- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Menstrual irregularities
- Breast tenderness
- Headache
- Abdominal pain / cramps
- Dizziness
The most commonly reported side
effects are nausea and vomiting that may last a few hours or up to one or two days.
Other side effects may occur, some of which can be serious. Serious risks, which
can be life threatening include blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks, and are
increased if you smoke cigarettes. It is not known if these
risks apply to the emergency contraceptive pill regimen. Women should tell their
doctor or other healthcare professional if they smoke before taking emergency
contraceptive pills.
Using the PREVENTM
Emergency Contraceptive Kit is a decision that must be made by you and
your doctor, other health care professional, or family planning clinic.
Do not take the pills in
the PREVENTM
Emergency Contraceptive Kit if you are pregnant. They will not work.
The pregnancy test is used first to help you determine if you are pregnant from sex
earlier in the month or in previous months. It will not tell you if you are pregnant from sex which
took place within the previous 72 hours. If you are pregnant, contact your doctor or
other health care professional as soon as possible.
Tell your doctor or other
health care professional if you have had any of these conditions: a heart
attack, or a stroke; blood clots in your legs, lungs or eyes; breast cancer or cancer
of the lining of the uterus, cervix or vagina; unexplained vaginal bleeding; a liver
tumor, or jaundice (which is yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin) during a
prior pregnancy or during previous daily use of the combination birth control pill;
or if you smoke cigarettes.
Also tell your doctor of
other health care professional if you are taking any prescription medications, because
some drugs may decrease the effectiveness of the emergency contraceptive pills.
