remember that Plan B can be purchased online at sites like drugstore.com, so if you have trouble buying it locally, that's a great alternative

Besides the story of Biting Beaver, I know directly of none so far.

When I went 3 weeks ago to purchase Plan B at a pharmacy in Boston, I was told they wouldn't have it anywhere locally without a prescription until 2007!

I personally have not had any dealings with fundamentalist pharmacists in regards to Plan B, however, my cousin (who is 17) needed Plan B and went to her local Planned Parenthood in Ames, IA and it was an extreme hassle for her to get any. They told her at PP that she would need to provide her driver's license, SSN, and a copy of her birth certificate to obtain Plan B. I used to work at a Planned Parenthood here in Iowa City, IA and our doctor would write a running prescription for patients after they have had their yearly exam. I felt so sorry for my cousin so I told her that I would buy it for her and mail it overnight if she needed it again. We need to also advocate for teens trying to be responsible.

The Target in Edison NJ across from the Menlo Park Mall carries it, and the pharmacist on duty when I went there was honest about its OTC status.

I didn't buy any--just confirmed they had it--so I can't say whether they want to collect unneccessary information or not.

Actually a couple months ago I had to use some, but I ordered it right off the Planned Parenthood website. It was about $65 total (the cost plus a doctor's fee--this was before it was distributed without a prescription). It was pretty simple: fill out a simple form, get approved, pick up the drug. The only thing I worried about was having a run-in with protestors, but the nearby clinic is usually free of them.

I have had more than one encounter with an anti-abortion protestor trying to keep me from going inside Planned Parenthood before though. Absolutely awful. They shout things at you like "Mommy! You're killing your baby!" and "Birth control is a slight to man!"

I just wanted to let people know that if you experience a pharmacy refusal yourself (or if you have a friend that experiences one), I'd love to know about it -- I'm working as a fellow on the health and reproductive rights team at the National Women's Law Center, with a particular focus on access to EC. We've helped women in the past explore options post-refusal, and we're also hoping to gather stories to make clear to Barr Pharmaceuticals (the makers of Plan B) as well as the Chain Drugstore Assocation and the National Pharmacists Association that access is still a problem even though EC is supposedly "over-the-counter." My email is pherwig@nwlc.org, and there is also an online form available at http://www.nwlc.org/story.cfm?section=story. Thanks, everyone!

I just wanted to let people know that if you experience a pharmacy refusal yourself (or if you have a friend that experiences one), I'd love to know about it -- I'm working as a fellow on the health and reproductive rights team at the National Women's Law Center, with a particular focus on access to EC. We've helped women in the past explore options post-refusal, and we're also hoping to gather stories to make clear to Barr Pharmaceuticals (the makers of Plan B) as well as the Chain Drugstore Assocation and the National Pharmacists Association that access is still a problem even though EC is supposedly "over-the-counter." My email is pherwig@nwlc.org, and there is also an online form available at http://www.nwlc.org/story.cfm?section=story. Thanks, everyone!

I asked my mom about the plan B today, she works as a pharm tech at a local K mart. She tld me that she *thought* they have one in stock, otherwise it would take a day to get it in. Of course after asking about it, I get interrogated about why I wanted to know. she might have forgotten I'm an adult. She didn't mention about needing any personal information to obtain it, either. Still kind of funny, because assuming my husband and I messed up, I wouldn't be going to her to get Plan B.

I was told by a pharmacist that they didn't have it in stock, they called another location of the same company and sent me there, saying that they would have it. when I got there, i was told that they couldn't sell it to me because it had the wrong packaging, and that to obtain this plan b in this packaging I would have to have a prescription. same pill, different box. because I don't have health insurance, and my college's health service was closed for a long weekend, I couldn't get a prescription. this happened about two weeks ago.

I did some research with the Feminist Majority here in LA last year- we called pharmacies all over southern california to see if we could 1) get the pill 2)get a referal to a place that would have it/could dispense it. You would think being in california it would be easier to obtain, but we ran into a lot of pharmacies that were downright hostile- even out here. After the decision to make plan B OTC, I asked my local Target pharmacy and they said they would not carry it OTC until January 07. The pharmacy assistant I spoke with said that Target had made a policy not to carry it until the new year. I have NO idea why.

