What You Should Know

Follow these instructions for oral contraceptives that can be used for emergency contraception in the United Statesa:

Brand First Doseb Second Doseb
(12 hours later)
Progestin-only pills
Plan B 2 white pills Noneb
Combined progestin and estrogen pills
Alesse 5 pink pills 5 pink pills
Aviane 5 orange pills 5 orange pills
Cryselle 4 white pills 4 white pills
Enpresse 4 orange pills 4 orange pills
Jolessa 4 pink pills 4 pink pills
Lessina 5 pink pills 5 pink pills
Levlen 4 light-orange pills 4 light-orange pills
Levlite 5 pink pills 5 pink pills
Levora 4 white pills 4 white pills
Lo/Ovral 4 white pills 4 white pills
Low-Ogestrel 4 white pills 4 white pills
Lutera 5 white pills 5 white pills
Lybrel 6 yellow pills 6 yellow pills
Nordette 4 light-orange pills 4 light-orange pills
Ogestrel 2 white pills 2 white pills
Ovral 2 white pills 2 white pills
Portia 4 pink pills 4 pink pills
Quasense 4 white pills 4 white pills
Seasonale 4 pink pills 4 pink pills
Seasonique 4 light-blue-green pills 4 light-blue-green pills
Tri-Levlen 4 yellow pills 4 yellow pills
Triphasil 4 yellow pills 4 yellow pills
Trivora 4 pink pills 4 pink pills

Source: www.not-2-late.com

Notes:

a Plan-B is the only dedicated product specifically marketed for emergency contraception. Alesse, Aviane, Cryselle, Enpresse, Jolessa, Lessina, Levlen, Levlite, Levora, Lo/Ovral, Low-Ogestrel, Lutera, Lybrel, Nordette, Ogestrel, Ovral, Portia, Quasense, Seasonale, Seasonique, Tri-Levlen, Triphasil, and Trivora have been declared safe and effective for use as ECPs by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Outside the United States, more than 50 emergency contraceptive products are specifically packaged, labeled, and marketed. Levonorgestrel-only ECPs are available either over-the-counter or from a pharmacist without having to see a clinician in 50 countries. On August 24, 2006, the FDA approved Plan B for nonprescription sale to women and men 18 and older.

b The label for Plan B says to take one pill within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse, and another pill 12 hours later. However, recent research has found that both Plan B pills can be taken at the same time. Research has also shown that all of the brands listed here are effective when used within 120 hours after unprotected sex.