Levonorgestrel (Generic Levonelle) 1.5mg Tablet

While levonelle can be up to 95 percent effective, it is an emergency contraceptive only.

It is best that this medication is taken within twelve hours of the unprotected sex and, if taken closer to the maximum of three days after unprotected sex, its effectiveness is quite reduced. If the unprotected sex occurred more than three days ago, you need to discuss more suitable medication with your doctor.

With EllaOne, an alternative morning after pill, or an intrauterine coil, it’s still possible to take preventative steps to prevent pregnancy.

If you are already pregnant, you should not take this medication, as it only prevents pregnancies within a 72 hour period. Studies have shown that this medication does not harm a baby, though small amounts of levornogestrel may be present in breast milk. A way of preventing this presence is to take the medication immediately after breastfeeding, as the levornogestrel will have been processed before breastfeeding comes around again.

You may decide to take this morning after pill because you forgot to take one of your contraceptive pills.

If this is the case, take Levonelle and also your contraceptive pill for that following day, then continue the full course of contraceptive pills as normal.

You must not use this medication as a method of regular contraception and should bear in mind that it doesn't protect you against chlamydia, HIV, or other STIs (sexually-transmitted diseases).

It could cause some irregularity but, if your next period is more than five days late, you must speak with your doctor, to rule out pregnancy or an ectopic pregnancy.

Each tablet contains1.5mg of levonorgestrel (a synthetic female sex hormone), potato starch, magnesium stearate (E572), maize starch, colloidal silica anhydrous, lactose monohydrate and talc (E533b).

If you experience either sickness or severe diarrhoea within three hours of having taken levonelle, it's possible that you may have to take a second tablet to replace the one which may not have had time to enter your system. In such a case, ask your doctor for advice.

It works by reducing the chances of an egg attaching itself to the lining of the womb and also inhibits the release of eggs from the ovaries. It also makes it more difficult for sperm to fertilise any eggs which may have already been released.

There is no evidence to suggest that alcohol will reduce the effectiveness of this morning after pill.

Whilst there is no evidence to suggest that these two medications will affect each other, it is advisable that you speak with your doctor before taking the morning after pill in such a case as this.

Levonelle may be affected by:

• Epilepsy medication
• Barbiturates
• Drugs which treat tuberculosis
• Some HIV treatments
• Ciclosporin (a drug with immunosuppressive properties which is used to prevent the rejection of transplants and grafts)
• Some medicines which treat fungal infections e.g. griseofulvin
• St. John’s Wort.

If you need to take levonelle, always inform your doctor or the pharmacist of any other medication you take regularly.

Levonelle cannot be taken with any medication which affects the way you absorb food. There are also certain health conditions which need to be discussed with the doctor, before you take this morning after medication. These include:

• Any previous ectopic pregnancy
• Any problems with your liver
• Any previous inflammations of the fallopian tubes.

For anyone under the age of sixteen, advice must first be sought from a local doctor or the family planning clinic.