What does plan b have in it?

If you are reading this article, it is possible that in the heat of the moment your contraceptive arrangements waltzed out of their box like a drunken sailor pacing the deck with carefree abandon. Worry not; we have all been there! What you need right now is peace of mind and probably a pill by the name Plan B or its generic variants.

Below, we take an in-depth look at what goes on inside this tiny yet potent emergency contraceptive pill:

An Introduction To Plan B

Plan B (5) can best be described as an emergency girdle for women who worry about getting pregnant after having unprotected sex.

After intercourse, some sperm cells might have infiltrated deep into Fallopian tubes, chilling with eggs and flirting shamelessly up until crush time when they deliver their genetically coded lines. Plan B dropssuddenly interrupts1 these rendezvous before conception happens!

The Key Ingredient: Levonorgestrel

Levonorgestrel 23resembles_looksidenticaltoaportionofthefemalehormoneprogesteroneandgobbles-stickslikeglueontothe_same_receptors that should host progesterone molecules.^3 Once it holds onto these receptors responsible for facilitating pregnancy-related functions such as making cervical mucus hostile to sperm entry or preventing ovulation from taking place altogether[^⁴], levonorgestrel sends cue messages which programs your system to forget about kids for a while.

The Brands And Dosage Forms Available

The most popular brands and generic formulae available include:

  • Next Choice One Dose
  • Take Action Emergency Contraceptive
  • Aftera Take Action
  • My Way Emergency Contraception

These are usually found in two dosage forms;

Dosage Form Brief Description
Pill Small, single tablet to be swallowed when needed
Lozenges Dissolvable tablets which can be sucked allowing quick action

Black Box Warning? What’s That?

Unless you are a nihilist, Plan B formulation is considered safe and effective for most women. It becomes even more helpful if it is taken within the first 72 hours of unprotected sex because its effectiveness decreases in proportion to how much time passes after intercourse elapses.

In some rare cases, however, patients have cited complications related to deep vein thrombosis (DVT) – pretty vicious blood clots that may endanger one’s health outcomes 5. If you experience such symptoms like sudden shortness of breath or any chest discomfort; seek medical attention promptly.

Other Notable Components In The Plan B Tablet

Many inactive components found in this medication make up the bulk of each tablet:

  • Cellulose Microcrystalline
  • Croscarmellose Sodium
  • Magnesium Stearate

These commonly act as binders gluing agents[^6] that help compress other active ingredients into compact size. Worth noting also is that they do not react with your body chemicals or contribute significantly towards efficacy since they usually get expelled alongside waste material.

### Food Interactions With Plan B

Plan B usage does not significantly interact with food items per se. You do not need to follow a particular dietary guideline before or after taking them [^7] except perhaps replenishing lost fluids by drinking water or other juices.

If possible avoid eating products containing grapefruits since their juice variously interferes with levonorgestrel metabolism which might necessitate higher doses than normal and lead potentially cause adverse effects like hyperactive side effects[^8]

Conclusion

There we go! Clearly illustrated above are some critical aspects concerning what plan b comprises of from key active constituents, dosage forms available to any possible interaction with grapefruits. If in doubt about your specific case consult your doctor since they know best what’s good for you.

Stay safe!! and happy contraceptive-ing!!!


  1. Results may vary 

  2. Levonorgestrel responsible for giving Plan-B its pharmacological benefits. 

  3. Insists on impersonating progesterone adequately tricking the body into thinking it is more than enough at that time 

  4. Ovulation refers explicitly to the release of eggs from ovaries. 

  5. Occurs primarily among patients predisposed to clots or using long-term hormonal therapy such as contraceptives or HRTs..
    [^6] Binders, agents responsible for ensuring contents remain tightly compacted forming coherent entities.
    [^7] Unless directed expressly by an experienced pharmacist. For instance if prescribed alongside certain antibiotics like rifampin a slight recommedation adjustment saying taking Plean before meal might be recommended.
    [^8] Avoiding grapefruits also applies equally when one relies on other drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 enzymes found in Grapefruit juice 

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