Postinor 2 is the brand name for one of the most popular oral contraceptive agents that are widely used among masses. The active ingredient of Postinor 2 is levonorgestrel. It is noteworthy that this contraceptive option is mostly reserved as an emergency method; or in other words, it is not recommended as your regular contraception choice.

Postinor 2 can assist in the prevention of more than 85% of the unwanted pregnancies if used within 72 hours of the sexual intercourse. Additionally, if it is consumed within the initial 24 hours of unprotected sex, it can prevent up to 95% of the expected pregnancies. Unfortunately, the safety and efficacy reduces (up to 58% or less) if emergency contraception is delayed by 48-72 hours after unprotected sex. It remains yet unknown whether Postinor 2 is capable of producing any contraceptive activity if consumed after 72 hours of unprotected sexual intercourse.

What Should Be Known Before Taking Postinor 2?

Before you take Postinor 2, you should be aware of your conditions or situation. Postinor 2 may not be suitable in your case if:

• You have been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus or if you are experiencing associated complications of diabetes; such as diabetes-associated vascular, nerve, eye or kidney damage. Diabetes mellitus is characterized by insufficient production of insulin or inability of the body tissues to consume the already existing insulin. As a consequence, the body becomes hyperglycemic i.e. the sugar levels in the blood become too high, leading to flushing of sugar in the urine.
• You have been diagnosed with ischemic heart disease. It is a disease that results from inappropriate blood flow to the muscles of heart due to blockage of the coronary vessels.
• You have a history of stroke.
• You are suffering from breast cancer.
• You have been diagnosed with chronic liver disease.

You may require a higher dose (after obviously discussing with your primary care provider) if

• You have inflammatory gut conditions like Crohn’s disease as it interferes with the absorption and digestion of food.
• You have been vomiting or having diarrhea.

How to Take Postinor 2 Effectively

Postinor 2 is more like a single dosage form, just one pill to keep away from an unwanted pregnancy. Each pack consists of 1 pill. To make it work, you must take the pill within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse. However, it is strongly recommended to take the Postinor 2 pill within 24 hours of having unprotected sex.  If the pack comprises of 2 tablets, take the next pill after straight twelve hours of the first pill. If you take the pill soon after having unprotected sex, it would work better. This is the duration when the pill would produce its maximum effect. Therefore the efficacy of this emergency contraceptive pill is dependent upon the number of hours passed after having unprotected intercourse. Don’t fret about the chances of having an unplanned pregnancy when you can act now and take control of the matters instead of procrastinating.

There’s no point taking it if you are sure that you are pregnant. It won’t work but it won’t bring any harm to you or to your fetus. Don’t use it if you are allergic to the ingredients present in Postinor 2 such as levonorgestrel or others.

What Are the Postinor 2 Side Effects?

It’s no secret that all medications tend to cause some side effects. However some people may be lucky enough to have minor or no Postinor 2 side effects at all. Consult your doctor or seek medical advice if the following common side effects aggravate or persist longer than they should:

• Breast tenderness
• Altered menstrual cycle
• Vomiting, tiredness
• Stomachache, nausea
• Headache, dizziness
• Diarrhea

The severe side effects that are associated with Postinor 2 are as:

• Severe allergic reaction such as swollen mouth, tongue, lips or face, chest tightness, difficulty in breathing, itching, hives and rash
• Persistent and severe pain in the lower stomach
• Spotting instead of the regular period

Upon experiencing the above severe side effects, make an appointment with your doctor right away and discuss it with him. These are not all the side effects of Postinor 2, if you are concerned about them or have queries about them, consult your healthcare provider.

What Should Be Known After Taking Postinor 2?

Make an appointment with your doctor within 3 weeks of taking the contraceptive pill. You’re likely to experience vaginal bleeding or spotting.

In case your period doesn’t start within 3 weeks of taking Postinor 2 tablets, consult your doctor for you may have high chances of becoming pregnant. If the pill fails to produce its effect, you may get pregnant. You’ll be recommended a pregnancy test by your doctor for further confirmation. If stomach pain becomes severe, see your doctor right away as rarely there are chances of tubal pregnancy to take place.

As said earlier Postinor 2 is an emergency contraceptive pill. If you haven’t taken any other contraception measures, talk to your doctor about other methods that could be considered for long term contraception. In case of overdose, inform your doctor immediately about the number of pills you have taken. Don’t delay it. It can get very serious for you.