How to Check If a Pharmacy Has the Morning After Pill in Stock (Without Calling)

When you need the morning after pill, you are racing against a clock. Plan B and other levonorgestrel pills are most effective within 24 hours of unprotected sex. Ella works up to 120 hours. Every minute spent calling pharmacies on hold is time not being used getting the medication. Here are the most efficient ways to find out which pharmacy near you has it—without spending that time on the phone yourself.

Method 1: Use medfinder—It Calls Pharmacies For You

The most efficient method is to use medfinder. You enter your medication (morning after pill or levonorgestrel), dose, and zip code. medfinder then calls pharmacies near you to check which ones have it in stock and texts you the results. You don't have to call anyone, wait on hold, or drive to a pharmacy that turns out to be out of stock.

This is especially valuable at night, on weekends, or during high-demand periods when pharmacies may be busier than usual. medfinder handles the calling so you can focus on getting there.

Method 2: Use Pharmacy Websites or Apps

Major pharmacy chains have websites and apps that sometimes allow you to check whether an item is in stock at a specific location. Here is what each major chain offers:

• CVS: Use CVS.com to search for Plan B One-Step or generic levonorgestrel and check availability at a specific store.
• Walgreens: Walgreens.com shows in-store availability and allows you to ship or schedule pickup.
• Walmart: Walmart.com lists OTC medication availability for in-store pickup. Generics like My Way and AfterPill are often stocked.
• Target: Target.com allows store-specific inventory checks.

Note: Website inventory is not always 100% accurate in real time—a store may show an item as in stock but have it behind the pharmacy counter, or the count may not reflect recent purchases. This is why calling ahead to confirm (or using medfinder to do it for you) is important.

Method 3: Order Online for Faster Access

If you are within 72–120 hours and no nearby pharmacy has Plan B in stock, ordering online may be faster than driving to multiple stores. Options include:

• Amazon Prime: Same-day or next-day delivery for generic levonorgestrel products in many major metro areas.
• Walmart+ or Walmart Express: Same-day delivery from local Walmart stores available in some areas.
• Nurx or Planned Parenthood Direct (for ella): Get a prescription and same-day pharmacy pickup or overnight delivery.

Method 4: Use Telehealth to Bypass the Pharmacy Search for Ella

Since ella requires a prescription, telehealth services can both prescribe it AND route it to the nearest in-stock pharmacy—or ship it overnight. Services like GoodRx Care, Nurx, and Planned Parenthood Direct can often complete the prescription and pharmacy coordination within an hour. This takes the pharmacy search out of your hands entirely.

Important: Check That the Pharmacy Counter Is Open

Even if a pharmacy has Plan B in stock, it is often kept behind the pharmacy counter or in a locked case. The pharmacy counter needs to be staffed and open for you to access it. Always confirm:

• The pharmacy (not just the retail store) is currently open
• A pharmacist is on duty
• They have the specific product you need (brand vs. generic; levonorgestrel vs. ella)

For more context on why the morning after pill is sometimes hard to locate, see our piece on why the morning after pill is hard to find.