Levonelle One Step 1500

What is Levonelle?

Levonelle 1500 is an emergency contraceptive (morning after pill). If you have had unprotected sex or your contraception has not worked, this pill can be taken up to 72 hours later and still be effective.

You can buy Levonelle from online and community pharmacies, but you will first need to speak to a doctor or pharmacist.

What is Levonelle used to treat?

Levonelle is an emergency contraception used to prevent pregnancy. It should be taken within 72 hours of sexual intercourse.

It is one of the two most commonly prescribed emergency contraceptive pills in the UK, the other being the ellaOne morning after pill.

Levonelle can be taken when:

• You have not taken a contraceptive pill or used any other form of contraception during sexual intercourse.
• A contraception may not have been used correctly, such as a condom ripping or not being worn in the right way.

It can only stop you from becoming pregnant if you take it within 72 hours (3 days) of having unprotected sex. Taking Levonelle will not work if you are already pregnant.

Why is Levonelle recommended for emergency contraception?

Clinical studies have shown that Levonelle's active ingredient, levonorgestrel, is highly effective at preventing pregnancy in women when taken before ovulation. 

How does Levonelle work?

Levonorgestrel is believed to work by preventing your ovaries from releasing an egg and stopping the sperm from fertilising an egg your ovaries may have released already.

It will not prevent all pregnancies; the sooner you take it after having unprotected sex, the more effective it is likely to be. Ideally, you should take this emergency contraceptive within 12 hours of having unprotected sexual intercourse.

You will need to wait until you are due your next period to know whether Levonelle has definitely worked. You may be pregnant if your next period is late by more than 7 days. You should take a pregnancy test to make sure.

How effective is Levonelle 1500?

Who can take Levonelle 1500?

Do not use Levonelle if you are allergic to levonorgestrel or any of the other ingredients contained in this medicine.

This medicine should not be used by children or young women who are yet to have their first period (menarche).

Speak to your doctor before taking Levonelle as emergency contraception if any of the following conditions apply to you:

• You have any severe liver problems
• You have a history of ectopic pregnancy
• You have a history of salpingitis (inflammation of the Fallopian tubes)
• You have any disease of the small bowel that can inhibit the absorption of a drug

If you have previously had an ectopic pregnancy or infection of the Fallopian tubes, this can increase your risk of another ectopic pregnancy.

Can you buy Levonelle over the counter?

Women can buy Levonelle over the counter from pharmacies. Men cannot buy this medicine on behalf of a woman, however. Before you can purchase Levonelle, you will need to be assessed by a doctor or pharmacist to make sure it is suitable for you to take.

Can you buy Levonelle online in the UK?

Yes, Levonelle is available to buy online from Medicine Direct. All you will need to do is answer some confidential questions in an online consultation, which will be reviewed by one of our doctors, pharmacists or prescribers to make sure this medicine is safe for you. Orders that are placed before 2pm will be eligible for next day delivery in the UK.

Levonelle alternatives

We also stock the most effective morning after pill in the UK, ellaOne, at our pharmacy. This medication is 98% effective at preventing unwanted pregnancies and can be taken at any time up to five days after having unprotected sex.

You can purchase ellaOne after you have filled out an online questionnaire to ensure it is suitable for you to take.

How to take Levonelle 1500 pill

Read the patient information leaflet for complete instructions before you take Levonelle. Follow your doctor or pharmacist’s instructions.

• Take the pill as soon as you can after having unprotected sex, ideally within the first 12 hours. Levonelle is more effective the sooner you take it, so do not delay taking it.
• Do not take it later than three days (72 hours) after having unprotected sex.
• You can take Levonelle at any point in the menstrual cycle as long as you are not already pregnant.
• Swallow the tablet whole with a drink of water.
• If your next period is more than 7 days late, or if it is unusually heavy or light, do a pregnancy test.

Levonelle Side Effects

Speak to your doctor if any of the following side effects bother you or do not go away.

These very common side effects affect more than 1 in every 10 people who take it:

• Tiredness
• Headaches
• Feeling sick
• Irregular bleeding until your next period
• Lower abdominal pain

Common adverse effects may affect up to 1 in 10 people:

• Being sick (if you are sick within three hours of taking Levonelle, you should take another pill)
• Breast tenderness
• Dizziness
• Diarrhoea
• Your period may be different – if it is later than 5 days or unusually light or heavy, speak to your doctor as soon as possible

Always read the patient information leaflet thoroughly before taking a new medicine, for a comprehensive list of side effects.

Levonelle Warnings and drug interactions

Like all drugs, Levonelle may interact with other medicines you are taking at the same time, which could hinder its effectiveness or increase your risk of experiencing adverse effects.

It is very important that you always inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are already taking any other medicines, before you start to take a new one. This includes both prescription and non-prescription medications, herbal remedies, vitamins and supplements.

In particular, if you have taken any of the following medicines in the last 4 weeks, Levonelle may not be suitable for you to take. In this case, your doctor may prescribe you a different emergency contraceptive to take.

Inform your doctor if you have recently taken any of the following in the last 4 weeks:

• Any herbal remedies which contain St John's Wort
• A medicine used to treat fungal infections (griseofulvin)
• Barbiturates and any medicines that are used to treat epilepsy, such as primidone, phenytoin or carbamazepine
• Any medication used to treat HIV
• Any medicines that are used to treat tuberculosis, such as rifampicin or rifabutin

Levonelle and pregnancy

If you are currently pregnant or think that you may be pregnant, you should speak to your doctor, who may prescribe you alternative emergency contraception to use.

You should not use this medicine if you are currently pregnant. While there is no evidence to suggest that Levonelle will harm an unborn baby, you may wish to check with your doctor to make sure your pregnancy is not ectopic.

If you develop severe abdominal pain after taking the morning after pill, have had a previous ectopic pregnancy, any pelvic inflammatory disease or Fallopian tube operations, it is even more important you speak to a doctor.

Levonelle will not work if you are already pregnant; it cannot terminate a pregnancy.

You may already be pregnant if any of these apply to you:

• Your period is late by more than 5 days, or if you experience unusual bleeding when your next period is due
• You last had unprotected sex longer than 72 hours ago, and since your last period

Levonelle and breastfeeding

Inform your doctor if you are currently breastfeeding before you take this tablet. Levonorgestrel will get into your breast milk, but the volume is so small that it does not affect the baby during the growth or development phase.

The use of Levonorgestrel whilst breastfeeding is considered acceptable.

Avoid breastfeeding for at least 8 hours after taking it, and drain your milk using a breast pump at least 8 hours after you have taken the tablet. This will reduce the amount of medicine your baby might ingest through your breast milk.

Fertility

Levonelle increases the possibility of your experiencing menstruation disturbances. Sometimes, this can lead to earlier or later ovulation, which can result in a different fertility date.

Levonelle Ingredients

The main active ingredient within this medicine is: Levonorgestrel

For a full list of the inactive ingredients, please read the SmPC.

How much does it cost to buy Levonelle online in the UK?