FDA panel says Morning After pills ok to sell over the counter

[Cooley Hurd]

CNN just now, no link

Pro Choice groups: 1
Pro Life groups: 0

[Democat]

1. Even if the FDA says it, Bush might try to stop it

Science and facts means nothing to these fanatics.

[kixot]

2. Woohoo!!

Just think of all of the women who won't have to risk being taunted, threatened, and verbally abused when approaching a clinic.

[LynneSin]

3. Here's your link

THIS IS FUCKING AMAZING

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&e=3&u=/nm/20031216/ts_nm/health_contraceptive_dc

[VolcanoJen]

4. This is the greatest news!!!!!!! Here's another link:

Oh, happy day!!!

http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny-uspill1216,0,6806431.story?coll=ny-health-headlines

[Silverhair]

5. Outstanding!!!!!!

Much cheaper, safer, and more private.

[denverbill]

6. Holy cow. That's amazing.

There is no way in hell Bush is going to let that stand.

[Whoa_Nelly]

35. Especially when * has denied all women

the right to their bodies with anti-abortion legislation...but, hell...it's OK...backstreet abortions will rise, more women will die, and others will buy a pill to stop pregnancy in its tracks. </sarcasm>

[Unity]

7. Does anyone know if the admin. can stop this yet? What is the procedure?

Thanks!

[LynneSin]

10. Repukes could try to pass a law in congress

trying to ban it.

Once again old white men want to tell what women should do with their bodies!!

[VolcanoJen]

12. Watch out for these men, who hope to tell you what to do with your body:

[Triana]

42. sick picture of the American Taliban....

...and that's exactly what they are. B*sta*ds..

[SeattleDem]

46. The FDA does not have to follow the panel's advice

that's how the administration can stop it. Make the FDA head know in no uncertain terms that this is NOT to be approved as an OTC drug.

it's rare, but the FDA does not have to follow the advice of its advisory panels.

[RainDog]

8. On NPR this morning

I heard a woman who was part of some conservative group who was against these pills, totally. Not whether or not they were over the counter, but just against them because a fertilzed egg was possibly in existence...

even in the case of rape or incest or any other thing you can think of.

...in addition, she said that the pill would "reward" females who do not live a "chaste" life...or whatever the term was she used.

in other words, again, these idiots want to punish females if they are sexually active and make a mistake.

the repukes are gonna get backlash from pandering to their extremist right, imo, if they do anything to stop this. And they should get shit if such stupidity is allowed to interfere with a woman who may be in a crisis situation, for whatever reason.

[LiberalFighter]

60. Too bad women like these can't be forced...

to have each of their eggs fertilized and give birth to each one.

[LiberalFighter]

61. Are they also against birth control pills?

[metisnation]

63. Private Lynch

I would love to ask that old bag how she would feel for jessica lynch had she gotten pregnant due to her "rape". I love using that one.

[LynneSin]

9. This news has to make the fundies go NUTS

Because women can have control over their bodies.

From the Yahoo article, here's some of the crap the Anti-Choice folks are spewing:

Opponents argued that women and teenage girls would rely on Plan B and abandon regular contraceptives. (Lynne's Note - You know the condom breaks sometimes, nice to have a backup plan) If women think they don't need to use condoms, they would risk acquiring sexually transmitted diseases, some opponents said.

"Over-the-counter availability of the morning-after pill will lead to increased promiscuity and its attendant physical and psychological damage," (Lynne's Note: Blah, Blah, Blah - this is the same thing they said about the pill. Get out of my freaking bedroom!!!) Robert Carroll, a retired physician from Pittsburgh, told the panel.

Others spoke against Plan B because they view emergency contraceptives as equivalent to abortion. Some research suggests the pills prevent implantation of a fertilized egg. (Lynne's Note: You know how many fertilized eggs just never make it even without outside interventions)

[eyesroll]

17. So let me get this straight:

Women would abandon their $30/month pills (or, if they have insurance, whatever their copay is -- mine's $10), or their $12-for-a-big-box of condoms for a single-use kit that costs $25 each time (now, and it's not clear whether prices will change) and has more side effects.

