Levonorgestrel, Oral (Emergency Contraceptive)

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is taken by mouth to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or after a known or suspected failure of a birth control product. Take it exactly as directed. Do not use this medicine for routine birth control.
• Keep all appointments for tests to see how this medicine affects you.
• This medicine may cause unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: contraceptive (birth control)

Generic and brand names: emergency contraceptive; levonorgestrel, oral; Plan B One-Step; My Way; Next Choice One Dose; Take Action (There may be other brand names for this medicine.)

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or after a known or suspected failure of a birth control product. This medicine is sometimes called the morning-after birth control pill.

This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• An allergic reaction to any hormones or medicines
• Unexplained vaginal bleeding

Females of childbearing age: If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. This medicine is a contraceptive and prevents pregnancy. It does not end a pregnancy and should not be taken if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

How do I take it?

There are several brands of emergency contraceptive pills available. Some may be available without a prescription. Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Use this medicine exactly as directed by your healthcare provider. If you have a nonprescription product, follow the directions on the package. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about anything you do not understand.

Check with your healthcare provider before using this medicine in girls who have not reached puberty.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: nausea, vomiting.

What should I watch out for?

If you may already be pregnant from earlier intercourse, take a pregnancy test using a home test kit before you take this medicine. This medicine can prevent a pregnancy if used within 72 hours after unprotected sex. It will not work if you are already pregnant.

If you vomit within 2 hours after you take the medicine, ask your healthcare provider if you should take another dose.

You can take this medicine at any time during your period.

This medicine should be used rarely. Do not use this medicine for routine birth control. This medicine does not prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as HIV or herpes.

Menstrual bleeding may be heavier or lighter, earlier or later after taking this medicine. However, if your menstrual period is more than 1 week late, you may be pregnant. Contact your healthcare provider and get a pregnancy test.

If you have severe abdominal pain 3 to 5 weeks after taking this medicine, you may have a pregnancy outside the uterus (a tubal pregnancy). Contact your healthcare provider right away.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; chest pain or tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Severe abdominal pain within 5 weeks after taking this medicine.

Other: Nausea, vomiting, cramps, tiredness, dizziness, menstrual changes, breast tenderness, and headache.

What products might interact with this medicine?

Some other medicines may make this medicine less effective at preventing pregnancy. Before using this medicine, talk with your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• Acitretin (Soriatane)
• Antianxiety medicines such as alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), clorazepate (Gen-Xene, Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), oxazepam, and temazepam (Restoril)
• Antibiotics such as rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin), and rifapentine (Priftin)
• Antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol), eslicarbazepine (Aptiom), felbamate (Felbatol), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), primidone (Mysoline), and topiramate (Qudexy, Topamax, Trokendi)
• Aprepitant (Emend)
• Artemether/lumefantrine (Coartem)
• Barbiturates such as butabarbital (Butisol), pentobarbital (Nembutal), phenobarbital, and secobarbital (Seconal)
• Bosentan (Tracleer)
• Cancer medicines such as bexarotene (Targretin), dabrafenib (Tafinlar), enzalutamide (Xtandi), mitotane (Lysodren), and tretinoin (Atralin, Renova, Retin-A)
• Cholesterol-lowering medicines such as cholestyramine (Prevalite), colesevelam (Welchol), and colestipol (Colestid)
• Griseofulvin (Grifulvin V, Gris-PEG)
• HIV medicines such as atazanavir (Reyataz), darunavir (Prezista), delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva), elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir (Stribild), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), saquinavir (Invirase), and tipranavir (Aptivus)
• Immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune) and mycophenolate (CellCept, Myfortic)
• Isotretinoin (Absorica, Amnesteem, Claravis, Myorisan, Zenatane)
• Lumacaftor/ivacaftor (Orkambi)
• Medicines to treat or prevent blood clots such as apixaban (Eliquis), dabigatran (Pradaxa), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, rivaroxaban (Xarelto), and warfarin (Coumadin)
• Mifepristone (Korlym, Mifeprex)
• Natural remedies such as black cohosh, bloodroot, chasteberry, dong quai, evening primrose oil, ginseng, red clover, and St. John's wort
• Stimulants such as armodafinil (Nuvigil) and modafinil (Provigil)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.