Plan B (Levonorgestrel) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

Pill Identifier Search

February 8, 2012

Plan B

Birth Control (Types and Options) »

Introduction to birth control types and options

If a woman is sexually active and she is fertile — physically able to become pregnant — she needs to ask herself, "Do I want to become pregnant now?" If her answer is "No," she must use some method of birth control (contraception).

If a woman does not want to get pregnant at this point in her life, does she plan to become pregnant in the future? Soon? Much later? Never? Her answers to these questions can determine the method of birth control that she and her male sexual partner use — now and in the future.

There are a number of different ways to describe birth control. Terms include contraception, pregnancy prevention, fertility control, and family planning. But no matter what the process is called, sexually active people can choose from a plethora of methods to reduce the possibility of their becoming pregnant. Nevertheless, no method of birth control av...

Read the Birth Control (Types and Options) article »

« Previous
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
next »

Plan B

Birth Control Slideshow Pictures

font size

Plan B®
(levonorgestrel) Tablets, 0.75 mg

Available without a prescription for consumers 18 and older. Rx only for women age 17 and younger

For women age 17 and younger, Plan B® (levonorgestrel) is a prescription-only emergency contraceptive. Plan B® is intended to prevent pregnancy after known or suspected contraceptive failure or unprotected intercourse. Emergency contraceptive pills (like all oral contraceptives) do not protect against infection with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases.

DRUG DESCRIPTION

Emergency contraceptive tablet. Each Plan B® (levonorgestrel) tablet contains 0.75 mg of a single active steroid ingredient, levonorgestrel [18,19-Dinorpregn-4-en-20-yn-3-one-13-ethyl-17-hydroxy-, (17α)- (-)-], a totally synthetic progestogen. The inactive ingredients present are colloidal silicon dioxide, potato starch, gelatin, magnesium stearate, talc, corn starch, and lactose monohydrate. Levonorgestrel has a molecular weight of 312.45, and the following structural and molecular formulas:

C₂₁H₂₈O₂

What are the possible side effects of levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive (Next Choice, Plan B, Plan B One-Step)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have severe pain in your lower stomach or side. This could be a sign of a tubal pregnancy (a pregnancy that implants in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus). A tubal pregnancy is a medical emergency.

Less serious side effects may include:

nausea, diarrhea, or stomach...

Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Plan B »

What are the precautions when taking levonorgestrel (Plan B)?

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other progestins (e.g., norethindrone); or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this product, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: unexplained vaginal bleeding, current or suspected pregnancy.

Before using this product, tell your doctor your medical history, especially of: diabetes, migraine headaches.

This drug may make you dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such...

Read All Potential Precautions of Plan B »

Last reviewed on RxList: 5/24/2007
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.