Levonelle

Price range: £13.99 through £26.99

Morning After Pill
Effective for up to 72 hours after unprotected sex
Available as Levonelle brand or a more affordable generic option
Contains Levonorgestrel 1500 micrograms (1.5mg)

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Treatment: Morning After Pill

SKU: 9568511000001102 Category: Morning after pill (treatment)

Reviewed by Clinical Pharmacist – Hywel McGlinchy

You can request to buy the Levonelle Morning After Pill online from Reach Online Pharmacy, a fully UK-registered online pharmacy and doctor service.
Our listed price includes the prescription fee, and next working day delivery options are available. Simply complete our short Levonelle consultation form as part of your order, and one of our GMC-registered prescribers will review your assessment before your medication is dispensed.

What is Levonelle?

Levonelle is an emergency contraceptive tablet used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure (for example, a split condom or missed pill). It must be taken within 72 hours (3 days) of unprotected sex and is commonly referred to as the morning after pill.

The active ingredient in Levonelle is Levonorgestrel 1500 micrograms (1.5mg).
While it cannot prevent pregnancy in every case, it is most effective when taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex — ideally within 12 hours.

Levonelle does not provide protection if you have unprotected sex again later in your cycle.

How Does Levonelle Work?

Women are most fertile around the time of ovulation, which usually occurs 12–14 days before the next period. Having unprotected sex during this time carries the highest risk of pregnancy.

Levonelle works by:

Delaying or preventing ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary)
Reducing the chance of fertilisation if an egg has already been released

Levonelle is only effective when taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex. Its effectiveness decreases the longer you wait to take it, and it will not work if you are already pregnant.

It is usually taken as a single tablet, although in rare cases, your prescriber may recommend two tablets.

Levonelle and Regular Contraception

Levonelle can be used even if you are already using a form of contraception, such as the contraceptive pill, and have missed a dose or experienced a failure.

After taking Levonelle, you should:

Take your next contraceptive pill, insert a new ring, or apply a new patch within 12 hours
Continue taking your regular contraception as normal

Your usual contraceptive method will not be immediately effective again, so you should use condoms or avoid sex for a short time:

7 days for most contraceptive methods
9 days if taking Qlaira
2 days if using the progestogen-only pill (POP or mini-pill)

If you find yourself needing emergency contraception regularly, speak to your GP or pharmacist about long-term options that may be more effective and convenient, such as:

The combined oral contraceptive pill
The progestogen-only pill
Hormonal implant or coil
Copper coil
Contraceptive patch or vaginal ring

Levonelle Alternatives

There are two main types of emergency hormonal contraception:

Levonelle (Levonorgestrel 1500 micrograms) – effective for up to 72 hours after unprotected sex
EllaOne (Ulipristal acetate) – effective for up to 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex

EllaOne may not be suitable for everyone (for example, those with severe asthma or taking certain medicines).

Another highly effective alternative is the intrauterine device (IUD), sometimes called the coil. It can be fitted by a doctor or nurse up to 5 days after unprotected sex and can remain in place as a regular contraceptive method. IUD fittings are available through sexual health (GUM) clinics, family planning centres, or GP practices.

Levonelle During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Pregnancy

Levonelle should not be used if you are already pregnant.
Although it is not thought to harm an existing pregnancy, there is limited research available. If you think you may already be pregnant, please speak to your GP or healthcare provider before taking Levonelle.

Breastfeeding

Small amounts of Levonorgestrel may pass into breast milk, but it is not considered harmful to your baby.
If you are concerned, you can avoid breastfeeding for 8 hours after taking Levonelle to minimise exposure.

Interactions with Other Medicines

When completing your online consultation, please list all medicines and supplements you currently take.
Some medicines may make Levonelle less effective, including:

Barbiturates or other medicines for epilepsy (e.g. primidone, carbamazepine)
St John’s Wort (a herbal remedy for low mood)
Certain medicines used to treat HIV or tuberculosis
Griseofulvin (used for fungal infections)

If any of these apply to you, an intrauterine device (IUD) may be a more suitable emergency contraceptive option.

How to Buy Levonelle Online

You can safely buy Levonelle online from Reach Online Pharmacy.
Simply complete our quick and confidential medical questionnaire, which will be reviewed by a GMC-registered prescriber.

Once approved, your medication will be dispensed by our UK-registered pharmacy and delivered discreetly to your chosen address, with next working day delivery options available.

Levonelle summary

Active Ingredient	Levonorgestrel
How it works	Thought to stop the ovaries from releasing an egg and prevent sperm from fertilising an already released egg
How long after sex is it effective	Can be used within 72 hours of unprotected sex
Most common side effects	Nausea, tiredness, headache, irregular bleeding until next period

Levonelle Prices

Generic – 1 dose	£3.99
Generic – 2 doses	£6.00
Brand – 1 dose	£12.50
Brand – 2 doses	£19.95

What is the ingredient in Levonelle?

