EllaOne Emergency Contraception Morning After Pill

ellaOne 30mg tablet is an emergency contraceptive intended to help prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure (for example, condom breakage/slippage or missed contraceptive pill).

• Take as soon as possible after unprotected sex, and no later than 120 hours (5 days). It is more effective the sooner it is taken.
• Works by postponing ovulation (it does not work if you are already pregnant and will not interrupt an existing pregnancy).
• Not for regular contraception. If you do not have a regular method, ask a pharmacist/GP/sexual health clinic about suitable ongoing options.
• Does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Condoms help protect against STIs.

Pack contents: 1 film-coated tablet in a blister pack.

Legal category: Pharmacy medicine (P) in UK dm+d listing. 

Always take this medicine exactly as described in the leaflet or as advised by a pharmacist/doctor.

• Dose: Take one tablet by mouth as soon as possible and no later than 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure.
• Can be taken at any time in your menstrual cycle, and before, during or after food.
• If you vomit within 3 hours of taking the tablet, take another tablet as soon as possible.

After taking ellaOne:

• Use condoms every time you have sex until your next period, because unprotected sex after taking it can still lead to pregnancy.
• If you use regular hormonal contraception, continue it as usual after taking ellaOne, but use condoms until your next period.
• Your next period may be a few days late. If it is more than 7 days late, unusually light/heavy, or you have pregnancy symptoms, do a pregnancy test and seek advice. 

Active ingredient:

• Ulipristal acetate 30mg per film-coated tablet.

Other ingredients:

• Tablet core: lactose monohydrate, povidone, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate
• Film coating: poly(vinyl alcohol) (E1203), macrogol (E1521), talc (E553b), titanium dioxide (E171), polysorbate 80 (E433), iron oxide yellow (E172), potassium aluminium silicate (E555) 

Do not take ellaOne if:

• You are allergic to ulipristal acetate or any ingredients.

Speak to a pharmacist/doctor before taking if:

• Your period is late or you have pregnancy symptoms (you may already be pregnant).
• You have severe asthma or severe liver disease.

Medicine interactions (may reduce effectiveness):

If you have used any of the following in the last 4 weeks, ellaOne may be less suitable and a copper IUD (Cu-IUD) may be recommended: certain epilepsy medicines (e.g. carbamazepine, phenytoin, barbiturates), tuberculosis medicines (rifampicin/rifabutin), some HIV treatments (e.g. ritonavir, efavirenz, nevirapine), griseofulvin, and St John’s wort.

Breastfeeding:

• Do not breastfeed for 1 week after taking ellaOne; use a breast pump to maintain milk supply but discard the milk during that week.

Important notes:

• Emergency contraception is not effective in every case.
• STI protection: this medicine does not protect against STIs.

Possible side effects (not everyone gets them):

• Common (up to 1 in 10): nausea, abdominal pain/discomfort, vomiting; painful periods, pelvic pain, breast tenderness; headache, dizziness, mood swings; muscle/back pain, tiredness.
• Uncommon (up to 1 in 100): diarrhoea, heartburn, wind, dry mouth; irregular/heavy/prolonged bleeding; hot flushes; sleep problems/sleepiness; migraine/visual disturbance; skin reactions (e.g. itching/acne); fever/chills/malaise.
• Rare (up to 1 in 1,000): allergic reactions (rash, hives, swelling of the face), fainting/vertigo, rupture of an ovarian cyst (rare).

Seek urgent medical advice if you have severe abdominal pain or bleeding, or signs of an allergic reaction (swelling of face/lips/tongue, breathing difficulty).