Postinor: instructions for use. Escapel, Postinor: side effects, analogues How effective are postinor tablets

In the sexual life of every couple, at least once an unforeseen situation happened: a condom broke, a woman forgot to take a pill in time to prevent unwanted pregnancy, or a partner in a fit of passion failed to control his emotions.

It would seem that conception is inevitable, but it is not. Even if the incident occurred on the days most favorable for pregnancy, you can correct the situation with the help of the most popular of which is Postinor.

The effect of Postinor on a woman's body

This drug and its analogues (Microlut, Escapel, etc.) are characterized by a triple mechanism of action. The active substance of Postinor is an artificial analogue of the main hormone of pregnancy - progesterone - levonorgestrel, contained in the drug in large quantities (0.75 mg).

Due to its effect on the body, Postinor blocks or delays ovulation, preventing the release of a mature egg from the ovary into the fallopian tube, prevents the fertilization of the egg by spermatozoa, making the cervical mucus thicker to prevent spermatozoa from entering the uterine cavity, and changes the usual structure of the endometrium lining the woman's uterus, making implantation impossible. If the introduction of a fertilized egg into the wall of the uterus has already occurred, Postinor will not stop the pregnancy process. If you have a delay in menstruation after taking Postinor, then he recommends more about this.

When to use Postinor?

It is recommended to use Postinor only in emergency cases (rape, torn condom, prolapse of the uterine spiral, missing an oral contraceptive, etc.). In foreign countries, it can only be purchased with a prescription, while in Russia Postinor and its analogues are freely available, which in fact is the reason for the frequent abuse of this drug, leading to problems in the female reproductive system.

If Postinor is used in accordance with the instructions, taking into account all side effects and contraindications, no more than once every six months (or better, as rarely as possible), as a rule, it should not have any serious consequences for a woman's health. But if you neglect the instructions and often use the funds without consulting a gynecologist, you can greatly harm the body, up to the appearance of infertility.

How to use Postinor? Postinor instruction

Postinor is taken on any day of the menstrual cycle. The drug package contains 2 tablets, which should be taken with a break of 12 hours. For maximum effect, the first tablet should be taken as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse, but no later than 72 hours.

The sooner you drink it, the less chance you have of an unwanted pregnancy. The second tablet is taken 12 hours after the first. If you vomit within 2 hours after taking Postinor, it is better to repeat the drug.

The time of transportation of a mature egg and its implantation in the uterine wall takes about 5 days, so the effectiveness of postcoital contraception is highly dependent on the time of administration after intercourse. If more than 4 days have passed since the moment of unprotected contact, there is no point in drinking Postinor, because. he won't help anymore.

Postinor contraindications

A special indication for taking the drug is the presence of a regular menstrual cycle. Postinor is prohibited for women with any liver or gallbladder disease, hypersensitivity to any component of the drug, hereditary diseases (glucose-galactose malabsorption, lactase deficiency, lactose intolerance).

It is contraindicated to use Postinor more than once every 3-6 months, since the frequent use of this remedy increases the risk of developing ovarian dysfunction, which can lead to infertility. Do not use Postinor for pregnant and lactating women.

Side effects of taking Postinor

Any medicine has side effects, and Postinor is a strong, high-dose hormonal drug that, if used frequently or incorrectly, can cause serious diseases.

Common side effects of taking Postinor:

• Violation of the intestines and digestive system, manifested by diarrhea, vomiting;
• headache, dizziness;
• Lethargy, weakness;
• allergic reactions

Side effects related to the reproductive sphere:

• Uterine bleeding;

A common side effect after using Postinor is the appearance. They occur due to a sharp increase in progestogens in the body responsible for lining the inner layer of a woman's uterus.

• Impaired ovarian function leading to infertility;

If Postinor is used too often, persistent bleeding can cause ovarian exhaustion and disruption of their function, as well as provoke the appearance of anemia.

• Dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, infertility;

Another serious side effect from taking Postinor is expressed in the development of a woman (pain during menstruation), (absence of menstruation) and even. In women who have used emergency contraception, the menstrual cycle may be disrupted, hormonal disruptions may begin, and severe pain during menstruation may appear.

If after taking the drug Postinor for 2 weeks or more, it is necessary to consult a gynecologist to exclude pregnancy or the negative effect of the drug on the reproductive system.

Postinor: instructions for use and reviews

In no case!
The sooner, the better. The sooner you take the pill, the more likely you are to prevent pregnancy.
Postinor is a solution to the problem with the help of a pill: just 2 pills and you will not need any abortion.
Some people refer to emergency contraceptive pills as “next day pills.” But this does not oblige you to wait until the next day. You can drink the Postinor tablet immediately or use it up to three days after unprotected intercourse (sex), or if you are afraid that the method of contraception you are using has not justified itself.

How to take POSTINOR?

The package contains 2 tablets.
The first pill should be taken no later than 72 hours after unprotected sex, the second - 12 hours after the first.

Take Postinor as soon as possible! The sooner, the better!

The sooner you take Postinor, the more likely it will be effective. Ideally, you should try to take your first pill within 24 hours of unprotected intercourse, as this is when emergency contraception is most effective.

The effectiveness of emergency contraception depends on the number of hours that have passed since unprotected sex.

When can I take POSTINOR?

POSTINOR is a safe way to prevent pregnancy up to 72 hours after contraceptive failure or unprotected intercourse (sex), with a low incidence of side effects.
It is highly unlikely that you will experience any serious or long-term side effects after taking Postinor. As a rule, you can continue your day in the usual way.

Do not take POSTINOR:

If you are already pregnant, because it will not work, although it will not harm you or your fetus.
If you are allergic to levonorgestrel or any of the other ingredients of Postinor.

Postinor will not protect you from HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

How often can I take POSTINOR?

It is not a regular method of contraception. Try to use it as little as possible, only in emergency cases. But never forget: this method has far fewer side effects and health risks than abortion pills or medical abortion.

Strictly speaking, Postinor should not be taken more than once during one menstrual cycle. If Postinor is used more than once during the menstrual cycle, then this will most likely disrupt your menstrual cycle.
Emergency contraception does not work as well as regular methods of contraception. Your doctor, nurse, or family planning clinic can tell you about long-term contraceptive methods that are more effective in preventing you from getting pregnant.

If you are pregnant

If you are already pregnant, then the Postinor tablet simply will not work, and besides, it will not harm either the existing pregnancy or the fetus.
If you think you are pregnant, contact your doctor or family planning clinic as soon as possible.

If you have already taken Postinor once since your last period and now find that you are pregnant, do not take Postinor again.

What should I do if I vomit after taking Postinor?

After taking Postinor, some women (about 1 in 100) may experience nausea or vomiting.

If you vomit within 3 hours after taking the Postinor tablet, you need to take another Postinor tablet.

If vomiting occurs more than 3 hours after taking the Postinor tablet, you do not need to take the Postinor tablet again.

How do I know if the POSTINOR tablet has worked?

You will know that the Postinor tablet has worked when your next menstrual cycle begins and the cycle is normal.

When should you see a doctor?

• If your period is more than 5 days late, or if it is unusually heavy or light.
• If you are still concerned that you are pregnant.
• If you have sudden or unusual pain in your lower abdomen and your period is late.
• If you have any doubts about your health or the contraceptive method that is best for you.

1 tablet contains 750 mcg , as well as anhydrous colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, potato and corn starch, talc, lactose monohydrate.

Release form

Tablets packaged in blisters of 2 pcs. The package contains 1 blister.

Contraceptive pills Postinor are flat, approximately 6 mm in diameter, with a chamfer, almost white, on one side they are engraved with the inscription "INOR".

pharmachologic effect

The drug helps to prevent pregnancy, causes effects in the body similar to the action of hormones of the corpus luteum of the ovaries, and also suppresses the effects caused by .