Each Levonelle tablet contains Levonorgestrel 1500 micrograms (1.5mg) as the active ingredient.

Can I buy Levonelle over the counter?

Yes. Levonelle is a pharmacy medicine, which means it can be purchased over the counter in the UK from your local pharmacy. However, you will need to have a short consultation with a pharmacist before buying it in person.
You can also order Levonelle safely and discreetly online from Reach Online Pharmacy after completing a short medical questionnaire reviewed by a registered prescriber.

How effective is Levonelle?

The effectiveness of Levonelle decreases over time, so it should be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex.

Within 12 hours: around 95% effective
Within 48 hours: around 85% effective
Within 72 hours: around 58% effective

The sooner you take Levonelle, the higher your chance of successfully preventing pregnancy.

When should I take Levonelle?

You should take Levonelle as soon as possible after unprotected sex to achieve the best results.
If more than 72 hours (3 days) have passed since unprotected intercourse, Levonelle is unlikely to work — in this case, you should seek advice from your GP, local pharmacy, or sexual health clinic about alternative options such as EllaOne or the IUD (coil).

How do I take Levonelle?

Take one tablet whole with a glass of water — do not crush or chew it. It should be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex, ideally within the first 12 hours.

What should I do if I vomit after taking the morning after pill?

If you vomit within three hours of taking Levonelle, the medicine may not have been fully absorbed. You should take another tablet as soon as possible. Please contact your pharmacist or doctor for further advice.

What hormone is in Levonelle?

The active hormone in Levonelle is Levonorgestrel, a synthetic version of the naturally occurring hormone progesterone. It works by preventing or delaying the release of an egg from the ovary.

Should I bleed after taking Levonelle?

Some women may experience light bleeding or spotting in the days after taking the morning after pill.
Your next period may also come a few days earlier or later than expected. If your period is more than five days late, or is unusually light or heavy, you should take a pregnancy test to be sure.

How many times can I take Levonelle?

Levonelle can be taken more than once in a menstrual cycle, but this is not recommended as a regular method of contraception.
Frequent use may cause irregular bleeding or changes in your period and is less effective than standard contraceptive methods.
If you find yourself needing emergency contraception often, speak to your GP or pharmacist about long-term options such as the pill, implant, or coil.

Does Levonelle work if I’m mid-cycle?

Women are generally most fertile mid-cycle (usually between days 10 and 16 of the menstrual cycle). Research suggests that Levonelle may be less effective if taken after unprotected sex during this most fertile period.
However, it can still be taken — and in some cases, your doctor or pharmacist may recommend an IUD (intrauterine device) as a more effective emergency option.

Treatment Comparison

	Levonelle	EllaOne
Effective up to	72 hours after sex	120 hours after sex
Effectiveness	96-99% if taken within 24 hours	98-99%
Affected by BMI?	BMI over 26	BMI over 30
Mechanism of Action	Stops ovulation	Stops ovulation

Please read the patient information leaflet before taking this medicine.

Levonelle PIL

⚠️ Warnings and Precautions

Before taking Levonelle (Levonorgestrel 1500 micrograms), please read the Patient Information Leaflet carefully and follow all medical advice provided.

Do not take Levonelle if:

You are allergic to levonorgestrel or any of the ingredients in the tablet.
You are already pregnant or think you may be pregnant.
You have a severe liver disorder.
You have unexplained vaginal bleeding that has not been checked by a doctor.

If any of the above apply to you, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine.

Speak to a doctor or pharmacist before taking Levonelle if:

You have a history of ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside the womb).
You have had a salpingitis (inflammation of the fallopian tubes).
You have a condition that affects how medicines are absorbed, such as Crohn’s disease or other severe digestive disorders.
You are taking or have recently taken medicines that may reduce the effectiveness of Levonelle, such as certain epilepsy, tuberculosis, or HIV treatments, or herbal remedies like St John’s Wort.
You are overweight or obese, as the medicine may be less effective — speak to a healthcare professional about alternative emergency contraception if needed.

Important information:

Levonelle should only be used as emergency contraception. It is not intended to replace regular methods of birth control.
If you vomit within three hours of taking Levonelle, you should take another tablet as soon as possible.
If your next period is more than five days late, or is unusually light or heavy, take a pregnancy test and consult a healthcare professional.
Levonelle will not protect you from sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Frequent use may cause irregular bleeding or menstrual changes and should be avoided.

Driving and using machines:

Levonelle is not known to affect your ability to drive or use machines. However, if you feel dizzy or tired after taking it, wait until you feel fully well before driving or operating machinery.

Fertility and future contraception:

Taking Levonelle will not affect your long-term fertility. However, it’s important to start or continue a reliable form of contraception after using Levonelle to prevent future unplanned pregnancies.

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