Over the Counter Birth Control Pills

[Deleted]

news.msn.com/us/ob-gyns-back-over-the-counter-birth-control-pills

What do you think? Should these be available this way? What about managing misuse and medical risks?

[Sam_2.0]

Eek!! I don't like that idea.

[Deleted]

If you don't understand how to take them properly , they aren't going to work or may pose other health risks. There are risks of thromboembolic problems and other issues. I could see young women buying a supply and perhaps taking them all as an aboritfacient which could potentially cause complications as well.

[swamp]

Nov 21, 2012 8:30:57 GMT -5 @shooby said:

If you don't understand how to take them properly , they aren't going to work or may pose other health risks. There are risks of thromboembolic problems and other issues. I could see young women buying a supply and perhaps taking them all as an aboritfacient which could potentially cause complications as well.

[Deleted]

Nov 21, 2012 8:30:57 GMT -5 @shooby said:

If you don't understand how to take them properly , they aren't going to work or may pose other health risks. There are risks of thromboembolic problems and other issues. I could see young women buying a supply and perhaps taking them all as an aboritfacient which could potentially cause complications as well.

The same could be said about most over the counter medicine. I am not a medical professional, but I was once talking with a pharmacist who said that if Aspirin was invented today there is no chance that it would be sold over the counter.

[Deleted]

We've had several poster in just the past few days talk about how the hormones in the pill wreaked havoc on their systems. How would someone know which pill would be best for their body chemistry without a doctor?

[swamp]

Nov 21, 2012 9:01:14 GMT -5 @beerwench said:

We've had several poster in just the past few days talk about how the hormones in the pill wreaked havoc on their systems. How would someone know which pill would be best for their body chemistry without a doctor?

[resolution]

I would like the freedom of being able to buy the over the counter instead of having the pills held hostage to being scraped every year. If someone can't or won't read the instructions on the box of how to take them, they probably wouldn't remember or follow their doctor's instructions on them either. It also wouldn't prevent someone from having a discussion about it with their doctor if they had any problems or concerns about hormones.

[steph08]

Nov 21, 2012 9:09:42 GMT -5 resolution said:

I would like the freedom of being able to buy the over the counter instead of having the pills held hostage to being scraped every year.

I would too. Every year the doctor gives you a prescription for 12 refills. But 12 x 28 only equals 336 so you need at least one more refill before your annual doctor's appointment. It sucks having to call and get a refill, then the nurse has to check with the doctor to make sure it is okay, then they have to call it to the pharmacy, etc.

This year, my annual exam was scheduled for the end of October. So I had to call for one more month of BC. Doctor needed to change it - middle of November. Fine, I was still good on pills. Then they had to change it again - middle of January! So I had to call again and get approved for two more refills.

It is such a pain. After 6 years on BC, I would like to buy it over the counter! Maybe they could allow "pre-checked" people to buy over the counter, like the TSA now has that you can be "pre-checked" for airport security (not having to take your shoes off, laptops out of bags, etc.).

[resolution]

Steph I have the same problem every year. And I can't just make my appointment early because the insurance won't cover it unless exactly one year has elapsed.

So this year I call for my one-month extension and make the appointment for the following month. Then my job assigns me to work out of state for two months, I have to call again to ask for two more months and reschedule my appointment and promise the nice nurse that I really really plan to show up to the appointment in 3 months. I am 43 years old. I am not a child making up an excuse to ditch school.

[steph08]

Nov 21, 2012 10:19:26 GMT -5 resolution said:

Steph I have the same problem every year. And I can't just make my appointment early because the insurance won't cover it unless exactly one year has elapsed.

Yep - same thing here!

[Sam_2.0]

My Dr will give me 3-4 months of samples when I go in, and then write a 12 month prescription. So that usually covers any lag.

I did have bad side effects from BC when I was younger and ended up having to get my gallbladder removed at 25 because it was so diseased. I don't think making hormone pills available OTC is a great idea.

There has to be some kind of solution though.

[thyme4change]

I'm for anything that will decrease unwanted pregnancies in young girls who have no education and no means to support a baby.

[vonna]

I think it is a good idea for the convenience for those that are responsible.

For those that aren't -- I'm tired of trying to make the world stupid-proof.

[Sam_2.0]

I would rather see implants and IUDs made available to younger girls. I was just as forgetful with pills at 14 as I am now. I don't think its access to the pills that's the big problem - its remembering to take them and remembering what other things counteract the pill.

www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57517776-10391704/medical-group-says-teens-should-use-iuds-implants-as-first-contraceptive-method/

[Deleted]

There are countries where a lot of medications are available over the counter.

