Levonorgestrel Pill / Levonelle Pill

Levonorgestrel (Levonelle) is an emergency contraceptive that can be used within 72 hours (3 days) of unprotected sex or if your usual contraceptive method has failed. This would include a time where no contraception was used, or if a condom broke or slipped off.

For more information on the prescription medication patients should refer to the Levonorgestrel patient information leaflet.

The drug contains a synthetic hormone substance called levonorgestrel. It prevents about 84% of expected pregnancies if taken within 72 hours of having unprotected sex. Levonelle 1500 works by stopping your ovaries from releasing an egg and preventing sperm from fertilising any egg you may have already released.

If you are worried about unwanted pregnancies occurring then Levonelle 1500 can be an effective drug when taken in a post-unprotected sex capacity.

Levonelle 1500 is a prescription-only medication. Always follow the advice of your doctor and read the patient information leaflet provided in the medication packet. Take the tablets orally by swallowing whole with some water.

Take the tablet as soon as possible, preferably within 12 hours, and no later than 72 hours (3 days) after you have had unprotected sex (it works best the sooner you take it). Levonelle 1500 can be taken at any time in your menstrual cycle assuming you are not already pregnant or think you may be pregnant.

You should only use Levonelle in emergencies and not as a regular method of contraception. If you take the medication more than once in a menstrual cycle, it is less reliable and it is more likely to upset your period. If you need to take it more than once, you should consult your doctor about alternative, more long-term methods of contraception.

If you are already using a regular method of contraception such as the contraceptive pill, you can continue to take this at your regular times after taking Levonelle 1500.

If you have unprotected sex after taking Levonelle 1500, it will not stop you from becoming pregnant, and you should look into other contraception methods.

Levonelle tablets come as a single 1500 microgram tablet containing levonorgestrel. Those using it should take the tablet on a one-off occasion, as soon after unprotected sex as possible.

If you are sick within 3 hours of taking the tablet, take another tablet as soon as possible. It’s quite common for your next period to be late after taking Levonelle 1500, however if this is more than 7 days late or you notice anything different from normal then you should do a pregnancy test. Either way, you are advised to see your doctor 3 weeks after taking the drug to ensure it has worked.

Levonelle Side Effects

Before taking Levonelle, you should always first consult your doctor. It is not suitable for anyone who is allergic to levonorgestrel or any of the other ingredients of this medicine. You should also let your doctor know if:

• your period is late or you have symptoms of pregnancy (heavy breasts, morning sickness),
• you have a disease of your small bowel (such as Crohn’s disease) that inhibits the absorption of the drug  
• you have severe liver problems.  
• you have a history of ectopic pregnancy (where the baby develops somewhere outside the womb)  
• you have a history of salpingitis (inflammation of the Fallopian tubes).

There is also some evidence to suggest that the drug may be less effective on women with a higher BMI (body mass index) but given the lack of data, it is still currently suitable to be taken by all women, regardless of weight or BMI.

You should not take this medicine together with another emergency contraceptive pill, as it will make the medication less effective.

Like many medications with active ingredients, Levonelle 1500 can affect or be affected by other medicines.  If you have used any of the below medicines in the last 4 weeks, Levonelle 1500 may be less suitable for you:

• barbiturates and other medicines used to treat epilepsy
• medicines used to treat tuberculosis
• treatment for HIV
• a medicine used to treat fungal infections (griseofulvin)
• a medicine called cyclosporin (suppresses the immune system)
• herbal remedies containing St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum).

If you have taken any of these medicines then you should consult a doctor, as they may prescribe you another type of emergency contraceptive (non-hormonal) such as a copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD).

You should not take Levonelle 1500 if you are already pregnant, or suspect yourself of being. However, if it turns out that you are pregnant when you take it, there is no evidence to suggest that it will affect your pregnancy. Having said this, you should still go and see your doctor.

The active ingredient of this medicine is excreted into your breast milk so if you are breastfeeding then you should take the tablet immediately after nursing and then avoid doing it again for the next 8 hours. Drain your milk and throw it away to maintain milk production until the 8 hours have passed.

The most common side effects of using Levonelle 1500 include:

• Feeling sick (nausea)  
• You might have some irregular bleeding until your next period  
• You might have lower abdominal pain  
• Tiredness  
• Headache

If you do experience one or more of these side effects and they persist or worsen, then inform your doctor right away. You should also contact your doctor immediately if you experience any serious side effects.

You can safely buy Levonorgestrel (Levonelle 1500) online at UK Meds. You will first need to have an online consultation with a pharmacist independent prescriber before your order will be supplied. The online consultation will ensure that Levonelle 1500 is the right medication for your medical condition.

More Information

• When to take the morning after pill
• Levonelle or ellaOne?