Plan B One-Step Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Plan B One-Step Tablet (levonorgestrel) is a progestin-only emergency contraceptive used as a backup method to help prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure. It works mainly by delaying or preventing ovulation and comes as a single 1.5 mg tablet. It is not intended for use as a regular, ongoing birth control method.

What is Plan B One-Step Tablet

Plan B One-Step is an emergency contraceptive pill. It is a backup method to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or if your regular birth control failed. It is not meant to be used as a regular, ongoing birth control method.

Plan B One-Step Tablet uses

• Reduces the chance of pregnancy after unprotected sex, such as when a condom breaks or slips, when a regular birth control method is used incorrectly or fails, or when no birth control was used

Benefits of Plan B One-Step Tablet

• Emergency Pregnancy Prevention: Helps reduce the chance of pregnancy after contraceptive failure or unprotected sex.
• Ovulation Delay: Primarily works by delaying or preventing ovulation.
• Single-Dose Option: Contains one 1.5 mg tablet.
• Future Fertility: Does not affect the ability to become pregnant in the future.

How Plan B One-Step Tablet works

The medicine mainly works by stopping or delaying the ovary from releasing an egg, which prevents pregnancy. It will not end an existing pregnancy.

Plan B One-Step Tablet dosage

Swallow the tablet by mouth as soon as possible after unprotected sex — the sooner it is taken, the better it works. It can be taken at any time during the menstrual cycle. If vomiting happens within 2 hours of taking the tablet, contact a healthcare professional to ask whether another dose is needed. Women younger than 17 years need a prescription; women 17 and older can get it without a prescription. It is not meant to be used as a regular, ongoing form of birth control.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet — 1.5 mg

Side effects of Plan B One-Step Tablet

Common

• Menstrual changes (spotting, or a period that is heavier, lighter, earlier, or later than usual)
• Tiredness
• Breast pain
• Nausea
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Lower stomach (abdominal) pain
• Dizziness

Serious

• Severe lower abdominal pain 3 to 5 weeks after taking the medicine, which could mean a pregnancy outside the womb (ectopic pregnancy)

Warnings and precautions

• Do not take this medicine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to levonorgestrel.
• This medicine does not protect against HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases.
• Do not use this medicine as a regular method of birth control; it does not work as well as other birth control methods used correctly and consistently.
• Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you take certain HIV medication, tuberculosis medication, or seizure medication, since these can make this medicine less effective.
• If your period is more than a week late after taking this medicine, you could be pregnant and should consider getting a pregnancy test.
• Do not use this medicine if you are already pregnant, because it will not work and will not end an existing pregnancy. Taking it by accident while pregnant is not expected to harm you or the pregnancy.
• Small amounts of the hormone can pass into breast milk. In general, this has not been shown to harm breastfeeding or the baby's health, growth, or development, though rare reports of reduced milk supply have occurred.
• No formal studies have looked at how kidney problems affect this medicine.
• No formal studies have looked at how liver problems affect this medicine.

Storage

• Store at 20-25°C (68-77°F)
• Do not use if carton is open or tear strip is removed or blister seal is broken or missing
• Keep out of reach of children

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away if you take too much of this medicine, or contact your local poison control center.
• See a healthcare professional right away if you have severe lower stomach pain 3 to 5 weeks after taking this medicine, since this could be a sign of a pregnancy outside the womb that needs immediate treatment.
• Call a healthcare professional if you vomit within 2 hours of taking the tablet, to find out if you need to take another dose.

Alternatives

• Ulipristal Acetate 30 mg
• Copper IUD
• Levonorgestrel 1.5 mg