Levonelle one step

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe.

The morning after pill may be less effective if you are taking any of the following medicines, because these medicines speed up the breakdown of levonorgestrel by the liver:

- antiepileptic medicines such as carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, topiramate or primidone
- barbiturates
- griseofulvin
- nevirapine
- protease inhibitors for HIV infection such as ritonavir
- rifamycin antibiotics such as rifabutin or rifampicin
- the herbal remedy St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum).

If you are taking any of these medicines regularly, you may be advised to take two doses of this medicine, one tablet immediately and another twelve hours later (ie a total dose of 3mg). This is an unlicensed use of the medicine. An alternative would be to have a coil fitted as emergency contraception, as this is not affected by the medicines you are taking. You should discuss these options with your doctor, pharmacist or family planning clinic.

This medicine may increase the blood level of ciclosporin (an immunosuppressant).

This medicine may decrease the blood level of the antiepileptic medicine lamotrigine.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient

Levonelle 1500 (the morning after pill that you will be dispensed if you get a prescription from a doctor)

Norgeston is a progesterone only contraceptive pill (mini pill) that contains levonorgestrel.

Mirena is a contraceptive coil that contains levonorgestrel.

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