Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Generic and brand names: emergency contraceptive; levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol, oral; Preven

What is this medicine used for?

This emergency contraceptive (birth control) kit is intended to prevent pregnancy after known or suspected failure of a birth control device or after unprotected intercourse. The kit contains a pregnancy test kit and 4 pills.

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

Do not take these pills if you:

• have severe high blood pressure
• have diabetes
• are a heavy smoker
• have or have had
  • a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in lung)
  • ischemic heart disease
  • heart valve disease
  • breast cancer
• have had
  • liver tumors or disease
  • a stroke
  • major surgery and have stayed in bed for several days recently.

Females of childbearing age: Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant because it is likely to harm the baby.

How do I use it?

If there is any chance you may already be pregnant, take the pregnancy test before you take this medicine. If the test is positive, taking this medicine is likely to harm the baby.

If the pregnancy test is negative, take 2 pills within 72 hours of intercourse to prevent pregnancy. Then take the other 2 pills 12 hours after the first 2.

If you vomit within 1 hour after either dose of this medicine, contact your health care provider. Ask if you should repeat the dose and if you should take a medicine to prevent nausea and vomiting.

Be sure to read the booklet that comes in the medicine package. Follow the directions carefully.

What should I watch out for?

The pills in this kit do not protect you against infection with HIV or other diseases spread by unprotected sex.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your health care provider right away. If you are unable to reach your health care provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Unexplained partial or total loss of vision, sudden shortness of breath, chest pain.

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Lightheadedness, dizziness, abnormal uterine bleeding, many severe headaches.

Other: Nausea, vomiting, menstrual irregularities, breast tenderness, abdominal cramps, dizziness.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• barbiturates such as phenobarbital, butabarbital (Butisol), and amobarbital (Amytal)
• benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), and flurazepam (Dalmane)
• beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), esmolol (Brevibloc), carteolol (Cartrol), bisoprolol (Zebeta), pindolol (Visken), metoprolol (Lopressor), timolol (Blocadren), Nadolol (Corgard), and propranolol (Inderal)
• blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin)
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• some antibiotics.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.