Option 2®
One Tablet, One Step.
*Compare to Plan B One Step.
Safety
Levonorgestrel – the active ingredient in Option 2® Levonorgestrel Tablet, 1.5 mg – has been used in many daily-use oral contraceptives for decades. Option 2® Levonorgestrel Tablet, 1.5 mg is designed to prevent pregnancy in the event that normal contraceptives fail, are not used, or are not available.
This FDA approved drug effectively prevents approximately 7 of 8 pregnancies that would occur in the absence of routine contraceptive use, if used within 3 days (72 hours) of intercourse. Option 2® Levonorgestrel Tablet, 1.5 mg is a generic product that is bioequivalent to the Plan B® One-Step product.
It is important to note that Option 2® Levonorgestrel Tablet, 1.5 mg is a method of birth control, that cannot terminate an existing pregnancy, but may prevent one from occurring. By using the same hormones (levongesterel) found in normal oral contraceptives, but at an elevated dose, Option 2® Levonorgestrel Tablet, 1.5 mg effectively interferes with the process that allows pregnancy to occur.
Option 2® Levonorgestrel Tablet, 1.5 mg:
- Is not an abortion pill (won’t terminate an existing pregnancy)
- Is not effective if you are already pregnant
- Does not offer protection from HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) or other sexually transmitted diseases
Option 2® Levonorgestrel Tablet, 1.5 mg is a single 1.5 mg dose of levonorgestrel. It should be taken as soon as possible after intercourse. The sooner the first pill is taken, the more effective it is. It can be effective up to 72 hours (3 days) after intercourse.
Option 2® Levonorgestrel Tablet, 1.5 mg can be purchased at select pharmacies nationwide, and provides a safe and effective, low-cost back-up option when normal birth control methods fail. It is available as an over-the-counter (OTC) drug for use by women 17 years of age or older.
The Option 2® Levonorgestrel Tablet, 1.5 mg is designed for use as an emergency contraceptive only. Emergency contraception with Option 2® Levonorgestrel Tablet, 1.5 mg is not as effective as when other methods of birth control are used correctly.
The Option 2® Levonorgestrel Tablet, 1.5 mg works just like normal birth control pills – it contains the same hormone (levonorgestrel) found in many popular oral contraceptives, but at a higher dose. By using an elevated dose, it may help prevent pregnancy from occurring if you forgot to use or had a problem with your normal birth control method, or other alternatives were unavailable to you, if you take it within 72 hours (3 days) of intercourse.
If you are at risk of an unplanned pregnancy, contact your doctor or pharmacist to discuss your options for emergency contraception.
Option 2® Levonorgestrel Tablet, 1.5 mg prevents pregnancy by preventing or delaying ovulation. Option 2® Levonorgestrel Tablet, 1.5 mg cannot terminate an existing pregnancy. Option 2® Levonorgestrel Tablet, 1.5 mg simply prevents the process that allows pregnancy to happen, just like daily-use contraceptive medicines. The only difference is that Option 2® Levonorgestrel Tablet, 1.5 mg can be taken – and be effective – up to 72 hours after unprotected intercourse.
Common side effects are similar to those experienced with daily-use birth control pills, and include nausea and vomiting. If you experience vomiting within two hours of taking a dose, please consult your doctor, as a repeat dose may be necessary.
Other reported side effects are mild and include headache, tiredness, breast tenderness, dizziness, and lower stomach (abdominal) pain. These are similar to the side effects that some women have when taking regular birth control pills. Some women taking Option 2® Levonorgestrel Tablet, 1.5 mg will have menstrual changes such as spotting or bleeding before their next period. Some women may have a heavier or lighter next period, or a period that is early or late. If your period is more than a week late, you should have a pregnancy test, because you may be pregnant. If delayed menstruation is accompanied by abdominal pain, consult your doctor immediately, as this may be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy.
Emergency contraception is recognized alongside routine forms of contraception by family planning organizations, and state and federal government. Normal methods of contraception should, however, still be used as the primary means of preventing pregnancy. The Option 2® Levonorgestrel Tablet, 1.5 mg does not prevent against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.