Plan B: over, but still behind, the counter
Toni Merriss
Issue date: 2/22/07 Section: Features
Side effects of Plan B can include: feeling queasy or throwing up after taking the pills, headaches, feeling tired or dizzy, lower abdominal pain or even experiencing unexpected bleeding. Plan B can also disrupt a woman's monthly cycle.
A fairly large concern about Plan B is that it is similar to Mifeprex, also called "the abortion pill," or RU-486. The difference, in fact, is quite extensive between the two drugs. Mifeprex is a type of antiprogestin and it works by actually stopping the progress of a pregnancy once it has already begun.
"Personally, I would not feel comfortable taking Plan B. I know it is not the same thing as the abortion pill but I just think that if a situation were to happen, I would take responsibility for my actions," said communications major Whitney Kilpatrick.
One fact that anyone even thinking about taking Plan B should know is that although it is called over the counter, it is not exactly that easy.
First, all pharmacies are required to check a customers identification before selling the pills to them. Second, it is actually stored and sold from behind the counter.
So, if you were the type who gets embarrassed by purchasing condoms, this would probably not be a positive retail experience for you.
In the Jacksonville-Anniston-Oxford area, there are multiple retail stores that carry Plan B over but behind the counter, such as: Walgreen's, CVS, Wal-mart and Rite Aid. One place that you will not see the emergency contraceptive is the Student Health Center on campus.
"We do not carry Plan B, but if a situation arises I encourage students to come by and talk to either Nancy (Edge-Schmitz) or myself to discuss their options," said RN Robert Mills.
For more information there are many helpful venues regarding Plan B found online. Two websites to check out are www.not-2-late.com and
www.noroomforcontraception.com.
A fairly large concern about Plan B is that it is similar to Mifeprex, also called "the abortion pill," or RU-486. The difference, in fact, is quite extensive between the two drugs. Mifeprex is a type of antiprogestin and it works by actually stopping the progress of a pregnancy once it has already begun.
"Personally, I would not feel comfortable taking Plan B. I know it is not the same thing as the abortion pill but I just think that if a situation were to happen, I would take responsibility for my actions," said communications major Whitney Kilpatrick.
One fact that anyone even thinking about taking Plan B should know is that although it is called over the counter, it is not exactly that easy.
First, all pharmacies are required to check a customers identification before selling the pills to them. Second, it is actually stored and sold from behind the counter.
So, if you were the type who gets embarrassed by purchasing condoms, this would probably not be a positive retail experience for you.
In the Jacksonville-Anniston-Oxford area, there are multiple retail stores that carry Plan B over but behind the counter, such as: Walgreen's, CVS, Wal-mart and Rite Aid. One place that you will not see the emergency contraceptive is the Student Health Center on campus.
"We do not carry Plan B, but if a situation arises I encourage students to come by and talk to either Nancy (Edge-Schmitz) or myself to discuss their options," said RN Robert Mills.
For more information there are many helpful venues regarding Plan B found online. Two websites to check out are www.not-2-late.com and
www.noroomforcontraception.com.
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