Someone asked us:

Does the approval for sale of Plan B to girls 15 and older include approval for the sale of the generic for Plan B? Sometimes Plan B can be costly, and the generic is much more affordable. I realize it’s the same drug so it should also be approved, but I wanted to check since it wasn’t mentioned at all in the article.

That’s a good question, and one a lot of people have been wondering about. 

In case you missed it, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently decided that Plan B One-Step, one brand of emergency contraception, could be sold over the counter to anyone 15 or older. That means in the near future, you will be able to find Plan B in the “family planning aisle” of drug stores, and purchase it with proof of age. This is a change from where it’s been – behind the counter at the pharmacy.

This new policy only applies to the Plan B One-Step brand. The reason behind that is basically because the manufacturer of Plan B applied for a change with the FDA, and the FDA accepted this company’s application. Right now, we don’t know exactly when Plan B will be available over the counter. It will probably take a few months for the company that makes Plan B to make new packaging and get it out on shelves. You can ask your local drugstore and check back with us for updates.

Your local Planned Parenthood health center may carry brands other than Plan B, and/or may be able to charge less for emergency contraception. Your local drugstore may also carry alternative brands, like Next Choice. If you know you’ll want this brand of EC, and you’re under 17 (the current age requirement for purchasing any EC over the counter), it might be a good idea to get a prescription or the pill itself ahead of time, before you need it. That way you have it when you need it, or can get it quickly in case of an emergency. 

You can read more about emergency contraception and how to get it on our website.

- Alex at Planned Parenthood