:eyes:

[snippy]

23. It is not recommended as an alternative to other birth control methods.

It is intended to be an option in situations where other methods were not used.

[Lorien]

25. Oh, give us a freaking break!

I've always been responsible about birth control, but as Lynn noted, condoms aren't always 100% effective, so I had to use Plan B on one occation. I sure as hell wasn't looking forward to it, as birth control pills make me nauseous and I thought Plan B would have the same effect X 100 (luckily, not so). I'm guessing that you are male and never have taken pills that mess with your hormones, but believe me, it ain't pleasant! I can think of no woman on earth with any experience with such medications that would opt for Plan B as their primary means of birth control!

[kutastha]

32. I'm pretty sure...

...the poster was being sarcastic regarding the opponents' arguments that woman would abandon birth control and how instead of paying only a bit for OCP and condoms, they'd pay $25 a pop for RU-486.

[Alenne]

38. RU-486 is about $350 a pop. nt

[Tansy_Gold]

48. And RU-486 is NOT "morning after"

n/t

[LiberalFighter]

62. At that price the repugs were nuts to complain

How many women really would have the money to pay for it?

The repugs would had been better off just keeping their mouth zipped.

[Tansy_Gold]

67. Emergency contraception is less expensive than RU-486

Mifepristone/RU-486 is an oral abortafacient. It is not taken the morning after unprotected sex. It is taken after pregnancy has been confirmed and the woman desires to terminate the confirmed pregnancy. The price is fairly steep and, because of the potential for complications, it is only available with prescription and under the guidance of a qualified medical professional.

Emergency contraception is a high dose of oral contraceptive. It will not abort an established pregnancy. It is far, far, far less expensive than Mifepristone, and if made available over the counter will allow women the opportunity to PREVENT unwanted pregnancies rather than terminate them.

[eyesroll]

39. Indeed

I was pointing out the idiocy of the idea that women would stop using birth control.

To me, that's as dumb as saying, "I'm not going to wear my seatbelt because I've got really good medical coverage."

[eyesroll]

40. Sorry I wasn't clear -- I agree with you...

I was trying to point out the illogic of thinking that women will abandon regular, reliable birth control because expensive, uncomfortable emergency options are now available.

(I'm a woman of reproductive age and I've never used Plan B -- and I can't imagine anyone choosing to do so as primary birth control, or really for any reason other than emergency.)

[NickB79]

37. Sick as a dog

At least, thats what my friend felt like for a couple days after she took it. NOT a preferable alternative to condoms or the Pill, in anyone's opinion.

[Lorien]

58. I think it would make most women

feel extremely ill. I just have wacky hormones to begin with, so I was lucky.

A doctor friend of mine has told women for years that if there's an "accident", they should take several birth control pills the next morning-I guess Plan B is pretty much the same thing. No woman would see spending two days puking as an easy alternative to regular birth control, which is what happens to most.

[pinto]

11. great news. Local Public Health Depts (CA) have been providing

"morning after pill" routinely. Much better alternative to unplanned pregnancies.

[flamingyouth]

13. Excellent news!

And it's about time we had some good news regarding women's health and family planning.

Thank you!!!

[neverforget]

14. Well blow me over! I'm shocked this was okayed.

[sujan]

15. Can someone explain me what this pill does?

[eyesroll]

18. From the above Newsday article:

Morning-after pills are higher doses of the hormones in regular birth control pills. If a woman already is pregnant, they have no effect. They work by preventing ovulation or fertilization, and possibly by interfering with implantation of a fertilized egg into the uterus, the medical definition of pregnancy.

[pinto]

19. prevents implantation of ferilized egg. Don't know tech process. n/t

[pinto]

21. plus above items

[kutastha]

33. mifepristone

blocks progesterone receptors, so pregnancy cannot be maintained. The lining of the uterus sheds, preventing implantation, or if early enough in pregancy will abort the fertilized egg.

[Tansy_Gold]

36. mifepristone is not the morning after pill

Mifepristone is the "abortion" pill, RU-486, and it does induce abortion of an implanted egg/embryo. I'm not an expert on it, but I believe it can be used successfully during the first trimester of pregnancy.

