ULIPRISTAL oral

Select language:
Permalink
On this page

     

    Therapeutic action

    • Hormonal contraceptive, progesterone receptor modulator with agonist/antagonist effects

    Indications

    • Emergency contraception after unprotected or inadequately protected intercourse (e.g. forgotten pill or condom breaking)

    Forms and strengths

    • 30 mg tablet

    Dosage and duration

    • One 30 mg tablet, whatever the day of the cycle, as soon as possible after unprotected or inadequately protected intercourse and preferably within the first 120 hours (5 days)

    Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

    • May cause: headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dysmenorrhea, disturbance of next menstrual cycle.
    • Re-administer treatment immediately if vomiting occurs within 3 hours of taking treatment.
    • Use with caution in patients taking drugs that might decrease ulipristal effectiveness:
      • omeprazole and antacids containing aluminium or magnesium hydroxide;
      • enzyme-inducing drugs: rifampicin, rifabutine, efavirenz, nevirapine, lopinavir, ritonavir, phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine, griseofulvin, etc.
    • Avoid combination with hormonal contraceptives: decreased effectiveness of ulipristal and of the hormonal contraceptive if taken immediately after the administration of ulipristal.
    • Pregnancy: in the event of treatment failure (i.e. pregnancy develops) or if used during an undiagnosed pregnancy, there is no known harm for the foetus.
    • Breast-feeding: no contra-indication

    Remarks

    • Emergency contraception is intended to prevent pregnancy; it cannot terminate an ongoing pregnancy.
    • If an oral contraceptive pill is missed, use preferably levonorgestrel or a copper intrauterine device as emergency contraception (fewer drug interactions).
    • Start or resume hormonal contraception the 6th day after the administration of ulipristal. Use condoms for:
      • the first 7 days of taking an oral oestroprogestogen pill or an injection of medroxyprogesterone or the insertion of an implant;
      • the first 2 days of taking an oral progestogen only pill.
    • There is a risk of treatment failure; carry out a pregnancy test if signs or symptoms of pregnancy (no menstruation, etc.) appear one month after taking ulipristal.

    Storage

     
    –  Below 25 °C