 Federal regulators in the United States have approved the first over-the-counter birth control pill. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of Opill, a once-a-day birth control pill that can be purchased without a prescription. The drug, which is produced by pharmaceutical manufacturer Perrigo, is the first birth control pill in US history to be approved for over-the-counter sales. 'Today's approval marks the first time a nonprescription daily oral contraceptive will be an available option for millions of people in the United States,' said Dr Patrizia Cavazzoni, the director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Opill was approved to be sold over-the-counter at American pharmacies, without a prescription needed (Picture: PERRIGO) '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,' Cavazzoni said in a news release on Thursday. Opill uses a progestin medication known as norgestrel which was first approved for use in 1973. Norgestrel has been used by patients in the US as a prescription birth control pill for decades. Known as a 'minipill' or 'progestin-only pill,' it uses only the single hormone, and differs from newer medications which typically combine progestin with estrogen. Minipills like Opill typically have fewer side effects compared to newer medications, but still pose some risk. Common side effects include 'irregular bleeding, headaches, dizziness, nausea, increased appetite, abdominal pain, cramps or bloating,' according to the FDA. People who have or have ever had breast cancer should never use Opill, regulators said. In order to qualify to sell Opill over-the-counter, manufacturers had to prove that the drug could be used safely by patients without the oversight of){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Federal regulators in the United States have approved the first over-the-counter birth control pill.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of Opill, a once-a-day birth control pill that can be purchased without a prescription.
The drug, which is produced by pharmaceutical manufacturer Perrigo, is the first birth control pill in US history to be approved for over-the-counter sales.
‘Today’s approval marks the first time a nonprescription daily oral contraceptive will be an available option for millions of people in the United States,’ said Dr Patrizia Cavazzoni, the director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.