The morning after pill does not abort implanted eggs; it only prevents ovulation and/or the fertilization of a mature, released ovum.

The FDA ruling WOULD NOT make mifepristone available without a prescription.

[Le Taz Hot]

16. Finally! Some good news!

Now, let's see the Republicans fight this one. If/when they do, it damned well better backfire on their male sorry asses! Goddess, how I hate those f***s!

[snippy]

20. The Reich wing fundamentalists will demand that Congress act to stop this.

They absolutely hate sound science and good public health policy. I do not think they have the votes to overturn this though so Congress may just ignore them. Democrats should find a way to publicize the opponents of this and paint them as representative of the republican party.

[MaineDem]

22. Oh yes, my sisters, this is wondeful news!

Let us just hope that the FDA goes along with the panel and that the BFEE doesn't try to screw it up.

No offense guys, but can you imagine if it were the males who got pregnant? I think of that all the time.

[Fleshdancer]

24. I just heard a remark from some woman against this on the news

She said life begins at conception, not at implantation.

When life begins is a philosophical question. I personally don't believe a life is created the second a sperm enters into an egg. Implantation is a defining moment in the whole process and without it, there is no heartbeat, no brain, no brainwaves, no fingers and toes because there is no fetus. So are these people pro-zygote? Is that what it comes down to?

on edit: We know how to get Bush on board...have the pharmacuetical companies lobby for it. He's a sucker for that sort of thing.

[David__77]

26. a sperm is alive.. so live is even pre-ejaculation...

but that does not mean that we should put the life of a sperm over that of a woman. Nor should we put the life of a fetus over the life of a woman. It's that simple.

[Tansy_Gold]

30. If a sperm is "life," then. . . . .

male masturbation AND condom use are forms of mass murder.

[LiberalFighter]

64. That is why Pope's have been against male masturbation

And who was it in the bible? Onan that spilled his seed?

[Malva Zebrina]

31. Heh, some indeed do put the life of a sperm over the life of a woman

reminder that insurance companies were paying for Viagra, but not for birth control pills. :-)

Women will get what they need regarding the control over their own bodies and their families, surreptitiosly if need be, as always they have ever done. It only needs to be protected by a secular government in order to protect the lives of it's women citizens. If that is not forthcoming, women will see to it that they get what they need in spite of it.

Men, faced with a limp, impotent, dick, no matter what they do to try to cajole it into action, get, it seems to me, into a panic situation--like at the age of seventy five, they should still be able to behave as twenty year old, randy studs and impregnate a woman-of course, that woman is never their wife of the past fifty years--it is the twenty year old woman they are now interested in,many in their fanatsies, and some in reality, as long as the viagra alows them to think they are the randy young uns they once were. It is amusing and sad at that same time.

Such is the human ego.

[nini]

27. an IUD prevents implantation - doesn't it?

these fundies make me crazy!

[LynneSin]

28. THey don't approve of the IUD

or any other type of birth control that prevents implantation. Condoms, Diaphrams and prayer method is about all they think is ok!

[nini]

29. well, I've got a 26 year old that proves prayer doesn't work :=)

.. but these are the same people that are lining up to adopt all of these unplanned babies -no?

[Gloria]

34. While this is great news.....I'm now expecting anti-choice groups to

now start the ball rolling to get this blocked.

I'm sure Walmart won't sell it...they don't sell prescription morning after pills. What F**cks.

[LiberalFighter]

65. Do they sell condoms?

[Triana]

41. great news, they've been selling in Europe for years but...

...Bu$hCo fundies and extremeists will certainly try to stop this, saying they're 'dangerous' or some such self-serving BS...

[noonwitch]

43. I am unequivocably pro choice, but this move troubles me

This is a serious medication that I'm not sure should be sold over the counter. It can have a lot of side effects and is not something that every woman should use, therefore a doctor should be seen before it is used.

