Levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive kit

What is this medicine?

LEVONORGESTREL (LEE voe nor JES trel) is an emergency contraceptive. It prevents pregnancy if taken within 72 hours after your regular birth control fails or you have unprotected sex. This medicine will not work if you are already pregnant.

How should I use this medicine?

Take this medicine by mouth. Your doctor may want you to use a quick-response pregnancy test prior to using the tablets. Take your medicine as soon as you can after having unprotected sex, preferably in the first 24 hours, but no later than 72 hours (3 days) after the event. Follow the dose instructions of your health care provider exactly. Do not take any extra pills. Extra pills will not decrease your risk of pregnancy, but may increase your risk of side effects.

A patient package insert for the product will be given with each prescription and refill. Read this sheet carefully each time. The sheet may change frequently.

Contact your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed. This medicine has been used in female children who have started having menstrual periods.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• abdominal pain or cramping

• breast tenderness

• dizziness

• headache

• nausea

• spotting

• tiredness

What may interact with this medicine?

• aprepitant

• armodafinil

• barbiturates such as phenobarbital or primidone

• bexarotene

• bosentan

• carbamazepine

• certain medicines for HIV or AIDS or hepatitis

• felbamate

• griseofulvin

• modafinil

• oxcarbazepine

• phenytoin

• rifabutin

• rifampin

• rifapentine

• St. John's wort

• topiramate

What if I miss a dose?

This medicine is not for regular use. Take exactly as directed. If you vomit within 2 hours of taking your dose, contact your health care professional for instructions.

Where should I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have or ever had any of these conditions:

• an unusual or allergic reaction to levonorgestrel, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

What should I watch for while using this medicine?

Your period may begin a few days earlier or later than expected. If your period is more than 7 days late, pregnancy is possible. See your health care provider as soon as you can and get a pregnancy test.

Talk to your healthcare provider before taking this medicine if you know or suspect that you are pregnant. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may be pregnant and you have taken this medicine.

If you have severe abdominal pain, you may have a pregnancy outside the womb, which is called an ectopic or tubal pregnancy. Call your health care provider or go to the nearest emergency room right away if you think this is happening.

Discuss birth control options with your health care provider. Emergency birth control is not to be used routinely to prevent pregnancy. Be sure to use your regular birth control method right away, or start one, if you do not have a regular birth control method already.

This medicine does not protect you against HIV infection (AIDS) or any other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).