Can you take other medicine with plan b?

Are you one of those people who have the habit of self-medicating and end up mixing all kinds of medicines? Then, my friend, this article is just for you! Today we shall delve into the realm of taking other medications while on Plan B.

What is Plan B?

Before diving deep, let’s first get a basic understanding of what exactly Plan B is. It is an emergency contraceptive pill that helps to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or if your contraception fails. It should not be used as regular birth control but only in cases where it’s necessary.

How Does Plan B Work?

Now that we understand what it does, let’s understand how it works. The main ingredient in Plan B is levonorgestrel which primarily acts by stopping ovulation from happening (1). If ovulation has already occurred then the medicine reduces the chances of fertilization by loosening cervical mucus making sperm migration difficult (2).

Can You Take Other Medications With Plan B?

Alrighty! Now coming back to our primary question- can you take other medication with plan b or not? Yes, you can take other medications with plan b, but before doing so its best to double-check with your doctor/pharmacist as some drug interactions could potentially reduce plan-b’s effectiveness and put you at risk for an unplanned pregnancy.

Drugs That Could Interact With Levonorgestrel

Some drugs when taken along with levonorgestrel may interfere causing adverse reactions such as:

Anticoagulants

Anticoagulants like Coumadin/Warfarin/ Heparin are known to interact harmfully with levonorgestrel(3). When these meds are administered together they could cause excessive bleeding

Barbiturates & Anti-Seizure Drugs

Certain types like phenobarbital, topiramate, primidone can reduce the effectiveness of Plan B as they increase the metabolism of levonorgestrel removing it from your system faster than normal (4)

Anti-HIV Drugs

Some anti-HIV drugs containing Protease inhibitors like darunavir and ritonavir could potentially interact with levonorgestrel reducing its efficacy.

What Other Considerations Should I Have in Mind?

Apart from medications that potentially interfere with plan-b’s efficacy, there are a few other things to be aware of:

  • Antibiotics such as doxycycline/ampicillin/tetracycline don’t have an effect on emergency contraception
  • If you vomit within two hours after taking plan b or experience severe diarrhea, seek medical attention immediately

So When Exactly Does Plan B Not Work?

Plan B does not work under certain circumstances which include:
– If you’ve already ovulated – this is why we recommend taking it as soon as possible.
– If taken too long after unprotected sex has occurred (more than 5 days).
Plan B cannot terminate an existing pregnancy.

To Sum It Up

Contraceptive pills might be life-saving but mixing medicines without consulting professionals might increase chances of unwanted side-effects. While most meds don’t affect levonorgestrel’s effectiveness some interactions may hinder how well Plan-b works. Ensure you consult your doctor before consuming any other medication along with plan b!

Sources:

1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5788168/
2) https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01553700
3)https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a613019.htm#:~:text=Levonorgestrel%20may%20interact%20with%20other,liver%2C%20making%20them%20less%20effective.
4) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0010782405000076

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