POTSDAM – Pharmaceutical manufacturer Perrigo has confirmed that the first U.S. sale of Opill® took place Monday, March 18, at 10:41 a.m. at the Potsdam Kinney Drugs, 48 Maple St.

Opill is the first FDA-approved over-the-counter daily oral contraceptive (birth control) available in the United States.

It is a progestin-only birth control pill that the manufacturer claims is safe and effective at preventing pregnancy when used as directed.

Opill differs from other oral contraceptives because it is a progestin-only birth control pill (sometimes referred to as POPs or the mini pill). Many birth control pills on the market contain a combination of estrogen and progestin.

Opill contains only one type of hormone (progestin) and is estrogen-free. Opill should be taken once a day at the same time.

“Many patients experience barriers to accessing contraceptives, such as prescription requirements, inability to take time off work or school to visit with a healthcare provider, and difficulty traveling to healthcare clinics. Kinney Drugs has worked hard to be the first pharmacy in the U.S. to offer Opill to increase access to safe and effective birth control for our patients,” said Katie Niles, PharmD, R.Ph., Vice President of Merchandising & Marketing.