Levonelle

You can take Levonelle if you’ve had unprotected sex and would like to prevent pregnancy. It is effective up to 72 hours (3 days) after having sex. The active ingredient, levonorgestrel, is a synthetic (man made) type of progestogen which is a synthetic hormone. Progestogens mimic the hormone progesterone that is found naturally in your body.

Important to know: You can take Levonelle if you are on other types of birth control, like the contraceptive pill. Levonelle does not, however, protect you against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Levonorgestrel works by stopping your ovaries from releasing an egg, a process known as ovulation. Ovulation usually occurs about halfway through your menstrual cycle, or roughly 2 weeks before your period. Levonorgestrel is not effective if you’re taking it after ovulation.

Everyone’s menstrual cycle is different, so it’s a good idea to track what stage of your cycle you are in. If you have already ovulated, it’s best to use the copper intrauterine device (IUD) as a form of emergency contraception. You can get this fitted at a sexual health or family planning clinic.

Does Levonelle work if you’ve already ovulated?

No, Levonelle prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation. If you have already ovulated and an egg has been released, Levonelle will not prevent pregnancy. If you think ovulation may have happened and that you might be pregnant, you should speak to your doctor. They can discuss any further options that are available to you.

How quickly does Levonelle work?

Levonelle can work to stop ovulation within a few hours of taking it unless you throw up or have diarrhoea within 3 hours. If this happens, your body will not have had time to absorb the medication and you will need to take another tablet.

Take 1 Levonelle tablet as soon as possible after unprotected sex or a contraception failure (for example if you have forgotten to take your regular contraceptive pill). Ideally try to take it within 12 hours after sex as this is when Levonelle is most effective. You can take it a maximum of 72 hours after sex. It’s possible to take the tablet with or without food.

Please note:

• If you throw up or have diarrhoea within 3 hours of taking a Levonelle tablet, speak to your doctor, pharmacist or sexual health clinic. You’ll probably need to take another tablet as your body will not have been able to absorb the first one you took.
• Levonelle is not designed to be used as a regular method of contraception. There are types of regular contraception that are much more effective.
• A morning after pill such as Levonelle can affect your period by making it slightly earlier or later than normal.

If your period is more than 5 days late or you experience any abnormal vaginal bleeding, speak to your doctor. You should also do a pregnancy test to check if you are pregnant. If you have taken Levonelle and find out you are pregnant, speak to your doctor.

How often can I use Levonelle?

You can take Levonelle more than once in your menstrual cycle but this can cause irregular periods. If you have questions about how often a morning after pill can be used, you should speak to your doctor.

Should I keep taking my contraceptive pill after taking Levonelle?

Yes, it is recommended that you take your next contraceptive pill within 12 hours of taking Levonelle. You should then take your contraceptive pill as normal going forward.

You should also use alternative contraception, such as condoms, for:

• 9 days if you use the combined pill Qlaira
• 2 days if you take a progestogen-only pill

What should I do if I vomit after taking Levonelle?

Vomiting is one of the known side effects of Levonelle. If you vomit after taking Levonelle and it has been less than 3 hours since you took the tablet, you will need to get another. Speak to a pharmacist, doctor, or sexual health clinic so you can get another dose.

If you vomit after taking Levonelle and it has been longer than 3 hours, your body will have absorbed the medication and it is not recommended to take another tablet unless you have unprotected sex again.

The only way to know for sure if Levonelle or any form of emergency contraception has worked is by waiting for your next period. If your period arrives when it should, you are most likely not pregnant. If your period is late, you can take a pregnancy test.

Levonelle is effective in preventing around 84% of potential pregnancies when taken within 72 hours. The sooner you take Levonelle, the more effective it will be.

Remember that Levonelle is a type of emergency contraception, so it’s best to have a regular method of contraception if you do not want to get pregnant.

You may feel some side effects when taking a morning after pill such as Levonelle. These are usually temporary and will disappear within a few hours.

Very common side effects of Levonelle include:

• nausea (feeling sick)
• irregular bleeding
• tiredness
• headache
• pain in your lower abdomen

Some common side effects of Levonelle are:

• vomiting (being sick)
• abnormal periods
• breast tenderness
• dizziness
• diarrhoea

If you think you’ve had an allergic reaction after taking Levonelle, call 999 immediately. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include:

• severe itching
• swelling of the face, throat, eyes or lips
• difficulty breathing

You can read the patient information leaflet for further information on side effects.

Each Levonelle tablet contains 1500 mcg of the active ingredient levonorgestrel. Each tablet also contains:

• potato starch
• maize starch
• colloidal silica anhydrous
• magnesium stearate
• talc
• lactose monohydrate

You can take Levonelle if you are a woman over the age of 16. If you are under 16, speak to your doctor, pharmacist, or sexual health clinic first.

You should not use Levonelle if you are allergic to levonorgestrel or other ingredients in the tablet.

Speak to your doctor before taking Levonelle if you have:

• a history of liver problems
• ever had an ectopic pregnancy (where the baby grows outside the womb)
• a disease that affects your small bowel such as Crohn’s disease
• a condition called salpingitis where your fallopian tubes are inflamed

Your doctor may suggest using another type of emergency contraception if these conditions affect you. They’ll guide you towards the best treatment choice for you.

Can I take Levonelle while breastfeeding?

If you’re breastfeeding, you should avoid breastfeeding for 1 week after you take Levonelle. During this time, any milk you pump to stimulate and maintain production should be disposed of.

Levonelle can interfere with how other medications work. Some medicines can also stop Levonelle from working.

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking:

• epilepsy treatment, such as phenobarbital, phenytoin, or carbamazepine
• HIV treatment, such as ritonavir
• tuberculosis treatment, such as rifampicin
• antifungal medication like griseofulvin
• St John’s wort, a herbal remedy used to treat low moods
• ciclosporin, a medicine that suppresses the immune system

You may need an alternative method of emergency contraception in these cases.

If Levonelle is not suitable for you, you might be able to take EllaOne. EllaOne is another type of morning after pill that can be taken up to 5 days after unprotected sex or contraception failure. Like Levonelle, EllaOne is most effective if you take it as soon as possible.

You can also get a copper IUD (intrauterine device) fitted. This is a non hormonal contraceptive that must be fitted by a doctor or nurse. The copper IUD can also be used as long term contraception. Speak to your doctor or sexual health clinic to find out more information.