💊 Levonorgestrel Tablet 0.75 mg – As Licensed (Emergency Contraceptive Pill)
📄 **Description:
Levonorgestrel 0.75 mg tablet** is a progestin-only emergency contraceptive intended to prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure (e.g., condom break). It is not intended for regular contraception.
💊 Prescription / Use:
- Indication:
- Emergency contraception within 72 hours (3 days) after:
- Unprotected sex
- Contraceptive failure (missed pills, condom rupture, etc.)
- Emergency contraception within 72 hours (3 days) after:
- Dosage:
- Single dose: 0.75 mg taken twice – first dose ASAP, second dose after 12 hours
- OR, both tablets (1.5 mg total) can be taken together at once (now widely accepted and used)
- Maximum effectiveness when taken as soon as possible
- Route: Oral
- Form: Tablet
- Strength: 0.75 mg Levonorgestrel per tablet
🔬 Nature:
- Synthetic Progestin
- Belongs to emergency hormonal contraceptives
- Mechanism of action:
- Inhibits or delays ovulation
- May prevent fertilization or implantation
- Does not terminate an established pregnancy
🌟 Advantages:
- Safe and effective if taken within 72 hours (efficacy highest <24 hours)
- Available without prescription in many countries
- Well-tolerated and does not affect long-term fertility
- Can be used at any time during the menstrual cycle
📦 Common Packaging:
- Strip or blister pack containing 1 or 2 tablets of 0.75 mg
- Labeled with instructions for emergency use
- May come with a patient information leaflet
- Packaged in sealed blister for stability
🧊 Storage:
- Store at 15–30°C (room temperature)
- Keep away from heat, direct sunlight, and moisture
- Store in original packaging
- Keep out of reach of children
⚠️ Precautions:
- Not intended for regular contraception
- Use with caution if:
- History of ectopic pregnancy
- Severe liver disease
- Unexplained vaginal bleeding
- Side effects may include:
- Nausea, vomiting
- Headache, dizziness
- Breast tenderness
- Irregular or early/late menstruation
- Abdominal pain or fatigue
- If vomiting occurs within 2 hours, repeat the dose
👩⚕️ Patient Advice:
- Take the pill as soon as possible after unprotected sex
- Effectiveness decreases over time:
- ~95% within 24 hours
- ~85% within 48 hours
- ~58% by 72 hours
- Does not protect against STIs
- Menstrual changes (earlier/later period) may occur
- If period is delayed by >7 days, take a pregnancy test
- Do not use repeatedly in the same cycle – consult for regular birth control
- Inform your doctor about medications (e.g., rifampicin, anticonvulsants, HIV meds) that may reduce effectiveness