More FDA fail on Plan B
Posted on 5.16.2013 by Lily
Official Plan B One-Step and FDA guidelines still say that the levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive must be taken within 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected sex. Working in reproductive health, it's easy to forget that the standard 120-hour guideline is still technically off-label, since every single other health authority cites it. But even if the 120-hour guideline is the one most often followed in clinics and by sexual health experts, pharmacists dispensing the medication won't instruct off-label use, and patients could figure it's not worth it after reading the drug labeling.
Yes, it's always better to take EC as soon as possible. But a patient should not be discouraged from taking EC after 72 hours because it CAN still be effective for two more days, and it's time that the official FDA instructions reflect that.
Why exactly has the FDA not caught up with standard medical practice on this? Oh right, possibly because they're corrupt, overtly politicized, incompetent drug company panderers who put women's health last.