EllaOne 30mg Tablet

EllaOne is a single tablet emergency contraceptive that can be used up to 5 days after uprotected sexual intercourse. Along with other emergency contraceptives, It is also called the morning after pill. The active ingredient in EllaOne is ulipristal acetate.

EllaOne postpones ovulation by modifying the naturally occurring female hormone progesterone. It is 98% effective regardless of when it is taken, up to 5 days after unprotected sex. You can take EllaOne at anytime in your cycle and it is suitable for women of child-bearing age and for adolescents.

EllaOne can only be used in a menstrual cycle and should not be used as a regular form of contraception. Other options such as contraceptive pills, Inter-Uterine Devices (IUDs), contraceptive injections, or contraceptive patches should be discussed with a healthcare professional.

The treatment course for EllaOne is one tablet taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex. Unlike other emergency contraception treatments it is effective for up to five days after unprotected sexual intercourse.

EllaOne can be taken at any time of day on an empty stomach, or with or after food. Taking EllaOne with or after food may help to prevent nausea that is sometimes experienced for a few hours afterwards.

At The Independent Pharmacy we can supply two different single-dose emergency contraception tablets; EllaOne and Levonelle.

Mechanism of action

Levonelle is a synthetic substitute of the female hormone progesterone. It can be taken up to 3 days after unprotected sexualintercourse and the exact mechanism of how it works is not known. Depending on where you are in your cycle it is thought to prevent ovulation, fertilisation or implantation.

EllaOne also works on the progesterone hormone but it modifies it to prevent ovulation from taking place.

Effectiveness

With Levonelle the longer treatment is delayed after unprotected sex the less effective it becomes. If taken 24 hours after sex it is 98% effective, this drops to 85% after 48 hours and drops further to 58% up to 72 hours.

EllaOne can be taken up to 5 days after a sexual episode and is 98% effective up to 120 hours after unprotected sex.

Levonelle is not as effective in preventing pregnancy in larger women (ones who have a high Body Mass Index). EllaOne is more effective and is recommended in these cases.

Side effects (sickness)

If you are physically sick up to 2 hours after of taking Levonelle you need a replacement tablet.

A replacement is needed if you vomit up to 3 hours after taking EllaOne.

Multiple Uses

If needed Levonelle can be used more than once in a single menstrual cycle.

EllaOne can only be used once per cycle.

Nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps are common side effects with both Levonelle and EllaOne emergency contraception tablets.

Nausea is not a nice feeling and can be prevented by taking the medication with or after food, having regular snacks or taking an anti-sickness tablet before taking EllaOne. Nausea does not make the tablet any less effective.

Vomiting is not as common as simple nausea but it can still affect up to 10% of women taking EllaOne. If you are sick within 3 hours of taking the tablet, it will not be effective and you will need a replacement. If you are sick after more than 3 hours the effectiveness of EllaOne will not change and there is no need to take any action.

EllaOne can only be taken once per cycle. If you need to take more than one emergency contraceptive in a single cycle, Levonelle is a more appropriate option.

The majority of women will not be affected by any side effects. EllaOne is generally well tolerated, especially if it is taken with or after food.

The most common side effects are

• Stomach cramps
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headaches

Your next period may also be earlier or later than expected by a couple of days. If it is later than 7 days, or you experience any morning sickness or breast tenderness, you should perform a pregnancy test. Please see a doctor if the test results indicate that you are pregnant.

EllaOne can be used up to 5 days after unprotected sex as an emergency form of contraception. It will not stop you becoming pregnant if you have unprotected sex again after using it. It is recommended you use condoms every time you have sex until you have your next period.

EllaOne does not work if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant after using it, it will not harm your baby.

Breast milk should be removed using a breast pump and discarded for 7 days after taking EllaOne.

EllaOne doesn’t affect your fertility and in fact, after taking a tablet, you need to use condoms every time you have sex until you have your next period.

There are four different classes of medication that make EllaOne less effective. These are:

• St Johns Wort (used to treat depression or anxiety)
• Rifampicin and Rifambutin (antibiotics which are rarely used other than to treat tuberculoisis)
• Phenytoin, fosphenytoine, phenobarbital, primidone, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine (Used for the treatment of epilepsy. Carbamazepine can also be used for other ailments other than epilepsy.)
• Ritonavir, efavirenz, nevirapine (used to treat HIV infection)