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Levonorgestrel Brand Names
EContra EZ | EContra One-Step | Fallback Solo | Kyleena | LILETTA | Mirena | My Choice | My Way | Next Choice | Next Choice One Dose | Norplant | Opcicon One-Step | Plan B | Plan B One-Step | Preventeza | React | Skyla | Take Action
What is Levonorgestrel
Levonorgestrel is a synthetic progestin. Levonorgestrel is commonly used as an emergency post-coital oral contraceptive (Plan B, Plan B One-Step, and others).
A levonorgestrel implantable device (Norplant) was used historically for continuous routine contraception, but is no longer marketed.
Levonorgestrel is used for the routine prevention of pregnancy as various intrauterine devices (IUDs) such as Mirena, Skyla, Liletta, and Kyleena. Mirena is additionally used for the treatment of menorrhagia in women desiring an intrauterine device (IUD) for contraception.
The Liletta IUD is indicated for up to 6 years of use.
The Mirena, and Kyleena IUDs release a low amount of levonorgestrel continuously over a 5-year period.
The Skyla IUD is indicated for up to 3 years of use.
A 2-dose levonorgestrel-only emergency oral contraceptive regimen (e.g., Plan-B, others) is available non-prescription (OTC) for women age 17 years and older, is very effective at preventing pregnancy when ingested within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse.
The regimen causes less post-dose nausea than oral combination estrogen-progestin postcoital (Yuzpe) regimens.
Plan B One-Step (a 1 tablet, single-dose emergency oral contraceptive), is approved for non-prescription (OTC) use in all females of childbearing potential regardless of age; many other marketed products are available besides this brand.
Indications
- contraception
- endometriosis
- menorrhagia
- postcoital contraception
For routine contraception
Side Effects
- abdominal pain
- acne vulgaris
- alopecia
- amenorrhea
- anemia
- angioedema
- anxiety
- back pain
- bradycardia
- chills
- cholestasis
- depression
- dizziness
- dysmenorrhea
- dyspareunia
- ectopic pregnancy
- emotional lability
- endometritis
- fatigue
- fever
- fluid retention
- headache
- hepatoma
- hirsutism
- hyperglycemia
- hypertension
- infection
- jaundice
- leukorrhea
- libido decrease
- mastalgia
- menorrhagia
- menstrual irregularity
- migraine
- myocardial infarction
- nausea
- ovarian enlargement
- pelvic pain
- pulmonary embolism
- rash
- retinal thrombosis
- seborrhea
- stroke
- syncope
- thromboembolism
- thrombosis
- urticaria
- uterine contractions
- uterine perforation
- vaginal discharge
- vaginitis
- visual impairment
- vomiting
- weight gain
Monitoring Parameters
- pap smear
- pelvic exam
- pelvic ultrasound
- pregnancy testing
Contraindications
- acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
- anticoagulant therapy
- Asian patients
- bradycardia
- breast cancer
- breast-feeding
- cerebrovascular disease
- cervical cancer
- cervicitis
- children
- coagulopathy
- diabetes mellitus
- ectopic pregnancy
- endometritis
- headache
- hepatic disease
- hepatocellular cancer
- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- hypertension
- incomplete abortion
- infection
- intrauterine fetal death
- jaundice
- leukemia
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- menstrual irregularity
- migraine
- myocardial infarction
- obesity
- obstetric delivery
- ovarian cyst
- pregnancy
- pregnancy testing
- renal disease
- requires an experienced clinician
- seizure disorder
- sexually transmitted disease
- stroke
- syncope
- thromboembolic disease
- thrombophlebitis
- tobacco smoking
- uterine cancer
- uterine leiomyomata
- vaginal bleeding
- vaginal discharge
- vaginitis
- valvular heart disease
- visual disturbance
Interactions
- Acetaminophen; Butalbital
- Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine
- Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine; Codeine
- Acetohexamide
- Acitretin
- Alogliptin
- Alogliptin; Metformin
- Alogliptin; Pioglitazone
- Alpha-glucosidase Inhibitors
- Amikacin
- Aminoglycosides
- Amobarbital
- Amoxicillin
- Amoxicillin; Clarithromycin; Lansoprazole
- Amoxicillin; Clarithromycin; Omeprazole
- Amoxicillin; Clavulanic Acid
- Ampicillin
- Ampicillin; Sulbactam
- Amprenavir
- Apalutamide
- Aprepitant, Fosaprepitant
- Armodafinil
- Artemether; Lumefantrine
- Aspirin, ASA; Butalbital; Caffeine
- Aspirin, ASA; Butalbital; Caffeine; Codeine
- Atazanavir
- Atazanavir; Cobicistat
- Atropine; Hyoscyamine; Phenobarbital; Scopolamine
- Azithromycin
- Aztreonam
- Bacitracin
- Barbiturates
