The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7245 p535
19 April 2003

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Schering Health Care (www.schering.co.uk)

Give Levonelle as a single dose

Levonorgestrel (Levonelle) should be given as a single stat dose for emergency contraception, not as two doses 12 hours apart, according to the author of an editorial in the BMJ (2003;326:775).

Dr Anne Webb, consultant in family planning and reproductive health, Abacus Clinics for Contraception and Reproductive Health, Liverpool, points out that research has shown no difference in effectiveness between the two dosage strategies (PJ, 14 December 2002, p838). "Taking the two doses together immediately is as effective [as taking them 12 hours apart] and obviates the risk of forgetting or delaying the second dose."

She suggests that regulatory bodies and pharmaceutical companies should consider changing the licence. "Doctors should already advise women of the new information while any necessary bureaucratic changes are made."

Amanda Harrison, Kent teenage pregnancy co-ordinator, agreed that a single dose would be helpful for women using emergency contraception. "Young people need something that is easy to remember. If [taking both doses together] is just as effective and stops them having to get up at 3am to take the second dose then that has to be a good thing," she said.

However, a spokeswoman for Schering Health Care, manufacturers of Levonelle and Levonelle-2, told The Journal that the company had no plans to change the dosage regimen for Levonelle. She added that she could not make any recommendations for using Levonelle outside of its licence.