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

What is Postinor?

Postinor is a remedy with a pronounced antiestrogen And progestogenic activity. These properties of the drug make it difficult to conceive at an early stage and help prevent pregnancy.

Pharmacodynamics

How Postinor works is not exactly known. Contained in tablets levonorgestrel prevents ovulation and fertilization of the egg if UPC (unprotected sexual intercourse) happened before ovulation (when fertilization is most likely).

Levonorgestrel also causes changes in the endometrium, which make it difficult for a fertilized egg to enter the mucous layer of the uterine cavity. In cases where the attachment of the fetal egg has already begun, the drug does not give the expected effect.

Wikipedia states that the mechanism of action levonorgestrel is most successful when the size of the dominant follicle is 17 mm. Best of all, the drug suppresses ovulation no later than three days before it.

The effectiveness of tablets

The probability of pregnancy after the use of Postinor tablets is 15-42%. The action after taking the better, the less time has passed after NPC.

If the drug was taken within 24 hours, its effectiveness is 95%, in the next 24 hours it decreases to 85%, on the third day - up to 58%. It makes no sense to take the drug later than 72 hours later.

Is Postinor harmful?

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption in the alimentary canal when ingested is rapid and complete. In the body, the drug binds to SHBG and albumin: approximately 65% ​​of the dose taken is associated with SHBG, only 1.5% is in the free form.

96 minutes after taking the tablet, the plasma concentration levonorgestrel reaches 14.1 ng/ml. Then there is a 2-stage decrease in Cmax.

The drug is well distributed in tissues and organs.

Its biotransformation is carried out in the liver. The resulting metabolic products (conjugated glucuronates) are pharmacologically inactive.

Levonorgestrel It is excreted from the body exclusively in the form of metabolic products. About half of the dose taken is excreted in the urine, the rest - in the faeces. The value of T1 / 2 varies from 9 to 14.5 hours.

With milk, about 0.1% of the dose enters the body of an infant when a nursing woman takes Postinor.

Indications for use

“Urgent” contraception in case of failure of the chosen method of contraception or after CPD.

Contraindications

A contraindication to the use of the drug is intolerance levonorgestrel or any of the auxiliary ingredients contained therein.

The drug is used in pediatric practice. Data regarding its use in girls under 16 years of age are limited, therefore, in adolescence, Postinor is not recommended to be taken without medical supervision.

Side effects of Postinor: why is the drug dangerous?

In the annotation to the drug, the manufacturer reports that the most common reaction to the use of levonorgestrel is nausea .

In addition, the following side effects of Postinor were recorded during the studies:

• dizziness;
• headache;
• And vomit ;
• nausea;
• not related to the menstrual cycle ;
• failure of the menstrual cycle (namely, a delay in menstruation after taking the pill for more than a week);
• increased fatigue.

Post-marketing observations have shown that sometimes (quite rarely) the use of the drug may be accompanied by: hypersensitivity reactions ( , the appearance of rashes on the skin, skin itching), , pain in the pelvis and / or in the abdomen, swelling of the face.

What is harmful Postinor?

Reviews of side effects allow us to conclude that the most unpleasant, according to women, phenomena after taking Postinor:

• bleeding (in some reviews it is mentioned that, not knowing how to stop the bleeding after Postinor, the woman was forced to seek medical help);
• severe hormonal imbalance and severe cycle disorders (many cases have been described when, after taking Postinor, there are no periods for several cycles; it takes up to a year for someone to restore the regularity of menstruation).

This list can include the appearance of "male" signs, metabolic disorders And acne .

Sometimes the consequences of taking Postinor tablets manifest themselves in the form of miscarriage of subsequent pregnancies and infertility.

To minimize harm to the body, the drug should be used no more than 3-4 times a year.

