Q&A
Answers to frequently asked questions about Next Choice®
- What are emergency contraceptives?
- What is Next Choice?
- Is Next Choice RU-486 (the abortion pill)?
- What if a woman taking Next Choice is already pregnant?
- When was Next Choice approved?
- How can I order Next Choice?
- What is the NDC number for Next Choice?
- What is the shelf life of Next Choice?
- How can I get more clinical information about emergency contraception and Next Choice?
- How can I obtain educational materials about Next Choice
for my customers? - How does Next Choice work?
- Does pharmacy access to Next Choice vary from state to state?
1. What are emergency contraceptives?
Emergency contraceptives provide women with a chance to prevent an unplanned pregnancy
after having unprotected sex, a sexual attack, or a known or suspected contraceptive
failure. Many countries offering emergency contraceptives do not require a prescription.3
2. What is Next Choice?
Next Choice is a progestin-only emergency contraceptive that helps prevent unplanned
pregnancies after having unprotected sex, a sexual attack, or a known or suspected
contraceptive failure.
It is a generic product containing levonorgestrel and is considered bioequivalent to their branded counterpart, the two tablet Plan B® product. Levonorgestrel is a commonly dispensed and clinically trusted progestin.
When used as direced, Next Choice can reduce a woman's risk of getting pregnant by as much as 89% if it is taken within 72 hours (3 days) of having unprotected sex, a sexual attack, or a known or suspected contraceptive failure. A study demonstrated that Next Choice worked even better than this if taken within the first 24 hours after sex.1,2 Next Choice will not distrupt or affect an existing pregnancy, when taken as directed.
3. Is Next Choice RU-486 (the abortion pill)?
No. Next Choice is not RU-486 (the abortion pill). RU-486 (mifepristone) has anti-progesterone activity and may be used to induce a medical abortion up to 49 days’ gestation.
Next Choice, on the other hand, is an emergency contraceptive that helps prevent an unplanned pregnancy within 72 hours of having unprotected sex, a sexual attack, or a known or suspected contraceptive failure.
Next Choice, when taken as directed, is not effective on an existing pregnancy. Levonorgestrel is believed to act as an emergency contraceptive principally by preventing ovulation and/or fertilization by altering tubal transport of sperm and/or ova. It may also inhibit implantation by altering the endometrium.
4. What if a woman taking Next Choice is already pregnant?
There’s no medical evidence to suggest Next Choice would affect a woman’s
existing pregnancy if used as directed. When taken as directed,
Next Choice is not effective on an existing pregnancy.
5. When was Next Choice approved?
Next Choice was approved for prescription use in July 2009. In August 2009 it was
approved for over-the-counter use by consumers 17 years or older. Women 16 years
of age or younger require a prescription.
6. How can I order Next Choice?
To order Next Choice, please contact your wholesaler. Or please call our toll-free number at 866-9WATSON.
7. What is the NDC number for Next Choice?
The NDC number for Next Choice is 52544-0275-36.
8. What is the shelf life of Next Choice?
Next Choice expires 24 months after the date of manufacture.
9. How can I get more clinical information about emergency contraception and Next Choice?
To learn more about emergency contraception and continuing education programs available for certification, please visit the APhA Web site by clicking here.
For more clinical information about Next Choice, please call our toll-free number at 866-9WATSON.
10. How can I obtain educational materials about
Next Choice for my customers?
You can get patient education materials easily by downloading them from our Support Materials page. In addition, you can call our toll-free number, 866-9WATSON, for printed materials.
11. How does Next Choice work?
Emergency contraceptives are similar to birth control pills. Next Choice is believed to work by (1) preventing ovulation, (2) preventing fertilization by altering tubal transport of sperm and/or egg, and (3) possibly inhibiting implantation by altering the endometrium.
Once the implantation process begins, emergency contraceptives are no longer effective. However, Next Choice will not be effective on an existing pregnancy, when taken as directed.
12. Does pharmacy access to Next Choice vary from state to state?
Yes. Next Choice is available without a prescription for women 17 years or older, but a prescription is still needed for women 16 years of age or younger. Pharmacists in certain states (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Vermont, and Washington) can become certified and trained to provide Next Choice directly to patients 16 years of age or younger.
