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UNDATED (WJRT) - (11/01/06)-- Its proper name is "Plan B," but most call it "the morning after pill."
No matter what you call it, the pill is one of the most controversial prescriptions to ever come out of a pharmacy.
The FDA calls the pill an emergency contraceptive. It's a method of preventing pregnancy up to 72 hours after sex.
This past August, the FDA announced the drug could be sold over the counter.
As of this week, the pill should start arriving in pharmacies.
None of the pharmacies called by our Shannon Johnson had it on the shelves yet. Not only did they not have it on the shelves, but they really didn't want to talk about it either.
They felt talking about Plan B on camera could be bad for business.
That's how controversial the pill is. Not to be confused with RU-486 (the abortion pill), Plan B will not work if you are already pregnant.
All of the pharmacists said they are waiting for the new, over-the-counter packaging for the pill.
They can't sell it in its current RX packaging and when they do get it, they can't sell it to just anybody.
No one under the age of 17 can get Plan B without a prescription.
A government issued ID like a drivers license is required. To ensure that the drug doesn't get into the wrong hands, it will be stocked behind the counter.
The cost will be around $30.
One pharmacist said that he is not going to keep Plan B on the shelves because he just doesn't think he's going to sell very many.
You can expect to start seeing this controversial pill sitting next to the cold medicine behind the counter.
Source: http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=local&id=4715588
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