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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

#221

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The one month at a time thing is coming from insurance companies not the pharmacy.

Not necessarily. Pharmacies have arbitrary power. My doctor gives me a three month prescription for a scheduled substance and I've had a couple pharmacies reject it because it's "sketchy". Of course, they never offer to call my doctor to confirm anything. They just smirk and cross their arms.

Well what do you really expect from pharmacies, when failure to exercise such discretion can get them sued for millions or even billions of dollars? Blame lawmakers and lawyers.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/cvs-health-agrees-5b-se...

https://www.npr.org/2021/11/23/1058539458/a-jury-in-ohio-say...

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/23/health/walmart-cvs-opioid...

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#222

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.

I don't know where this is coming from. I'm aware that a significant portion of conservatives are very religious and some religious people object to contraception. But I'm not aware of any concerted effort by Republicans to ban or restrict pre-pregnancy contraceptives in my lifetime. And while I have plenty of thoughts about Trump, I'm not aware of him ever suggesting an interest in restricting access to contraceptiv…

You shouldn't trust Republicans to not start new efforts. They brought down abortion, do you really think they'll stop there?

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#224
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can get birth control from places that don't require insurance like MinuteClinics and online for a cost of about $20 for the visit. I'm pretty sure the online option does not have long wait times.

Let's make people go to a clinic to get any medicine then. If it isn't such a hassle, you won't mind? I have a feeling you might be the type of person to think government should get out of the way of most things. Why is it not such a big deal in this case?

I generally am in favor of government getting out of the way. I'm not necessarily against this being OTC either. I think a lot of the arguments being made here are not applicable and this won't be as big of a deal as people are making it out to be. I'm skeptical that this will bring any real net benefit over the current state.

That said, I do believe there is a massive overuse of hormonal contraception which is partially contributing to several negative factors in society right now. This should be addressed through education and informed consent (the Rx process isn't really doing this either, so...).

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#225

What will the cost be? It’s great that the medicine will be easier to get, but generic prescriptions are only $5. I pay $5 for a month of oral contraceptives, prescribed by doctor, and $10 for 90 days. My fear is that will be $40 at CVS and will actually be harder for people to use. For comparison, my 16g nasal spray (120 sprays) is $5 by prescription but much more over the counter.

Less than one child.

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#226

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good time to remind people that tylenol dosages as written on the bottle are just within the safety window to avoid toxicity[1]. Having done the math myself, you can't even take the extra strength stuff at the recommended timing without skipping a dose each day. Drugs, even OTC ones, have very real risks, and gatekeeping BC is laughable given the risks of not having it freely available. [1] https://www.health.harvard…

Tylenol/paracetamol/acetaminophen also barely works. It increases the effectiveness of an aspirin and caffeine combo to relieve headaches (but not migraines). It’s generally ineffective against chronic pain, back pain, and severe pain. It’s a weak fever reducer. It’s one of the most popular medications in the world and its use isn’t especially supported by science. To the point of this thread, don’t mistake official…

> It’s a weak fever reducer.

Anecdotal, but acetaminophen has been my goto for fever reduction. I've never had a problem with it (and it's taken me from 103->98 fairly frequently).

And, unlike most NSAIDs, it's safe(ish) for younger kids.

That said, I've never really noticed the pain killing effects.

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#227
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> but there may be risks, especially if folks don't take the medicine correctly. This describes every over-the-counter drug that has ever been sold. Keeping contraception prescription-only has always been about politics.

Good time to remind people that tylenol dosages as written on the bottle are just within the safety window to avoid toxicity[1]. Having done the math myself, you can't even take the extra strength stuff at the recommended timing without skipping a dose each day. Drugs, even OTC ones, have very real risks, and gatekeeping BC is laughable given the risks of not having it freely available. [1] https://www.health.harvard…

Tylenol is a crazy drug to me. Every medicinal chemist I worked with told me it would not be approved today due to toxicity conferns.

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#228
post #211

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's often funny to me how there will be such a massive gnashing of teeth about whether or not something is prescription or OTC available to women, when Men essentially have no contraceptive choice and have 100% liability the moment it leaves our body, potentially including in cases of paternity fraud. It'd be like if we told women they had to have the baby the moment their egg accepts a sperm, regardless of the reas…

Men can wear condoms and/or get a vasectomy.

Women can wear condoms and/or get Tubal ligation.

And yet Men have 100% liability the moment it leaves our body, potentially including in cases of paternity fraud.

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#229

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…

When you refer to the doctors as gatekeepers is it because they are doing something other than ensuring you have a safe experience with the drug, or is it more a comment on inability to access doctors due to US private medical system?

Re: FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive

#230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good time to remind people that tylenol dosages as written on the bottle are just within the safety window to avoid toxicity[1]. Having done the math myself, you can't even take the extra strength stuff at the recommended timing without skipping a dose each day. Drugs, even OTC ones, have very real risks, and gatekeeping BC is laughable given the risks of not having it freely available. [1] https://www.health.harvard…

Tylenol/paracetamol/acetaminophen also barely works. It increases the effectiveness of an aspirin and caffeine combo to relieve headaches (but not migraines). It’s generally ineffective against chronic pain, back pain, and severe pain. It’s a weak fever reducer. It’s one of the most popular medications in the world and its use isn’t especially supported by science. To the point of this thread, don’t mistake official…

> It’s a weak fever reducer.

That is what it is supposed to be and do.

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