Several American women who are of childbearing age now have greater access to non-prescription contraceptive drugs after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday, July 13, approved the use of the first oral daily contraceptive pill, Opill, as a non-prescription drug to prevent pregnancy.

The FDA, in a statement on Thursday, said that U.S. consumers will no longer be required to provide a prescription at drug stores to purchase oral contraceptive medicine.

Opill is reported to be both safe and effective in reducing the risk of unintended pregnancy. It is recommended that the drug be taken at the same time each day to provide the maximum results of the contraceptive drug.

The FDA noted that the manufacturer of the drug is set to determine the availability and the price that will be associated with the drug. The daily birth control pill is manufactured by Perrigo pharmaceutical company which is based in Ireland.

According to the FDA, some known side effects of the drug include irregular bleeding, cramps, increased appetite, dizziness, abdominal pain, headache and bloating.