First over-the-counter birth control pill now available

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A drug that has been available for decades but only available with a prescription has entered a new era.

“We have a lot of data on this particular medication,” Jacquelyn Kissel, associate director of clinical pharmacy with Equitas, said.

That medication Kissel is discussing is called Opill.

The oral contraceptive was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for sale without a prescription last July.

The pill is taken daily and is a progestin-only contraceptive, a hormone Kissel said is a safer medication option especially for those high-risk consumers.

“This is the medication we would want to use in patients with cardiovascular disease or are smokers, or older,” she said. “It’s a safe medication and we have a lot of data around it, so I feel comfortable with the fact that it’s over the counter.”

The advisory committee tasked with evaluating the drug found the over-the-counter availability would be important for teenagers who often face barriers to access.

Opill is available for all users of reproductive age and is currently available at all Equitas Health pharmacies.

“I mean, it takes a lot to go from a provider to a pharmacy to get a prescription and a medication in hand there are a lot of steps and this takes all that away,” Kissel said. “For people typically more effected by unplanned pregnancies this really gives them options that they didn’t have before.”