Tablets Postinor: instructions for use

How to take Postinor?

The instructions for Postinor indicate that the contraceptive effect is provided by taking two tablets (provided that the first tablet is drunk in the first 3 days after the NPC). Between doses 1 and 2 doses withstand a twelve-hour interval.

If within 3 hours after the drug was drunk (regardless of whether 1 or 2 doses), you should immediately take another 750 mcg levonorgestrel (3rd tablet).

The tool can be used in any phase of the menstrual cycle. A prerequisite is the absence of a woman's delay in menstruation.

After taking the pills before the start of the next menstruation, it is recommended to use funds barrier contraception (cervical cap or condoms).

Taking the drug is not a contraindication for the continued use of hormonal contraceptives for regular use.

How to understand that the drug has worked?

The tablet begins to act immediately after dissolution and absorption in the intestinal tract.

The evidence that the drug "worked" is menstruation.

Bleeding after consumption excludes pregnancy in about 95-85% of cases if it begins 3-6 days after taking the pill.

What can the delay after Postinor indicate?

If there is no bleeding after taking the drug, or if the bleeding begins later than the indicated dates, the woman is recommended to do and undergo an examination by a gynecologist to exclude pregnancy.

It is worth consulting a doctor not only with a delay in menstruation, but also if, after taking Postinor, the consequences are expressed in the form of unusually strong bleeding for a woman. The causes of such bleeding may be an excess of the recommended dose and the negative impact levonorgestrel on uterine endometrium .

Sometimes women note that they have brown discharge after taking it. The phenomenon is considered the norm if the discharge appears within a few days, thus completing the menstruation artificially induced by the pills. However, in some women, spotting can last up to a month.

Most likely, this is an individual reaction to severe stress for the reproductive system, but only a doctor can accurately diagnose the cause of the discharge.

Cause for concern are menstrual bleeding lasting more than 14 days, the absence of a full period, the appearance of clots or heavy brown discharge, pain.

When should my period start after taking the pills?

It is impossible to say exactly when menstruation will begin after the use of Postinor. The tablets contain a large amount levonorgestrel Therefore, even a single use of the drug does not pass without a trace for the body.

In most cases, after taking the remedy, the menstrual cycle remains the same. Sometimes bleeding may start earlier or later. Normally, the delay should not be more than 5-7 days. Otherwise, pregnancy should be excluded.

After taking levonorgestrel a woman is advised to visit a doctor who will help her choose the most suitable method of regular contraception.

Is it worth taking Postinor if NPK occurred during menstruation?

Women with irregular cycles are more likely to get pregnant even during their menstrual bleeding. The appropriateness of the use of "urgent" contraceptives, if the NPC occurred during menstruation, can be determined by the doctor.

How often can I take Postinor?

To the question “How often can I take emergency contraceptive pills?” doctors answer that Postinor-type drugs are not intended for systematic use. They are used only in emergency situations and no more than 3-4 times a year.

Overdose

Clinical picture of overdose hormonal means emergency contraception not described. Most likely, the first signs of poisoning will be nausea and breakthrough bleeding.

Postinor does not have a specific antidote.

Interaction

In combination with liver enzyme inducers, metabolism is activated levonorgestrel .

The effectiveness of drugs that contain levonorgestrel , may decrease with simultaneous use with:

• barbiturates ;
• preparations of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum);
• rafibutin ;
• ritonavir ;
• phenytoin ;

Women taking these drugs should consult a doctor before taking Postinor.

Levonorgestrel-containing drugs can lead to increased toxicity , which is associated with the possible suppression of its metabolism.

Terms of sale

On prescription.

Storage conditions

Tablets should be stored at 15-25°C.

Best before date

special instructions

Means of "urgent" contraception are intended for occasional use and do not replace the regular method of contraception.

“Emergency” contraception does not always prevent pregnancy. If there is any doubt as to the timing of CPP, or if an unprotected intercourse has taken place more than 72 hours during the same cycle, the possibility that a fertilized egg has already implanted in the uterine wall cannot be ruled out.

