Plan B One-step

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

What is Plan B One-step?[edit | edit source]

  • Plan B One-Step is a progestin-only emergency contraceptive used for prevention of pregnancy following unprotected intercourse or a known or suspected contraceptive failure.


Plan b one step.jpg


What are the uses of this medicine?[edit | edit source]

  • Plan B One-Step is a progestin-only emergency contraceptive indicated for prevention of pregnancy following unprotected intercourse or a known or suspected contraceptive failure.
  • To obtain optimal efficacy, the tablet should be taken as soon as possible within 72 hours of intercourse.
  • Plan B One-Step is available only by prescription for women younger than age 17 years, and available over the counter for women 17 years and older.

Limitation of use: Plan B One-Step is not indicated for routine use as a contraceptive.

How does this medicine work?[edit | edit source]

  • Emergency contraceptive pills are not effective if a woman is already pregnant.
  • Plan B One-Step is believed to act as an emergency contraceptive principally by preventing ovulation or fertilization (by altering tubal transport of sperm and/or ova).
  • In addition, it may inhibit implantation (by altering the endometrium). It is not effective once the process of implantation has begun.

Who Should Not Use this medicine ?[edit | edit source]

This medicine cannot be used in patients:

  • in the case of known or suspected pregnancy

What drug interactions can this medicine cause?[edit | edit source]

Drugs or herbal products that induce certain enzymes, such as CYP3A4, may decrease the effectiveness of progestin-only pills. Some drugs or herbal products that may decrease the effectiveness of progestin-only pills include:

Is this medicine FDA approved?[edit | edit source]

  • FDA approved this drug in the year of 2013 for emergency contraceptive without a prescription for women 15 years of age and older.


How should this medicine be used?[edit | edit source]

Recommended Dosage:

  • One tablet taken orally as soon as possible within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse. Efficacy is better if the tablet is taken as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse.
  • Plan B One-Step can be used at any time during the menstrual cycle.
  • If vomiting occurs within two hours of taking the tablet, consideration should be given to repeating the dose.

What are the dosage forms and brand names of this medicine?[edit | edit source]

This medicine is available in fallowing doasage form:

  • As 1.5 mg tablet

This medicine is available in fallowing brand namesː

  • Plan B One-Step

What side effects can this medication cause?[edit | edit source]

The most common side effects of this medicine include:

What special precautions should I follow?[edit | edit source]

  • Up to 10% of pregnancies reported in clinical studies of routine use of progestin-only contraceptives are ectopic. Women who become pregnant or complain of lower abdominal pain after taking Plan B One- Step should be evaluated for ectopic pregnancy.
  • Plan B One-Step is not effective in terminating an existing pregnancy.
  • Some women may experience spotting a few days after taking Plan B One-Step. Menstrual bleeding patterns are often irregular among women using progestin-only oral contraceptives and women using levonorgestrel for postcoital and emergency contraception. If there is a delay in the onset of expected menses beyond 1 week, consider the possibility of pregnancy.
  • Plan B One-Step does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
  • A rapid return of fertility is likely following treatment with Plan B One-Step for emergency contraception; therefore, routine contraception should be continued or initiated as soon as possible following use of Plan B One-Step to ensure ongoing prevention of pregnancy.

What to do in case of emergency/overdose?[edit | edit source]

Symptoms of overdosage may include:

  • There are no data on overdosage of Plan B One-Step, although the common adverse event of nausea and associated vomiting.

Can this medicine be used in pregnancy?[edit | edit source]

  • Many studies have found no harmful effects on fetal development associated with long-term use of contraceptive doses of oral progestins.

Can this medicine be used in children?[edit | edit source]

  • Safety and efficacy of progestin-only pills for long-term contraception have been established in women of reproductive age.
  • Safety and efficacy are expected to be the same for postpubertal adolescents less than 17 years and for users 17 years and older.
  • Use of Plan B One-Step emergency contraception before menarche is not indicated.

What are the active and inactive ingredients in this medicine?[edit | edit source]

Active ingredients:

  • LEVONORGESTREL

Inactive ingredients:

  • SILICON DIOXIDE
  • STARCH, CORN
  • LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE
  • MAGNESIUM STEARATE
  • STARCH, POTATO
  • TALC

Who manufactures and distributes this medicine?[edit | edit source]

  • Packager: Rebel Distributors Corp

What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?[edit | edit source]

  • Store Plan B One-Step at 20º to 25ºC (68º to 77ºF).
Plan B One-step Resources
Doctor showing form.jpg


Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Deepika vegiraju