Ezinelle

Ezinelle is an effective form of emergency contraception (also known as a ‘morning after pill’). The chance of not getting pregnant after taking Ezinelle is improved by how quickly you take it after having unprotected sex.

Ezinelle works by preventing ovulation (the egg from being released into the womb).

There are other forms of emergency contraception with similar, but slightly higher success rates. According to the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health (FSRH) EllaOne (98-99% effective) and the copper IUD (intrauterine device, <99.9% effective) are more effective in preventing pregnancy after unprotected sex. Out of these two, the copper IUD is the most effective and is the only emergency contraception that can be used after ovulation.

If you weigh more than 70kg or have a BMI of more than 26 Ezinelle may be less effective and EllaOne or a copper coil would be recommended (or your doctor may advise taking a double dose of Ezinelle however this is “off license”). 

Please note: where a generic product has been ordered we may use a range of manufacturers to provide you with your medication, in order to maintain our service levels.

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**According to NHS Choices, free or OTC morning after pills can be obtained in person from certain surgeries, clinics, or pharmacies. 

Ezinelle does not require a prescription but it is always best to consult a doctor or pharmacist before using emergency contraception if you can. Superdrug Online Doctor provides fast, easy access to a doctor consultation service for your morning after pill.

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Levonelle (sometimes known as Levonelle One-Step or Levonelle 1500) is the branded version of Ezinelle. Levonelle used to be the only medical form of the hormone, levonorgestrel, available in the UK. This meant the manufacturer of Levonelle was the only one legally allowed to produce the medication. As a result they were allowed to set the price. You might have heard of the brand ‘Plan B’ which is the American branded form of Levonorgestrel.

On 13th May 2015, the new levonorgestrel medication Ezinelle was granted ‘marketing authorisation’ (meaning it was legally allowed to be sold by other manufacturers than the one that owns Levonelle). Unlike the branded medication Levonelle, Ezinelle is unbranded (or generic) medication and so the price is competitive between multiple manufacturers.

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Ezinelle can cause a number of potential side effects which include:

Very common side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 to 1 in 100 people), eg:

• Feeling sick (nausea)
• Lower abdominal pain
• Tiredness (fatigue)
• Headache
• Irregular bleeding until your next period

Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people), eg:

• Being sick (vomiting)
• Your period might be different
• Experiencing the following after taking this medication:
  • Tender breasts
  • Diarrhoea
  • Feeling dizzy (remember not to attempt driving if you experience dizziness)

Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):

• Abdominal pain
• Rash
• Hives (urticaria)
• Itching (pruritus)
• Swelling of the face (facial oedema)
• Pain in the hips (pelvic pain)
• Period pain

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Ezinelle can be taken at any time during your menstrual cycle so long as you are not pregnant. However it is only effective if taken before ovulation. If you are very close to ovulating EllaOne would be more effective or up to 5 days after ovulation a copper coil can be inserted. It is important to check that your Ezinelle will not be affected by your other medications. If this is the case for you then discuss you emergency contraception with a doctor and they can prescribe you an alternate treatment method.

You should try to limit your use of Ezinelle to emergencies. Using Ezinelle more than once within the same 28-day period cycle can interrupt the cycle. If you find you are regularly needing Ezinelle then you should consider a longer term form of contraception.

If you take too many Ezinelle tablets at once you should not be at risk of serious harm, but you may experience sickness or some vaginal bleeding. If you are sick or have diarrhoea within 3 hours after taking Ezinelle then you should see a doctor or pharmacist to receive another dose of Ezinelle.

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Your period may become: 

• Earlier
• Later
• Irregular – including some spotting
• Lighter or heavier – if this is an unusually strong change then please contact a doctor as soon as you can

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If you are breastfeeding and you take Ezinelle then the medicine might appear in the breastmilk you are feeding your child. This might not harm the baby but there is limited evidence available so it is best to discuss with a doctor if you require emergency contraception. After taking Ezinelle, try and avoid any more breastfeeding for the next 8 hours.

You should talk to a doctor or pharmacist before using Ezinelle if you are:

• Are pregnant
• Are breastfeeding
• Think you might be pregnant
• Are planning to have a child

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Ezinelle 1.5mg tablet (2018) EMC [accessed 9 July 2020] 

CEU clinical guidance: emergency contraception (March 2017, amended December 2017) FSRH [accessed 9 July 2020]

CEU clinical guidance drug interactions with hormonal contraception (January 2017, reviewed 2019) FSRH [accessed 9 July 2020]

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