Postinor-2 Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Postinor-2 Tablet contains levonorgestrel, a progestin used as an emergency contraceptive. It is used to help prevent pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse, contraceptive failure, or rape or incest. It works mainly by stopping or delaying ovulation and is not meant to be used as a regular method of birth control. It is most effective when taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex.

What is Postinor-2 Tablet

Postinor-2 is an emergency contraceptive pill used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. It is not meant to be used as a regular method of birth control.

Postinor-2 Tablet uses

• Emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse, failure or incorrect use of a regular contraceptive, or after rape or incest
• Prevention of pregnancy when taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse

Benefits of Postinor-2 Tablet

• Prevents an unplanned pregnancy
• Highly effective, especially if taken early
• Cost effective
• Safe to use while breastfeeding, based on availability information
• Widely available in pharmacies

How Postinor-2 Tablet works

Postinor-2 works mainly by stopping or delaying the release of an egg from the ovary, which prevents fertilization. It does not end an existing pregnancy.

Postinor-2 Tablet dosage

Take one tablet as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse; the sooner it is taken, the more effective it is likely to be. The first tablet should be taken no later than 72 hours after intercourse. Take the second tablet exactly 12 hours after the first tablet.

Plan ahead so you can take the second tablet at a convenient time, such as not in the middle of the night, and adjust the timing of the first tablet accordingly. Postinor-2 can be taken at any time during the menstrual cycle. Taking the tablets with a glass of milk may help reduce vomiting.

This medicine is not recommended for children; there is limited information on its use in younger teens and none in younger children. If you vomit within 2 hours of taking either tablet, you should return to your pharmacy, doctor, or clinic, as the tablet may not have been absorbed and you may need another dose. Do not give this medicine to anyone else.

Use exactly as prescribed by your doctor or pharmacist.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet

Side effects of Postinor-2 Tablet

Common

• Tiredness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhoea
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Tender or sore breasts
• Increased or irregular vaginal bleeding
• Skin reactions
• Early or delayed periods

Serious

• Severe stomach pain, which could rarely mean a tubal (ectopic) pregnancy

Warnings and precautions

• Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant, have unexplained vaginal bleeding, have had breast cancer, are allergic to any of its ingredients, or if the tablets look unusual.
• Talk to your doctor first if you have diabetes with complications, heart disease caused by reduced blood flow, have had a stroke, have had breast cancer, or have severe liver disease, since this medicine may not be suitable for you.
• Certain other medicines, including some epilepsy and tuberculosis treatments, an HIV medicine, an antifungal medicine, and St John's wort, may stop this medicine from working properly.
• This medicine does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
• This medicine should not be used as a regular method of birth control, and a barrier method should be used for the rest of the cycle until your next period.
• Do not take this medicine if you are already pregnant, as it will not work and is not meant to be used in pregnancy.
• This medicine is generally considered safe for breastfeeding mothers, but one source advises not to breastfeed for three days after taking it. Ask your doctor for guidance.
• Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you have severe liver disease.
• If this medicine makes you feel drowsy or dizzy, do not drive a car or operate machinery.

Storage

• Keep your tablets in the pack until it is time to take them. If you take the tablets out of the pack they will not keep well.
• Keep your tablets in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
• Do not store Postinor-2 or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
• Do not leave it in the car on hot days or on window sills. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
• Keep it where children can not reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
• Do not use Postinor-2 after the expiry date printed on the pack and foil blister.

When to see a doctor

• See your doctor if you do not get your period within about 3 weeks of taking this medicine, as you may be pregnant.
• See your doctor right away if you have severe stomach pain, since on rare occasions this could mean a tubal (ectopic) pregnancy.
• If your period is more than 10 days late, see your doctor and take a pregnancy test, since this medicine is not 100% effective.
• Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well after taking this medicine.
• If you take too many tablets, or if a child has taken this medicine, contact your doctor or a poison control center right away.

Alternatives

• Ulipristal Acetate
• Copper IUD
• Levonorgestrel Emergency Contraceptive