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Can you drink alcohol after taking Plan B?

Medically reviewed by Sally Chao, MD. Last updated on July 22, 2024.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Yes. After taking the emergency contraceptive Plan B (levonorgestrel), it is considered safe to drink alcohol, and alcohol is not known to alter the efficacy of Plan B.

There is no mention of a potentially harmful interaction between alcohol and levonorgestrel on the prescribing information packets for Plan B One-Step or the two-dose Plan B. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism also does not include Plan B or any other contraceptive method on its list of commonly used medicines that have known interactions with alcohol.

While consuming alcohol after Plan B is not considered dangerous, some of the potential side effects of Plan B may be worsened by alcohol. For example, Plan B can sometimes cause side effects such as:

  • Tiredness
  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Vomiting
  • Dizziness

Drinking alcohol can also cause these symptoms, potentially leading to more or worsened side effects if combined with Plan B. Other side effects of Plan B include lower abdominal pain and menstrual changes.

There are certain medications and herbal supplements that you should avoid after taking Plan B, as they may lower the efficacy of the drug. These include:

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References
  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Plan B One-Step (levonorgestrel) tablet, 1.5 mg, for oral use. July 2009. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/021998lbl.pdf. [Accessed July 8, 2021].
  2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Plan B (levonorgestrel) tablets, 0.75 mg, for oral use. September 2017. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/021045s016lbl.pdf. [Accessed July 8, 2021].
  3. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Mixing Alcohol With Medicines. 2014. Available at: https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/harmful-interactions-mixing-alcohol-with-medicines. [Accessed July 8, 2021].

Read next

Does Plan B One Step work during ovulation?

No, Plan B One Step won’t work if you have already started ovulating because it works by temporarily stopping ovulation (when your ovary releases an egg for fertilization from sperm). Continue reading

How effective is Plan B and how late can you take it?

Plan B (levonorgestrel) is estimated to be 60% to 94% effective at preventing pregnancy when taken within 3 days (72 hours) after unprotected sex. Somewhere between 0.6% to 2.6% of women who take Plan B within this time frame will still become pregnant. Continue reading

How many times can you take Plan B?

You can take Plan B (levonorgestrel) as many times as needed for emergency contraception. There is no known limit on the number of times you can safely use Plan B. Plan B can even be taken more than once in the same menstrual cycle. Continue reading

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