- Belladonna Alkaloids; Ergotamine; Phenobarbital
- Bexarotene
- Bismuth Subcitrate Potassium; Metronidazole; Tetracycline
- Bismuth Subsalicylate; Metronidazole; Tetracycline
- Boceprevir
- Bosentan
- Brigatinib
- Bromocriptine
- Butabarbital
- Calaspargase pegol
- Canagliflozin; Metformin
- Carbamazepine
- Carbapenems
- Carbenicillin
- Cefaclor
- Cefadroxil
- Cefazolin
- Cefdinir
- Cefditoren
- Cefepime
- Cefiderocol
- Cefixime
- Cefotaxime
- Cefotetan
- Cefoxitin
- Cefpodoxime
- Cefprozil
- Ceftaroline
- Ceftazidime
- Ceftazidime; Avibactam
- Ceftibuten
- Ceftizoxime
- Ceftolozane; Tazobactam
- Ceftriaxone
- Cefuroxime
- Cenobamate
- Cephalexin
- Charcoal
- Chenodiol
- Chloramphenicol
- Chlorpropamide
- Ciprofloxacin
- Clarithromycin
- Clindamycin
- Clobazam
- Cobicistat
- Colistimethate, Colistin, Polymyxin E
- Dabrafenib
- Dalbavancin
- Dapagliflozin
- Dapagliflozin; Metformin
- Dapagliflozin; Saxagliptin
- Daptomycin
- Darunavir
- Darunavir; Cobicistat
- Darunavir; Cobicistat; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir alafenamide
- Dasabuvir; Ombitasvir; Paritaprevir; Ritonavir
- Deferasirox
- Delafloxacin
- Demeclocycline
- Dicloxacillin
- Doripenem
- Doxycycline
- Efavirenz
- Efavirenz; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir
- Efavirenz; Lamivudine; Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate
- Elagolix
- Elagolix; Estradiol; Norethindrone acetate
- Elvitegravir
- Elvitegravir; Cobicistat; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir Alafenamide
- Elvitegravir; Cobicistat; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate
- Empagliflozin
- Empagliflozin; Linagliptin
- Empagliflozin; Linagliptin; Metformin
- Empagliflozin; Metformin
- Enasidenib
- Encorafenib
- Enzalutamide
- Eravacycline
- Ertapenem
- Ertugliflozin; Metformin
- Ertugliflozin; Sitagliptin
- Erythromycin
- Erythromycin; Sulfisoxazole
- Eslicarbazepine
- Felbamate
- Fidaxomicin
- Flibanserin
- Fosamprenavir
- Gemifloxacin
- Gentamicin
- Glimepiride
- Glimepiride; Pioglitazone
- Glimepiride; Rosiglitazone
- Glipizide
- Glipizide; Metformin
- Glyburide
- Glyburide; Metformin
- Glycylcyclines
- Griseofulvin
- Hydantoins
- Idelalisib
- Imipenem; Cilastatin
- Imipenem; Cilastatin; Relebactam
- Incretin Mimetics
- Indinavir
- Insulins
- Isoniazid, INH; Pyrazinamide, PZA; Rifampin
- Isoniazid, INH; Rifampin
- Isotretinoin
- Ivosidenib
- Kanamycin
- Lamotrigine
- Lefamulin
- Leflunomide
- Lesinurad
- Lesinurad; Allopurinol
- Levofloxacin
- Linagliptin
- Linagliptin; Metformin
- Lincomycin
- Lincosamides
- Linezolid
- Lomitapide
- Lopinavir; Ritonavir
- Lorlatinib
- Lumacaftor; Ivacaftor
- Meglitinides
- Mephobarbital
- Meropenem
- Meropenem; Vaborbactam
- Metformin
- Metformin; Pioglitazone
- Metformin; Repaglinide
- Metformin; Rosiglitazone
- Metformin; Saxagliptin
- Metformin; Sitagliptin
- Methohexital
- Metronidazole
- Mifepristone
- Miltefosine
- Minocycline
- Mivacurium
- Modafinil
- Morphine
- Morphine; Naltrexone
- Moxifloxacin
- Nafcillin
- Nelfinavir
- Neomycin
- Nevirapine
- Nitrofurantoin
- Norfloxacin
- Ofloxacin
- Omadacycline
- Ombitasvir; Paritaprevir; Ritonavir
- Omeprazole; Amoxicillin; Rifabutin
- Oritavancin
- Oxacillin
- Oxcarbazepine
- Paromomycin
- Pegaspargase
- Penicillin G
- Penicillin G Benzathine
- Penicillin G Benzathine; Penicillin G Procaine
- Penicillin G Procaine
- Penicillin V
- Pentobarbital
- Perampanel
- Pexidartinib
- Phenobarbital
- Phentermine; Topiramate
- Piperacillin
- Piperacillin; Tazobactam
- Pitolisant
- Plazomicin
- Polymyxin B
- Polymyxins
- Pramlintide
- Prasterone, Dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA (Dietary Supplements)
- Prasterone, Dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA (FDA-approved)
- Primidone
- Pyrimethamine; Sulfadoxine
- Rifabutin
- Rifampin
- Rifamycins
- Rifapentine
- Riluzole
- Ritonavir
- Roflumilast
- Rufinamide
- Saquinavir
- Sarilumab
- Saxagliptin
- Secobarbital
- Siltuximab
- Simvastatin; Sitagliptin
- Sitagliptin
- St. John’s Wort, Hypericum perforatum
- Streptogramins
- Streptomycin
- Succinylcholine
- Sugammadex
- Sulfadiazine
- Sulfamethoxazole; Trimethoprim, SMX-TMP, Cotrimoxazole
- Sulfasalazine
- Sulfisoxazole
- Sulfonamides
- Sulfonylureas
- Tacrine
- Tazemetostat
- Tedizolid
- Telavancin
- Telithromycin
- Teriflunomide
- Tetracycline
- Thalidomide
- Thiopental
- Ticarcillin
- Ticarcillin; Clavulanic Acid
- Tigecycline
- Tinidazole
- Tipranavir
- Tizanidine
- Tobramycin
- Tocilizumab
- Tolazamide
- Tolbutamide
- Topiramate
- Trimethoprim
- Ulipristal
- Vancomycin
- Warfarin