💊 Levonorgestrel Tablet 1.5 mg – As Licensed (Emergency Contraceptive Pill)
📄 Description:
Levonorgestrel 1.5 mg is a single-dose emergency contraceptive used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse or contraceptive failure (e.g., condom breakage, missed pills). It contains a synthetic progestin and is widely available as an over-the-counter medication.
💊 Prescription / Use:
- Indication:
- Emergency contraception within 72 hours of:
- Unprotected sex
- Contraceptive failure
- Emergency contraception within 72 hours of:
- Dosage:
- Single tablet (1.5 mg) taken orally as soon as possible after intercourse
- Can be taken up to 72 hours, but most effective within 24 hours
- Route: Oral
- Form: Tablet
- Strength: 1.5 mg Levonorgestrel
🔬 Nature:
- Progestin-only emergency contraceptive
- Mechanism of Action:
- Inhibits or delays ovulation
- May prevent fertilization or implantation
- Does not terminate an established pregnancy
🌟 Advantages:
- Single-dose convenience
- High efficacy if taken promptly after intercourse
- Non-invasive and easily accessible
- Does not affect future fertility
📦 Common Packaging:
- One blister strip containing 1 tablet of 1.5 mg
- Includes patient information leaflet
- Often sold under brand names like i-Pill, Plan B, Unwanted-72, etc.
🧊 Storage:
- Store at 15–30°C (room temperature)
- Keep in a dry place, away from sunlight and moisture
- Store in original packaging
- Keep out of reach of children
⚠️ Precautions:
- Not intended for regular contraceptive use
- Contraindicated or used cautiously in:
- Known or suspected pregnancy
- Severe liver disease
- Unexplained vaginal bleeding
- History of ectopic pregnancy
- Common Side Effects:
- Nausea, vomiting
- Headache, dizziness
- Abdominal pain, breast tenderness
- Irregular menstruation (early, delayed, or heavier/lighter)
- Drug Interactions:
- Reduced effectiveness with certain drugs (e.g., rifampicin, phenytoin, carbamazepine, St. John’s Wort)
👩⚕️ Patient Advice:
- Take the tablet as soon as possible after unprotected sex
- If vomiting occurs within 2 hours, repeat the dose
- Next period may be earlier or later than usual
- If period is more than 7 days late, take a pregnancy test
- Does not protect against HIV/STIs
- Avoid frequent use—consult for regular contraception options if needed
- Always read the package insert and consult a healthcare provider in case of doubts