What is Plan B Used For?
Levonorgestrel, also referred to as Plan B in the healthcare industry, is used to prevent pregnancy following unprotected sexual activity, which is defined as any sexual intercourse performed without the use of a birth control method, with a failed birth control method, or with an improperly used birth control method. Regularly using Plan B to avoid getting pregnant is not advised. If conventional birth control proves ineffective or is applied incorrectly, this medicine should be taken as a fallback or emergency contraceptive. Although no life-threatening side effects may occur, Plan B and alcohol shouldn’t be taken together.
The drug Levonorgestrel belongs to the progestin drug class. It functions by stopping the ovary from releasing an egg or by stopping the fertilization of the egg by sperm. It may also act by changing the uterine lining to stop the growth of the pregnancy. Plan B may prevent pregnancy, but it won’t stop the spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
How is Plan B used?
Plan B is available as an oral tablet for intake. Take one tablet of Levonorgestrel, if it is available as a single tablet, as soon as possible and no later than 72 hours after unprotected sex. Take the first tablet of a two-tablet Levonorgestrel regimen as quickly as possible, ideally within 72 hours of unprotected sexual intercourse, and the second dose 12 hours later. Plan B works best if it is taken as soon as possible after unprotected sexual intercourse.
Skip To:
- What is Plan B Used For?
- Can You Drink Alcohol After Taking Plan B?
- Does Alcohol Affect Plan B?
- Drinking Alcohol Before Taking Plan B?
- What Happens If You Take Plan B with Alcohol?
- Alcohol Plan B Interactions
- Does Alcohol Interfere with Plan B?
- Alcohol and Plan B Effectiveness
- Plan B and Alcoholism Treatment
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FREE Addiction Hotline – Call 24/7Can You Drink Alcohol After Taking Plan B?
It is considered safe to consume alcohol after using the emergency contraceptive Plan B (Levonorgestrel), and no evidence doing so would affect Plan B’s effectiveness.
Plan B One-Step and Plan B Two-Dose prescribing information packets include no note of potentially dangerous interaction between alcohol and Plan B, and neither does the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism list Plan B or any other contraceptive method among the commonly used drugs with known interactions with alcohol.
Although it is not dangerous to drink after Plan B, alcohol may worsen a few of the potential adverse effects of Plan B. Plan B, for instance, occasionally has adverse effects like:
- Tiredness
- Nausea
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
Other adverse effects of Plan B include lower stomach pain and menstruation changes. Drinking alcohol can also cause these symptoms, potentially resulting in more or worsening side effects if taken with Plan B.
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Hotline (877) 378-4154Does Alcohol Affect Plan B?
Alcohol doesn’t directly affect the effectiveness of your birth control. Alcohol’s side effects, however, can raise the risk of Plan B failure. The likelihood of you forgetting to take your medication on time rises if you drink excessively or get drunk. If you start drinking before you take Plan B, you are more likely to forget to take it.
Birth control hormones may influence how your body distributes water, affecting how quickly alcohol is expelled. Taking Plan B can result in greater blood alcohol levels and raise your level of intoxication. In other words, you might get drunk faster than before taking the drug. This might also make it more likely that you’ll forget to take a dose or use protection if you decide to engage in sexual activity.
You can also become more susceptible to diseases. Your body may not absorb the pill if you vomit after being sick from drinking and within two hours of taking the medication. This can increase your likelihood of ovulating an egg.
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Drinking Alcohol Before Taking Plan B?
If you’re planning on taking Plan B and alcohol, talk to a medical professional first. They may recommend avoiding drinking altogether or limiting yourself to moderate amounts. If you drink, take Plan B as soon as possible after ingesting, so it has enough time to work.
Even if you don’t drink excessively, getting drunk can affect your ability to think clearly. This could lead you to make mistakes when taking Plan B, such as not reading the medication’s accompanying instructions carefully. If you’re even slightly intoxicated, it might be difficult to remember anything. In some cases, people have reported that they didn’t even realize they had taken their pill until after it had failed.
What Happens If You Take Plan B with Alcohol?
After taking Plan B and alcohol, a person could become intoxicated more quickly than normal. Dizziness, nausea, headaches, and weakness are Plan B pill side effects that may be made worse by alcohol. However, drinking while taking the Plan B tablet does not have fatal side effects and does not reduce its effectiveness.
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Alcohol Plan B Interactions
Plan B and alcohol have minimal interactions as well. If you drink after taking Plan B, you might feel somewhat more drunk than usual and have a slightly higher blood alcohol level, but there isn’t enough evidence to back up this statement.
You may have some negative effects even though Plan B has no impact on how much alcohol you consume. Following a dose of Plan B, some women have had the following side effects:
- Irregular bleeding that occurs a week before or after your period
- Nausea, occasionally leading to vomiting
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Supple breasts
- Abdomen pain
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Does Alcohol Interfere with Plan B?
Although alcohol and Plan B do not generally interact, there is still some chance that Plan B may not function as well as it would if you had not consumed alcohol since drinking can make it harder for your body to absorb the chemicals in the pill. Drinking can raise your heart rate and blood pressure. Also, delaying the pill from entering your system quickly enough can lessen how well Plan B functions.
If you’re trying to use Plan B, it’s best to avoid drinking. If you drink, make sure to drink in moderation and avoid heavy drinking. And if you ever have any trouble using Plan B, talk to your doctor.
Alcohol and Plan B Effectiveness
Your birth control won’t work any less effective if you drink. But the negative effects of alcohol can make Plan B less likely to succeed. Drinking too much or being intoxicated increases your risk of forgetting to consume your medication on time. You are much more inclined to overlook take Plan B if you drink alcohol before you use it.
Alcohol can make it more difficult for your body to absorb the hormones in Plan B. This means the pill may not work as well as it would if you hadn’t had any drinks. Drinking can increase your blood pressure and heart rate. This can also reduce how well Plan B and alcohol work by preventing the pill from entering your bloodstream quickly enough.
Plan B and Alcoholism Treatment
We Level Up NJ provides a thorough treatment program for people addicted to alcohol and includes evidence-based treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy, which is crucial for recovery. Depending on how severely their alcohol addiction has affected them, certain people with drug use disorders may be suitable for treatment at a residential treatment center like ours.
We work with highly trained addiction specialists to provide clients with the drive and tools they desperately need to stop using alcohol and maintain long-term health and sobriety. We provide diagnostic treatment programs for those with addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions.
To help you recover through our program for medically assisted detox, We Level Up NJ offers proper care with 24-hour medical staff. Call us to talk with one of our therapy experts and reclaim your life. Our counselors will respond to your concerns because they recognize what you are going through.
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FAQs
Can you take Plan B with alcohol?
Yes, Plan B will still be effective even if you drink.
Can you take Plan B pill after drinking alcohol?
Yes, you can take Plan B after drinking. Although, there is still some chance that the side effects of alcohol can interfere with Plan B
Does Plan B work with alcohol?
Even when taken while drinking, Plan B still functions. However, there is still a potential that Plan B could be affected by alcohol’s negative effects.
Can you take Plan B and drink alcohol?
Yes, it is considered safe to drink alcohol while taking Plan B.
Does alcohol cancel out Plan B?
No, alcohol will not cancel out Plan B; it does not affect the pill’s efficacy.