Non-prescription dispensing of emergency oral contraceptives: Recommendations from the German Federal Chamber of Pharmacists [Bundesapothekerkammer]
Background: Emergency hormonal contraceptives (EHC) are contraceptives used to prevent unintended pregnancy following unprotected sexual intercourse (USI) or contraceptive failure. The EHCs available without a prescription include medicines containing levonorgestrel (LNG) in more than 80 countries a...
Main Authors: | , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Centro de Investigaciones y Publicaciones Farmaceuticas
2016-09-01
|
Series: | Pharmacy Practice |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.pharmacypractice.org/journal/index.php/pp/article/view/828/465 |
id |
doaj-69ccc70d3d35421ab476257ec367e815 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-69ccc70d3d35421ab476257ec367e8152020-11-25T03:48:09ZengCentro de Investigaciones y Publicaciones FarmaceuticasPharmacy Practice1885-642X1886-36552016-09-0114382810.18549/PharmPract.2016.03.828Non-prescription dispensing of emergency oral contraceptives: Recommendations from the German Federal Chamber of Pharmacists [Bundesapothekerkammer]Schulz MGoebel RSchumann CZagermann-Muncke PBackground: Emergency hormonal contraceptives (EHC) are contraceptives used to prevent unintended pregnancy following unprotected sexual intercourse (USI) or contraceptive failure. The EHCs available without a prescription include medicines containing levonorgestrel (LNG) in more than 80 countries and, recently, based on an EU-switch ellaOne®, which contains ulipristal acetate (UPA). EHCs work by stopping or delaying ovulation. Those containing LNG can be used up to 72 hours after USI or contraceptive failure, while UPA can be used up to 120 hours. In the context of the UPA implementation process, Germany switched LNG to non-prescription status as well. Objectives: To develop recommendations, a protocol, and a continuing education program for pharmacists to assure quality when giving advice and dispensing EHCs in community pharmacies without a medical prescription. Methods: The recommendations were developed by an iterative process of drafting, recognizing, and discussing comments and proposals for amendments as well a seeking agreement with a number of stakeholders such as the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG), Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), Federal Chamber of Physicians (BÄK), Drug Commission of German Physicians (AkdÄ), professional organizations/associations of gynaecologists, pharmaceutical OTC-industry as well as government-controlled, private, and church-based organizations and centres providing advice on sex education and family planning. Results: The recommendations were eventually endorsed by the BMG in consultation with the BfArM. Conclusions: The recommendations were made public, published in the professional journal and used in an uncounted number of continuing education programs based on the curriculum and provided by the State Chambers of Pharmacists.http://www.pharmacypractice.org/journal/index.php/pp/article/view/828/465Contraception PostcoitalCommunity Pharmacy ServicesPharmaciesPractice Guidelines as TopicGermany |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Schulz M Goebel R Schumann C Zagermann-Muncke P |
spellingShingle |
Schulz M Goebel R Schumann C Zagermann-Muncke P Non-prescription dispensing of emergency oral contraceptives: Recommendations from the German Federal Chamber of Pharmacists [Bundesapothekerkammer] Pharmacy Practice Contraception Postcoital Community Pharmacy Services Pharmacies Practice Guidelines as Topic Germany |
author_facet |
Schulz M Goebel R Schumann C Zagermann-Muncke P |
author_sort |
Schulz M |
title |
Non-prescription dispensing of emergency oral contraceptives: Recommendations from the German Federal Chamber of Pharmacists [Bundesapothekerkammer] |
title_short |
Non-prescription dispensing of emergency oral contraceptives: Recommendations from the German Federal Chamber of Pharmacists [Bundesapothekerkammer] |
title_full |
Non-prescription dispensing of emergency oral contraceptives: Recommendations from the German Federal Chamber of Pharmacists [Bundesapothekerkammer] |
title_fullStr |
Non-prescription dispensing of emergency oral contraceptives: Recommendations from the German Federal Chamber of Pharmacists [Bundesapothekerkammer] |
title_full_unstemmed |
Non-prescription dispensing of emergency oral contraceptives: Recommendations from the German Federal Chamber of Pharmacists [Bundesapothekerkammer] |
title_sort |
non-prescription dispensing of emergency oral contraceptives: recommendations from the german federal chamber of pharmacists [bundesapothekerkammer] |
publisher |
Centro de Investigaciones y Publicaciones Farmaceuticas |
series |
Pharmacy Practice |
issn |
1885-642X 1886-3655 |
publishDate |
2016-09-01 |
description |
Background: Emergency hormonal contraceptives (EHC) are contraceptives used to prevent unintended pregnancy following unprotected sexual intercourse (USI) or contraceptive failure. The EHCs available without a prescription include medicines containing levonorgestrel (LNG) in more than 80 countries and, recently, based on an EU-switch ellaOne®, which contains ulipristal acetate (UPA). EHCs work by stopping or delaying ovulation. Those containing LNG can be used up to 72 hours after USI or contraceptive failure, while UPA can be used up to 120 hours. In the context of the UPA implementation process, Germany switched LNG to non-prescription status as well.
Objectives: To develop recommendations, a protocol, and a continuing education program for pharmacists to assure quality when giving advice and dispensing EHCs in community pharmacies without a medical prescription.
Methods: The recommendations were developed by an iterative process of drafting, recognizing, and discussing comments and proposals for amendments as well a seeking agreement with a number of stakeholders such as the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG), Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), Federal Chamber of Physicians (BÄK), Drug Commission of German Physicians (AkdÄ), professional organizations/associations of gynaecologists, pharmaceutical OTC-industry as well as government-controlled, private, and church-based organizations and centres providing advice on sex education and family planning.
Results: The recommendations were eventually endorsed by the BMG in consultation with the BfArM.
Conclusions: The recommendations were made public, published in the professional journal and used in an uncounted number of continuing education programs based on the curriculum and provided by the State Chambers of Pharmacists. |
topic |
Contraception Postcoital Community Pharmacy Services Pharmacies Practice Guidelines as Topic Germany |
url |
http://www.pharmacypractice.org/journal/index.php/pp/article/view/828/465 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT schulzm nonprescriptiondispensingofemergencyoralcontraceptivesrecommendationsfromthegermanfederalchamberofpharmacistsbundesapothekerkammer AT goebelr nonprescriptiondispensingofemergencyoralcontraceptivesrecommendationsfromthegermanfederalchamberofpharmacistsbundesapothekerkammer AT schumannc nonprescriptiondispensingofemergencyoralcontraceptivesrecommendationsfromthegermanfederalchamberofpharmacistsbundesapothekerkammer AT zagermannmunckep nonprescriptiondispensingofemergencyoralcontraceptivesrecommendationsfromthegermanfederalchamberofpharmacistsbundesapothekerkammer |
_version_ |
1724499994399997952 |