug.
Click here to view the full text of Duramed's letter.
Click here to view the FDA's Plan B page.
Click here to view Duramed's Plan B page for consumers.
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