To avoid pregnancy, several kinds of preventive measures are taken by females. Taking Levonorgestrel i.e. Plan B tablet is one of the options to avoid unwanted pregnancy, as this product is effective as emergency oral contraceptives. Moreover, these tablets can prevent ovulation and pregnancy after unprotected sex.

Plan B i.e. Levonorgestrel is a female hormone that prevents ovulation. Ovulation is the process where the egg is released from an ovary. However, Plan B also causes certain changes in your cervical mucus and uterine lining, which makes it harder for the sperm to reach the uterus and indeed harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus.

Plan B is used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or failure of other forms of birth control like condom breakage, missing 2 or more birth control pills etc. Levonorgestrel will not work if you are already pregnant i.e. it will not abort a pregnancy that has already started. After consulting with your doctor or health care professional, this kit can be used for emergency contraception within the 72 hours after the unprotected sex. Remember do not give Plan B tablets to anyone less than 18 years old.

There is a possibility that you may not be able to use the Plan b tablets due to some medical reasons and so you may need special tests during the treatment. Hence, contact a doctor for medical advice on the same. Do not use Plan B without consulting your doctor, if you are breast feeding your baby as Plan B i.e. Levonorgestrel can pass into your breast milk and may harm your nursing baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking Plan B and get more information on it.

Plan B may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Take one tablet of this medication orally as soon a possible but within 72 hours i.e. within 3 days after having the unprotected sexual intercourse. Again, take the second tablet orally, 12 hours after taking the first dose. However, your doctor may instruct you to take this medication in a different way. So, please follow the directions provided by your doctor closely. This medication can be used at any time during your menstrual cycle. If you vomit within one hour of taking either dose of this medication contact your doctor to discuss whether to repeat the dose.

SIDE EFFECTS: Nausea vomiting stomach pain dizziness breast tenderness tiredness and weakness headache menstrual changes and diarrhea may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen notify your doctor. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these serious side effects occur: low stomach/abdominal pain If you notice other effects not listed above contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Inform your doctor if you are allergic to the formulation of this medication or any other medication in any other form and also inform your doctor about any other medication you may be taking in any other form.

Also inform your doctor of all prescription and nonprescription medication you may use especially of: other birth control medications e.g. oral contraceptives implants anti- seizure medications e.g. carbamazepine phenobarbital phenytoin rifampin. Do not start or stop any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval.

Levonorgestrel i.e. Plan B may interact with the Nevirapine, Rifampin, or St. John’s wart, foods, varied medications etc. So don’t take Plan B with them. It is recommended not to use this medication if abnormal vaginal bleeding occurs.

It is also important to inform your health care professional, if you are a frequent user of drinks with alcohol or caffeine or if you smoke or if you use any kind of illegal drugs as these things may affect the way your medicine works.

In case of overdose call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
If the suffering patient has collapsed or is not breathing call local emergency services at 911. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.

Symptoms of overdose may include the following conditions such as vomiting, nausea, vaginal bleeding etc.

Do not allow any other person to use your medication without getting doctor’s prescription themselves and also avoid using this medicine for other health conditions on your own. Keep the medicine away from the children and pets.
And do remember, that with other oral contraceptives this medication does not help to protect or prevent against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Moreover, visit your doctor or health care provider for regular check ups for your progress and do have a complete check-up every 6 to 12 months. If you have any unusual vaginal bleeding, contact your doctor immediately and get treated accordingly. In case, you miss a period, there is a possibility of pregnancy which must be considered. Inform the same to your doctor or health care professional as soon as you can.

Also remember, smoking tobacco may increase the risk of getting a blood clot or having a stroke while you are taking oral contraceptives, especially if you are more than 35 years old. Hence, strictly avoid smoking.

If you miss a dose of this medicine or if you vomit the dose within an hour of taking it, consult your doctor immediately for the missed dosage and follow the instructions strictly.

Generally, the Plan B medication is used to help prevent pregnancy in women who had unprotected sexual intercourse or is suspecting a failure in their current form of birth control e.g. broken condom or missed birth control pills. However, it is not intended to be used for your routine birth control process and remember that these tablets shall not stop an existing pregnancy i.e. abortion.

However, it may also be used to treat some other medical conditions which may be determined by your doctor accordingly.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses also, so ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information about the Plan B i.e. Levonorgestrel medication.

Levonorgestrel i.e. Plan B medication should be stored at 25°C and 77°F and at cool and dry place. Brief storage between 59-°F and 15-30 °C is permitted. Check Expiry date without fail. Keep all medicines away from women, newborns, children and pets. Also, keep it away from heat, dampness and direct light. In any case, do not store the Plan B tablets in the bathroom.

Following precautions must be taken during consuming generic Plan B:

1. It is very important for the patient to know that before using Plan B they must inform their health care professional if they have ever had a history of or are currently suffering from any kind of severe diseases like diabetes, liver problems, kidney problems etc.

2. Plan B medication is an emergency contraceptive. Hence, it should not be used for a routine birth control. If you have sexual intercourse after you take this medicine but before you have your next menstrual period, be sure to use an effective form of contraception, such as a diaphragm or condom.

3. Let the doctor also know if you are in-taking or are planning to take any prescribed or non prescribed medicines, health supplements or any OTC medications, vitamins etc. However, using this medicine alone or with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks. Hence, do not drive or operate heavy machineries that could be dangerous until you become sure about how your body reacts to the medicine.

4. Remember, use of the Levonorgestrel i.e. Plan B medication will not prevent the spread of the sexually transmitted diseases i.e. STDs, including HIV.

5. Do not use the Plan B medication, if you have any kind of allergy to it or to any ingredients of it and tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and get treated.

6. Do not share the drug with others unless they are prescribed by the doctor themselves. And if your symptoms of side effects do not improve in few weeks or if they become worse and bothersome, check these conditions immediately with your doctor.

7. Please, use the medicine in the prescribed amount and do not overdose it or use it for the longer period of time. Do not discontinue on your own and consult your doctor before doing so to avoid further problems.

8. And also remember that this medicine will not end an existing pregnancy and hence, do not use this medicine if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

9. If you have diabetes, the Levonorgestrel medication may affect your blood sugar. Hence, check blood sugar levels closely and ask your doctor before adjusting the dose of your diabetes medicine.

10. Acquire more knowledge on the Levonorgestrel i.e. Plan B medicine from your doctor or your pharmacist.