Had to get some last week. I live in a very conservative part of Georgia and called maybe 15 places (some an hour out) before obtaining any. All told me they were out which I found odd--however this is a college town (though not big) but still...ended up a place I had already called had some on someone else's shift (I called several later for a second round just to see--plenty changed their story, so who knows) but I was ready to drive an hour out of the way.

If I actually had free time I would call up some pharmacies around here and see if they stocked it. These pharmacists that are denying it are freaking ridiculous. I'm tempted just to go try to buy some when I'm in one of my hell-raising moods, heh.

I wonder if the people denying birth control actually take the time to volunteer as foster parents or adopt all these unwanted children.

the condom broke a few weeks ago and this time (yay) plan B was otc(well thats a lie, it was behind the counter) so I called the closest CVS and asked if they stocked it as otc, they said yes if I was 18 or older, being as I am I asked what type of ID I needed, since I do not have a drivers license or a state issued ID, but I DID have my voters reg. card, and my student photo ID, and my birth certificate, all of which is enough to get me on a plane,..anyway they asked their boss and that was no good, so I asked if a man could buy it, after passing the phone around to a few different people, someone said yes :), so me and my fiance walked into the store and I asked if it was behind the counter and they said yes and rung us up (47 fucking dollars) the lady made a comment about how expensive it was and my fiance joked back about having no choice to shop around if you need it, overall other then the stupid issue with what type of government ID is the right kind, in the actual store there were no issues, it was even a better experiance then buying at the same pharmacy when it was perscription, and just to blow your mind, this positive experiance with plan b...was in texas....of course dont get me started on a family member then explaining to me how it was "abortion"...but that isnt CVS's fault

I work at Planned Parenthood in Florida, and all we need to sell it over the counter is a driver's license (and only if you appear to be under 30). It costs 30 bucks. I'm pretty shocked to hear about the PP that needs a driver's license, SSN, and a copy of a birth certificate. That is ridiculous. It must be some state requirement; one of the (only) perks about our clinic not getting govt. funding is we don't have to pay attention to as much bullshit.

Gee - I'm sorry to hear people are having such trouble accessing plan B.

I've had a rather painless experience getting it. I'm a grad student at a large public university. I went into the campus health center for my yearly lady doctor visit. The nurse practitioner reminded me that Plan B was available over the counter, and that I could get some from the campus drugstore. So afterwards, figuring it wouldn't hurt to have some on hand, I waltzed down to the drugstore and was in and out in two minutes. The pharmacist at the window just checked my ID for age, told me to eat a large meal before taking it, and put it into a paper bag so I could discreetly take it to the counter to pay. Cost about $30.

I think anyone can get things from campus drugstores, so perhaps it will be easier for some of you to try them if you have one nearby?

I think it's probably a good idea to try to get some to have on hand since it's not guaranteed to be readily accessible in a true emergency. The expiration date is far away; I think mine expires in 2010.

I've been curious to know if they sell it to men? One writer indicated so... that's good.

Hope some of you have better luck.

And to think they thought it would create teen sex cults at $30-$65 a pop. Idiots.

I have been fortunate as far as Plan B is concerned. Whenever I'm in the pharmacy, I ask them if they have it available over the counter, and I've yet to hear "no". The Planned Parenthood in my area also seems to have made it a habit of giving a pack to everyone seen "just in case". I was assaulted over the weekend and god I'm so glad I had a pack ready.

Holy shit, Miranda, that's so horrible! Are you coping? Do you have people around you to support you right now?

We don't know each other at all, of course, but I'm sending virtual hugs and support your way. I'm so incredibly sorry.

Miranda:

Gosh, I had to read that twice because it didn't process in my head the first time. I'm so sorry you were assaulted. I pretty much live in constant fear of it (cheap college apartments aren't always on the best streets unfortunately). I pretty much carry a big Mag-Lite with me at all times.

Have you ever taken any RAD (rape aggression defense) classes?