In this regard, the use of tablets at the next sexual contact may be ineffective. If the cycle is delayed by more than 5 days, if atypical bleeding develops on the day of the expected menstruation, as well as if there are other reasons to suspect the occurrence of pregnancy, the fact of pregnancy should be excluded.

After taking levonorgestrel there is a risk of developing ectopic pregnancy . The absolute probability of this is low, since the drug interferes with ovulation and fertilization.

Ectopic pregnancy may persist despite the occurrence of uterine bleeding.

most likely in women who noted fainting or severe pain in the abdomen, as well as in the presence of a history of surgery on the fallopian tubes, , or PID .

Based on this, patients at risk are not recommended to take Postinor tablets.

Taking pills can slightly change the nature of bleeding, but in most cases the next menstruation begins a maximum of a week after the usual date.

With a delay in menstrual bleeding for more than 5 days, it is necessary to exclude the fact of pregnancy.

The drug should not be used in women with serious liver pathologies. The effectiveness of tablets can be negatively affected by severe malabsorption (eg, granulomatous enteritis ).

For women suffering from similar diseases, before carrying out emergency contraception it is recommended to consult a doctor.

Postinor tablets contain lactose, which should be warned in patients with lactase deficiency And malabsorption of glucose and galactose .

The drug is ineffective as regular contraceptives and is not an alternative. It should also be remembered that this tool does not replace the necessary precautions related to protection against STD .

If a woman seeks repeated use of Postinor, the doctor should recommend that she use long-term methods of contraception.

Impact Studies levonorgestrel on the ability to drive a vehicle or work with mechanisms were not carried out, but one should forget about the possibility of dizziness. levonorgestrel. Only in the first case, its concentration is 1.5 mg / tab., And in the second - 0.75 mg / tab.. That is Escapelle in the case of NPC, it should be taken once, and Postinor - in 2 doses with an interval of 12 hours.

Which is better - Genale or Postinor?

Active substance Jenale - synthetic antiprogestin . The substance is a derivative norethisterone and is used to terminate early pregnancy. Its content in each tablet is 10 mg.

Mifepristone is non-hormonal agent , which reversibly and briefly blocks only peripheral PR (receptors progesterone ). Depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle, the drug prevents the release of luteotropin , delays or blocks ovulation and causes disturbances in the transformation of the endometrium, which, in turn, makes it difficult for the implantation of the egg.

WHO data indicate that the use of low doses mifepristone more effective and safer than emergency contraception using levonorgestrel .

In addition, it has been experimentally proven that the contraceptive effect mifepristone does not decrease with an increase in the interval between NPK and reception Jenale up to 120 hours. This is also a significant advantage of the latter over Postinor.

If necessary "urgent" contraception it is enough to take 1 tablet during the first 72 hours Jenale . The drug is used 2 hours before meals.

Which is better - Postinor or Ginepriston?

active substance Ginepriston is also mifepristone at a concentration of 10 mg / tab .. Thus, the drug has the same advantages over Postinor as Jenale .

The tool is highly effective, characterized by the absence of pronounced side effects and can be used for episodic contraception in women with an irregular sexual life.

In addition, the drug is more affordable than Postinor. Its price in Russian pharmacies is about 100-120 rubles lower than the price of Postinor.

Postinor and alcohol

Is it possible to combine Postinor tablets with alcohol? There are no recommendations in the manufacturer's instructions for this.

However, it should be remembered that alcohol is not compatible with the vast majority of pharmaceutical products.

The use of alcoholic beverages in combination with Postinor can cause a sharp expansion, and then an equally sharp vasoconstriction, which in turn will complicate the woman's condition when the drug provokes rejection of the uterine mucosa.

In addition, alcohol increases the level of liver enzymes, thereby speeding up the metabolism. Since biotransformation levonorgestrel carried out in the liver, the contraceptive effect of Postinor while taking alcohol can be very doubtful.