You can't even buy antibiotics without a prescription in this country. You shouldn't be able to buy a medication that causes a woman's body to expell a fertilized ovum without one either. If it doesn't work in preventing implantation, the medication causes birth defects, too.

[Suspicious]

44. Nevermind...

I was wrong...except for the fact that many people are confusing this with RU-486. :)

I have read that someone who is already pregnant will not cause harm to the fetus if they accidentally take the morning-after pill, though. (By "accidentally", I mean if they take the pill and are unaware that they are already pregnant)

[LizW]

47. Birth defects?

Do you have a link to the information that this drug can cause birth defects? Thanks.

[DrWeird]

49. The FDA disagrees with you.

Frankly I think their opinion carries a little more weight.

[Misinformed01]

54. Noonwitch...I can just about promise you

that if there were going to be birth defect issues with this drug, no company in their right mind would touch it for the lawsuits.

[bicentennial_baby]

55. That would be highly inaccurate info

Emergency contraception is simply a high dose of the same hormones found in regular birth control pills. Preven, one brand, contains both Progestin and Estrogen. The other brand contains only Progestin.

[Nikia]

59. It concerns me too

My morning after pill experience made me very ill and some of my friends had a similiar experience. Plan B may be safer than what I took, which was several regular birth control pills. I know that several OTC drugs can have severe side effects in some people too, but it still worries me. The morning after pill is an overdose of a perscription drug so it does not make sense to me that this would be over the counter. I do want this to be available to women who need it, but I fear that it may be unsafe. I suppose the FDA knows best, but I am suprised that no one raised this as a concern for opposition instead of the promiscuity arguement.

[Ratty]

45. Concerned Women on America

Everytime I saw this on the news they had to give air time to that petty shill for Phylis Schlafly. Talking about possible long-range medical problems, blah blah blah. Oh yeah, Concerned Women for America, our nation's premiere authority on Medicine and Public Health.

That's to be expected I guess. Absolutely no study on long-term effects would ever satisfy them. If it's a ten-year study then they'll demand twenty years. Why don't they just come right out and say every sperm is precious? But I guess what makes me mad is that they're even given air time, as if they're legitimate. What's happened to our beloved liberal media?

[Malva Zebrina]

50. and no studies that would give any insight into the father's

contribution? I would hope that some smart lady, who perhaps forgot to take her vitamin pills,or follow the ADA pyramid for good nutrition, or forgets to take her folic acid supplement, and is arrested for negligence (which is where I think a law like this can lead after a while) challenges this and points to the father who smoked pot, took one too many drinks, snorted cocaine or took other drugs, and impregnated her with a sperm that was flawed, causing an eventual miscarriage or still birth.

Would love to see it. Women--we need to hollar louder. These bloviating, Viagra addicted, pot bellied, perhaps even incontinent,smelly old, has-been, men are bent upon making women mere vessels for their (men's) spawn, without acknowledging a woman has a life or a body of her own. In fact, they do certainly think she has not! It belongs to them and others like them who are threatened by women's sexuality and frightened by women's blood. They have come further than ever before toward forcing us back into the middle ages. We do not need it from these sanctimonius religious,wild eyed, male fanatics and their female, tight lipped counterparts, who are fixated on sex, whatever form it takes and bent upon forcing every woman to believe as they do re a "soul" that is present in a four celled blob of tissue.

[smirkymonkey]

51. What a victory!!

What will the pro-lifers do now - Start blowing up drugstores and shooting down Pharmacists?

[callous taoboy]

52. YES!

I was going to send the FDA a plea after hearing all of the dumbasses arguing against it on the news. FREEDOM FROM RELIGION!!!!

[smirkymonkey]

53. Here! Here!

Welcome to DU Callous!! :hi:

[He loved Big Brother]

57. I wouldn't be surprised.

They aren't pro-life, they're anti-choice.

[CO Liberal]

56. "It Takes The Worry Out Of Being Close"

:-)

Old ad slogan - I think it was for Secret Deodorant.

[supernova]

66. Outstanding News!!!!

Yeah!!! :D

We finally won one!!!

Hooray!! *doing cartwheels*

My body, my choice. Simple as that.