2 months ago
Over-the-counter commencement power pill arrives
The rollout is underway for nan first over-the-counter commencement power pill approved successful nan United States, pinch online income kicking disconnected Monday. It will besides soon beryllium disposable successful awesome retailers for illustration CVS and Walgreens.
The pill, known by nan marque sanction Opill, was approved by nan U.S. Food and Drug Administration for OTC usage successful July, making it nan first regular commencement power cleared for waste without a medicine successful nan U.S.
The FDA says nan supplier is astir 93% effective and mostly safe for astir group who could get pregnant, including those arsenic young arsenic 15. Currently, location are nary property restrictions connected nan drug's sale.
As Nancy Chen reported connected "CBS Mornings" Tuesday, nan readiness of nan pill online is "a awesome game-changer for women who either aren't adjacent aliases can't get to a section drugstore aliases doctor."
How overmuch does Opill cost?
A one-month proviso costs astir $20, while a six-month proviso goes for $90. Insurance whitethorn screen nan costs of nan pill, depending connected your plan.
Perrigo, nan drug's manufacturer, announced earlier this month that it will besides travel successful a three-month supply, pinch nan suggested unit value of $49.99.
How does Opill work?
Opill must beryllium taken astatine nan aforesaid clip everyday. It is simply a type of progestin-only pill, meaning it does not incorporate estrogen.
"Progestin-only pills person been a trusted contraceptive action for decades, yet obtaining a medicine for commencement power pills creates unnecessary barriers for many," Dr. Melissa J. Kottke stated successful a institution news release earlier this month.
"Creating further opportunities for contraceptive entree is captious successful helping group scope their reproductive goals," added Kottke, an Atlanta-based obstetrician-gynecologist who served arsenic a paid advisor to Perrigo during nan FDA support process,
The FDA says Opill is "safe and effective" erstwhile utilized properly. It should not beryllium utilized arsenic an emergency contraceptive aliases utilized on pinch different hormonal commencement power product, including IUDs (intra-uterine devices).
Opill besides should not beryllium utilized by those who person aliases person ever had bosom cancer, nan FDA says. "Consumers who person immoderate different shape of crab should inquire a expert earlier use," nan FDA stated successful a news release.
Opill broadside effects
According to nan FDA, nan astir communal broadside effects of Opill include:
- Irregular bleeding
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Increased appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Cramps aliases bloating
Hormone-based pills, which person each required a medicine until now, person agelong been nan astir communal shape of commencement power successful nan U.S. Tens of millions of women person utilized them since nan first pills came connected nan marketplace successful nan 1960s.
-Nancy Chen and Kate Gibson contributed to this report.
- In:
- Birth Control
Sara Moniuszko
Sara Moniuszko is simply a wellness and manner newsman astatine CBSNews.com. Previously, she wrote for USA Today, wherever she was selected to thief motorboat nan newspaper's wellness vertical. She now covers breaking and trending news for CBS News' HealthWatch.
