Students can now find an emergency contraception drug available over the counter at most major local pharmacies, according to the state Department of Human Services. Some pharmacies initially didn’t carry the drug because of a packaging issue.
Random calls to Eugene pharmacies by the Emerald revealed that seven out of eight pharmacies carry Plan B, but prices vary from $25 at the University Health Center to $45.99 at Target and Rite Aid. Hiron’s Drug Store on Franklin Boulevard didn’t carry the drug.
Although the Food and Drug Administration in August approved Plan B for over-the-counter sales to patients who are at least 18 years old, some area pharmacies didn’t carry the drug until months later.
“In the early part of 2007, we were hearing that folks were still finding it not as widely available as we had hoped,” said Kellie DeVore, a Planned Parenthood spokeswoman.
The FDA had to approve warnings and labeling of Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s Plan B packaging.
“The company that produces Plan B had to package it differently for over-the-counter use,” said Rian Frachele, reproductive health manager with the state Office of Family Health.
She explained that the maker had to include labeling directed toward consumers rather than pharmacists.
Gregg Wendland, manager at the Health Center pharmacy, said the campus pharmacy didn’t experience much delay after the FDA approved Plan B for over-the-counter sales.
“We had an order in for over-the-counter and had it shipped as soon as possible,” he said.
Wendland said that campus pharmacists typically counsel patients briefly before handing the drug over to patients.
“We always make it clear that we’re here for help,” he said.
Although Wendland didn’t have specific sales statistics, he said the drug is popular among students.
“As soon as we got them, they went out the door,” he said.
Josh Dahlenburg, pharmacy manager at the 18th Avenue and Chambers Street Bi-Mart, said his store has sold two or three Plan B packages since it started selling Plan B over-the-counter three or four months ago.
“We don’t really get many people asking about it,” he said. “Once in a while somebody needs it and will come and get it.”
Plan B is kept behind the counter because law requires pharmacists to verify that patients are at least 18-years-old.
“They just have to have enough confidence to come up and ask us,” Dahlenburg said.
Plan B contains hormones found in regular birth control pills and suppresses the release of an egg from the ovary, according to the state Department of Human Services. The department warns that the drug is not a substitute for regular contraception, is less effective than regular contraception and provides no protection from sexually transmitted diseases.
DeVore of Planned Parenthood said she recommends that patients keep Plan B in a medicine cabinet “rather than waiting for a crisis.”
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