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FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

fda.gov

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Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#141

Post by peytoncasper »

regularfry wrote: post #105
willcipriano wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Couldn't be that doctors wanted all those easy well visits writing scripts for birth control and the recent supreme court ruling encouraged the FDA to finally be reasonable? It's that this exact moment is the first time in human history that women are capable of understanding "once daily".

Some people react very badly to hormonal contraceptives, to the degree that it makes a lot of sense to have them actively prescribed so the GP can watch for (or at least warn to watch for) side-effects. I know people who can't take them because they make them suicidal, of the "spontaneously walking into fast-moving traffic" sort. I don't know if that would happen with this type specifically, but there are reasons to…

Yeah, I was a bit shocked to see this. Not because it shouldn't be easily accessible, but because most women I've talked to about this has gone through some sort of dialing in process. Whether its for dosage or a different brand. Hormones are not easy.

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#142

Post by hombre_fatal »

devmunchies wrote: post #123
hombre_fatal wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, yes, that's the point. They don't want kids at this time, though. Stopping contraceptives when you want kids isn't a eureka moment for most couples.

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Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#143

Post by giantg2 »

hombre_fatal wrote: post #131
giantg2 wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even OTC amphetamines have purchased limits, some imposed by law depending on the state.

I guess you're suggesting that they rejected my prescription because of supply issues, they openly said it was because it was suspicious (3-mo in cash), and also Vyvanse hasn't had shortages like generic amphetamine in 2022-2023. Also, I think you mean OTC amphetamine alternatives since amphetamine is sched I.

Not supply issues, meth manufacturing suspicion. Yeah, precursors to their manufacture.

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#144

Post by extragood »

candiddevmike wrote: post #12
lalaithion wrote: post #8

This is amazing, it will help a lot of people have access to a drug that can vastly improve quality of life without being gatekept by their doctor. Just one note about the phrasing of all the headlines: they’re phrased as if the FDA did a good thing, but it’s better to imagine this as the FDA _stopping_ doing a bad thing. The only reason that we haven’t had over the counter oral contraceptive for the last fifty years…

There's a bit more nuance here. There is certainly a political angle, but there is a non zero risk with taking something like this that should be discussed with a doctor first, IMO. Bypassing a doctor does open up access, but there may be risks, especially if folks don't take the medicine correctly.

I agree, and I see a lot of false equivalence comparing BC to the dangers of Tylenol/acetaminophen/paracetamol in this thread.

Yes, both are drugs and can be misused with disastrous or even fatal consequences. The important distinction is that you can use oral contraceptives correctly and still have seriously negative, life-altering side effects. There are alternatives which may be preferable and ideally every woman should have access to a medical expert who can guide them to make the best choice.

Access to an appropriate medical resource is in the other issue, in the absence of a completely safe and effective option. And that seems to outweigh the risks in the the US. I can only hope that, when given the option, women continue to consult medical professionals even though there is now an over-the-counter option available.

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#145

Post by idopmstuff »

mustacheemperor wrote: post #74
elijaht wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot of that ends up being bureaucratic wastes of time though. My partner was on birth control for years and had to jump through so many hoops - Had to go to yearly appointments to continue receiving it - Could not pick up more than a month at a time, which created logistical issues since they HAD to take it daily - Had to get the prescription renewed every three months or so, which often led to delays filling it It…

You are the first commenter to relate anything like even a secondhand real life experience with oral birth control. This thread (edit: at the time I am posting this) is full of men with little real knowledge of this drug insisting on why it’s reasonable it took 50 years for this to be available OTC. I don’t think the contents of their explanations are likely to be accurate, but I think they still explain why it took…

You're right that women ought to be the ones in charge of dealing with this sort of thing, but I don't think a bunch of guys presenting positions that are generally skeptical of the FDA restricting things that are generally considered safe from being sold OTC (even if not for the right reasons) are the reason that it took a long time for this to be approved to be sold OTC.

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#146

Post by [deleted] »

zackmorris wrote: post #124

This is a bigger deal than it might seem. When birth control pills arrived in the 1960s, they were seen as a tool of liberation that would free women from forced pregnancy. Then the pope came out against them in 1968: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/pill-po... That caused a population explosion everywhere, but especially Central and South America, which were predominantly Catholic. IMHO it all co…

[deleted]

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#147

Post by dmoy »

crote wrote: post #130
dmoy wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Bypassing a doctor does open up access, but there may be risks, especially if folks don't take the medicine correctly. In related news, it is shockingly easy to get messed up real bad by Tylenol. But you can get it in a 500-pill bottle from Costco.

That's pretty much a USA thing, though. In Europe you'll usually only come across blister packs, and they don't really go beyond 50 / box. It is a lot harder to accidentally OD when you have to individually remove every single pill from a blister pack, rather than just chugging a fistful straight out of the bottle.

Sure, but the context here is why it took so long for the US to allow otc bc pills, the same country that allows 500 pill bottles of acetaminophen

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#149

Post by runako »

zeroonetwothree wrote: post #133
runako wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there anything in current US politics around pregnancy that might make you consider that the legal regime in this area might be changing?

Even abortion hasn’t yet become illegal in as many places as the doomsayers predicted. The pill is extremely popular by comparison.

Back to my point though, what is the trajectory of the legal landscape? Has that trajectory changed recently?

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#150

Post by crote »

hattmall wrote: post #102
WesternWind wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The same people who hate and politicize abortion also usually hate and politicize contraceptives. I don't know if that had an impact in the choice to seek approval or not, but I wouldn't be surprised. If it looks like Trump might win the electoral college and the Dems might lose Congress, it might not be the worst thing to have stocked up on.

The contingent of people who want abortion restrictions and those who want to ban daily preventative contraception is incredibly minimal. There is no serious mainstream movement whatsoever to ban this type of medicine. This type of hyperbolic proselytizing has no place in reasoned discussion.

Is the Catholic Church mainstream enough for you? They consider all forms of contraception intrinsically evil.

The US is already seeing attempts to pass laws banning Plan B or IUDs, it is not too much of a stretch to think hormonal birth control is at risk too.

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