[Deleted]

They would not be covered by prescription health coverage and therefore the OOP cost would skyrocket.

[Opti]

I think its a reasonable idea if they do it like over the counter antihistamines. Older BC pills that are cheaper could become OTC and newer ones remain prescription until 5, 10 years elapse whatever the patent usually is good for.

Its true hormones can mess someone up but given what I've been reading here and hearing other places I'm not sure doctors pick up on it all that fast unless the patient really notices themselves what is happening. I think the push is to make BCP more affordable to those who don't have prescription coverage partially in hopes of lessening the demand for abortions and low income women having children they can't afford.

[Deleted]

Actually, people think that "over the counter" means cheaper. Often that is not true. There is a lot of medication that i can obtain more cheaply via a prescription than over the counter. If you have a prescription plan that covers certain medications, it may be cheaper to get a 90 day script for pepcid or higher dose motrin from your doc than buying it OTC. My son got high dose motrin in a script so if i wanted to use it for general use, i could cut the pill to divide it up for a lesser dose. There are a lot of pills that are scored to be cut as well. If you are taking a 5 mg pill of something for example, your doc could give you a 10 mg version if there is one available and you could cut them or ask the pharmacy to cut them and you would double the prescription and lower your cost. NOt saying you can do that with BC, but other things like some BP pills or other types of pills that come in multiple doses.

[Mardi Gras Audrey]

I wouldn't recommend this. The hormones in BCP (especially the estrogen) can cause massive problems. Things like embolisms and death. Having people try these and use them without oversight seems really scary.

I would support having these available to be prescribed by a pharmacist so that people could get it without a doctor's appointment but with oversight by a medical professional. Pharmacists have the knowledge to screen people, ask the appropriate questions, counsel the patient on usage, and know when to refer to a physician or deny the prescription because it isn't appropriate for the patient.

[telephus44]

I'm in favor of it. I'm also in the "you can't idiot proof the world" category.

I haven't tried it, but do you think any of the doc in a box type places would write a BC script? That would help people without insurance or whatever who need a doctor's note but don't have time or access to a doctor. Or do they just do strep throat, ear infection, kind of stuff? I've used my local place a few times, but always for minor injuries.

[Deleted]

If you can't figure out how to take one pill a day with a break for menstruation then you really ought not to be having sex.

[mizbear]

I don't like the idea. BC is not one size fits most. I have had excellent luck with the Depo shot, but get terribly ill on traditional pills. My one cousin gains huge amount of weight on the shot, the other got horribly ill on Yaz, another does better on the patch.

[Deleted]

Nov 22, 2012 18:06:17 GMT -5 mizbear said:

I don't like the idea. BC is not one size fits most. I have had excellent luck with the Depo shot, but get terribly ill on traditional pills. My one cousin gains huge amount of weight on the shot, the other got horribly ill on Yaz, another does better on the patch.

Yes but the only way to figure out what you need is by trial and error right? How will a doctor's involvement make this any different?

[kgb18]

We've had several poster in just the past few days talk about how the hormones in the pill wreaked havoc on their systems. How would someone know which pill would be best for their body chemistry without a doctor?

One of my very good friends was experiencing some severe emotional problems. We were roommates at the time, and I knew something was very wrong. It wasn't for more than a year and switching doctors that they found out she has PMDD and the hormones in her birth control (the ring) was causing her PMDD to spiral out of control.

OTC birth control does make me wary because of issues like that. Sure, any medication could have side effects, but when you're dealing with hormones, it could really wreak havoc with someone on a more long-term scale.

Apple, I think a doctor can help pinpoint if there might be other issues that birth control could be contributing too or worsening. And they should know about the potential side effects to hopefully recommend the best possible birth control option to start with.

[Deleted]

Nov 22, 2012 18:09:50 GMT -5 @joey said:

Nov 22, 2012 18:06:17 GMT -5 mizbear said:

I don't like the idea. BC is not one size fits most. I have had excellent luck with the Depo shot, but get terribly ill on traditional pills. My one cousin gains huge amount of weight on the shot, the other got horribly ill on Yaz, another does better on the patch.

Yes but the only way to figure out what you need is by trial and error right? How will a doctor's involvement make this any different?

My doctor recommended against certain forms because of my size and family history.