FDA Approves , Over-the-Counter Birth Control.
Opill was approved for OTC purchase by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 13, NBC News reports.
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It is the first-ever OTC birth control pill to be made available without a prescription in the United States.
When used as directed, daily oral contraception is safe and is expected to be more effective than currently available nonprescription contraceptive methods in preventing unintended pregnancy, Patrizia Cavazzoni, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, via FDA website.
Nearly 50% of 6.1 million pregnancies in America are unintended every year, according to the FDA.
Now that Opill is available without a prescription, the number of unintended pregnancies may become significantly reduced, the FDA reports.
OTC birth control is available in over 100 countries, so we've been behind in availing safe, effective methods such as this oral contraceptive pill to individuals who are trying to avoid pregnancy, Dr. Melissa Simon, a professor of clinical gynecology at Northwestern University, via NBC News.
Opill needs to be taken at the same time each day to be effective.
If it is missed within a three-hour window, a backup method, such as condoms, is recommended for the following two days.
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Other medications can impact Opill's effectiveness.
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The most common side effects of Opill include irregular bleeding, headaches, dizziness, nausea, increased appetite, abdominal pain, cramps or bloating, FDA website.
Opill maker Perrigo’s HRA Pharma expects the pill to be available in “early 2024,” NBC News reports.
Its cost has yet to be revealed
