Levonorgestrel Side Effects and Warnings

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

All forms:

• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.

• Avoid cigarette smoking. Persons older than 35 years of age and/or smoking more than 15 cigarettes per day are at an increased risk for heart disease.

• Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.

• To protect against sexually-transmitted diseases, use a latex condom.

Oral:

• This medicine will not end a pregnancy.

• This medicine is not for regular use to prevent pregnancy.

Uterine device:

• If you have diabetes, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have heart valve disease, talk with healthcare provider.

• If you have high blood pressure, talk with healthcare provider.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine?

All forms:

• Weight gain.

• Headache.

• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.

• Acne.

• Breast enlargement.

• For females, vaginal yeast infection. Report itching or discharge.

• Menstrual changes. These include lots of bleeding, spotting, or bleeding between cycles.

• Gallbladder disease, blood clots, heart attacks, and other vascular problems can rarely occur.

Uterine device:

• Discomfort while device is being placed.

• High blood pressure.

• Cyst on the ovary can rarely occur.

Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately

All forms:

• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.

• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Severe headache.

• Severe belly pain.

• Severe nausea or vomiting.

• Sudden change in vision, eye pain, or irritation.

• A lump in the breast or breast tenderness.

• For females, if you are pregnant or may be pregnant.

Oral:

• If you vomit within 2 hours of taking this medicine.

Uterine device:

• Cannot feel string.

• Device comes out.

• Painful sex.

• Dark urine or yellow skin or eyes.

• Severe belly pain.