I recently moved from Boston to Chapel Hill, NC. Before I came down here, my OBGYN doc gave me a script for Plan B, even though it would soon be OTC. Better to be over-prepared, we thought. Anyway, I ended up needing the pill, so I went to a local CVS. A little nervous after hearing some of the awful stories of pharmacy rejection, I tried to keep my cool. I placed the script down on the counter and this pompous-as-hell white guy in a lab coat looks me right in the eye, smirk and all, and goes, "Oh, we can't fill this here." ...Uh, excuse me? Why not? "Because it's in the process of going over-the-counter, so the packaging had to be changed, and now it's on back-order. We don't even have any in stock." !!! OK...so much for keeping my cool. "You don't have it, or you won't give it to me?" Halloween was coming up, so this smart-ass had the audacity to say "This isn't trick or treat, young lady." I mean, WTF?! Anyway, after visiting a few more pharmacies (driving 45 minutes to one) and getting the same response, I ended up at Planned Parenthood (paying the $50 fee because they don't accept prescriptions). I told a couple of staff members there about my experience--they said that although it's obviously f-ed up, it's not suprising because of the conservative slant of this area. Ugh. The thing that upsets me most about this whole thing is thinking about the real-life effects that these a-holes are having on women. I mean, they just brush you off like you and your problems mean nothing. I, for one, won't stand for that, and I refuse to buy even a pack of gum from that bastard-filled CVS.

At my university you can only get contraception if you prove that you are not sexually active. I know Plan B is not in stock in there dorms only, samples only pharmacy.

I was behind a girl at a CVS pharmacy in SC yesterday who bought Plan B. She looked under 18, but the pharmacy tech at the checkout register didn't ask her age, simply got a box and gave it to her. I asked if they'd had a lot of requests since it went OTC, but the guy told me no more than before (which makes sense since it is EC not a regular BCP. He did say that there have been problems getting it in the correct package from their distributor. I didn't ask but I wondered why the packaging mattered. Reading comments here I'm wondering if the FDA requires different packaging for OTC sales?

I go to school in one of the most liberal cities in the country, but I live in a poor neighborhood. My experience trying to get Plan B can hopefully shine a light on another obstacle we face to get it easily. There is no drugstore in my neighborhood, and between the Walgreens and Longs Drugs I walked, neither had a pharmacist on duty either of the times I stopped in. The Walgreens pharmacy had a sign that said "Pharmacist out to lunch" up for about four hours, and the manager at Longs told me that they were having trouble hiring another qualified pharmacist after their previous one left. Thankfully, I was just trying to buy Plan B as a precaution, but I hate to think that women in poor neighborhoods, even in a place like the Bay Area, face one more hurdle to free and open access.

carolina girl:

Whereabouts in SC? I'm from Spartanburg (but looks like I'm going to be living up in MA for a long time) but I still go back for holidays. If it's a nearby CVS I'll be sure to give them my business.

To answer some questions about packaging:

Yes, to go OTC new packaging needs to be made. The assumption is that when you get a prescription, your doctor tells you all about the drug and how to take it and what to expect and so the package-insert paper isn't AS clear or AS detailed or AS easy to understand as it possibly could be. When something goes OTC, there is no doctor to explain things well so the package-insert paper needs to be as clear, straightforward, and user-friendly as possible [mostly to cover the pharmaceutical company's ass]

I blogged on the subject "ae" and sometimes "�": Got Plan B?

After some ill-timed condom slippage, I needed Plan B a few weeks ago. I checked the local Wal-Mart, since that's the closest pharmacy to my workplace, but the woman there said they had none and didn't expect to have any in for months. (?!?). I called 4 CVSs, and the 4th said that it was in stock. A flash of my ID, and a swipe of my Visa ($49!) and I was out of there with pills in hand.
I am very grateful for those who pushed for OTC status for Plan B -- other than the cost, it was relatively painless to get. I got my period, and I suppose I'll never know if that's due to the Plan B or not, but I'm happy to have PREVENTED a possible pregnancy, rather than need to deal with an actual one.
FWIW - I live in western Maryland.

Mary B - I'm in Seneca, SC

tiffanymichele: where in the world are you?

miksizzle - If you think Chapel Hill is conservative, then you're living in different Chapel Hill than I am. Drop by the Weaver Street Market in Carrboro sometime. Carrboro, which elected the first out gay politician in the state -- who's now a county commissioner. I'm also really surprised if a PPCNC person said it was conservative; I've been going there for my physicals for years, and they know different.

Also, that wasn't any runaround they were giving you about it not being in stock. At my pharmacy (a county health department), we had Plan B on backorder for 2 months, as our supply dwindled. About 2 days after we dispensed our last Rx-only Plan B, we got a shipment of OTC Plan B.

Tiffanymichele, I second the question. What kind of twisted logic is that?