Are pharmacy chains restricting Plan B sales? Here’s where you can buy it in Charlotte
A spike in demand has prompted some national pharmacy chains to limit the sale of Plan B and other emergency contraceptives after a Supreme Court ruling overturned the constitutional right to an abortion.
Plan B One-Step is a type of “morning-after” pill that can be used after unprotected sex, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Some women are stocking up on the pill while others fear state restrictions on contraception or a widespread shortage, The New York Times reported.
An unknown number of online sellers are taking advantage of the increase in demand by selling Plan B for as much as $150 – a 200% markup from the original price -- on sites such as eBay.
Here’s which pharmacies are limiting the purchase of Plan B, and where to buy it in Charlotte.
Which Charlotte-area pharmacies are selling Plan B?
As of Tuesday morning, Plan B One-Step -- being sold for $49.99 -- was out of stock at eight out of 25 CVS stores near Charlotte, according to the company website. An emergency contraceptive similar to Plan B, Aftera, was out of stock at six area stores.
Plan-B One-Step was in stock at 30 Walgreens stores selling for $49.99. At Walmart locations in Charlotte, the product was available for $39.90 for a single pill and $115 for two tablets in a single package, according to its website.
Are pharmacies limiting Plan B purchases?
Walmart is limiting the sale of morning-after pills to four or six for orders scheduled for delivery by the end of the month, Sharon Terlep wrote for the Wall Street Journal.
After observing a “sharp increase” in sales, CVS implemented a temporary purchase limit to ensure all customers had access to the pills, according to an emailed statement to The Charlotte Observer.
“Sales have since returned to normal and we’re in the process of removing the purchase limits, which will take effect in-store and on CVS.com over the next 24 hours,” CVS said. “We continue to have ample supply of emergency contraceptives to meet customer needs.”
Walgreens said it has no plans to restrict the sale of emergency contraceptives, according to CBS News.
How effective is Plan B?
Plan B has a shelf-life of four years, Claire Bugos wrote for Verywell Health, an online resource for health information. But its effectiveness depends on how long you wait to take the pill after unprotected sex, according to an expert.
“These medications are incredibly time sensitive,” Dr. Sonya Borrero, a professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh who focuses on reproductive health equity, told NPR.
Borrero said emergency contraception pills need to be taken within five days after unprotected sex — “but the sooner, the better.”
This story was originally published June 29, 2022 at 10:23 AM.