Emergencies can happen to anyone - a torn condom, a forgotten birth control pill, or the use of unreliable methods of contraception, the so-called coitus interruptus - these are mistakes that sometimes lead to ... an unwanted pregnancy.

When should I take postinor?

It is for these cases that the method of emergency contraception - postinor or escapelle - is suitable.

In pharmacies, two drugs are issued whose tasks include preventing the implantation of a fertilized egg - these are Postinor and Escapelle (Escapelle). And in order not to harm your health, you should know how to take postinor or escapelle correctly.

Extremely high levels of hormones (mostly progestogens) cause cervical mucus to thicken, making it difficult for sperm to reach the egg.
This also leads to a change in the thickness of the uterine lining, and the implantation of a fertilized egg becomes very unlikely.
The release time of the egg from the ovary increases and it moves more slowly than usual.
For emergency contraception, the pill must be taken no later than 72 hours after intercourse without proper protection. The drug Postinor consists of two tablets: the first must be swallowed as soon as possible after the incident, and the second 12 hours after the first. Escapelle, in turn, is only one tablet, which should be taken 1 time, also as early as possible, but no later than within three days after sexual intercourse.

Postinor efficiency

Unfortunately, this, like any other method of contraception, does not give a 100% guarantee against conception. The earlier the first pill is taken, the more likely it is to work properly and prevent pregnancy. The most effective will be taking postinor tablets during the first 12 hours. If you take the pill immediately after sex, or within 24 hours, the efficiency is almost 100 percent. Then, over time, it decreases. Drops to 50% within 72 hours.

SIDE EFFECTS OF EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION

The powerful dose of hormones contained in the "after" tablets cannot but leave consequences. The most common ailments that women using this method complain about are:

• nausea and vomiting
• headache
• bloody issues
• diarrhea
• fatigue

The most common side effects are nausea and sometimes vomiting. Bleeding or spotting may occur, but is usually minor. Sometimes women also complain of headaches, fatigue and drowsiness, chest pain. All these symptoms should disappear within a few days after taking the pill. In case of severe bleeding, a doctor's consultation is necessary.
If postinor was taken before ovulation, then heavy menstrual bleeding can be expected in the near future. But if you take the pill already in the luteal phase, then it is possible that there will be a lengthening of the cycle and a delay period. Is your period delayed by more than two weeks? As a precaution, take a pregnancy test.

Contraindications to take Postinor

• blood clotting disorders
• vascular disease,
• diseases of the liver and gallbladder,
• undiagnosed vaginal bleeding,
• mammary cancer,
• pregnancy and suspected pregnancy.

Dosage and regimen of Postinor:
You need to take postinor according to the instructions - we take the first pill as soon as possible after sexual intercourse (but no later than 72 hours after it). The second tablet is taken 12 hours after the first. If vomiting occurs after taking Postinor - if more than 2 hours have already passed after taking the first pill, nothing needs to be done. The tablet had time to be absorbed in the stomach.
If vomiting happened before 2 hours, then you need to take 1 more postinor tablet from the package. And after 12 hours, then take the third.

How often can I take postinor?

Remember that the action of emergency contraception is extremely strong, and doctors warn you should not take Postinor more than once during one cycle. You can't use this method as a normal means of preventing pregnancy, but use it only in really special situations.

Postinor for abortion

It is very important to remember that Postinor prevents pregnancy and is not a means of abortion! You can not take postinor to cause an abortion!

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), contraceptives used after intercourse prevent implantation, but do not cause miscarriage of an already implanted embryo.
Postinor is not taken more than once a month, otherwise the hormonal regulation of the woman's body will be disrupted and this will lead to menstrual irregularities and even infertility.
Postinor can be used really in exceptional circumstances, it is not a routine method of contraception.
Postinor's effectiveness decreases with time.