Ella and Plan B Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide
Read on for an emergency contraception guide on how to take Plan B and ella, recommended dosages, and important facts for timely and effective use.
Ella
Used for Emergency Contraceptive
Used for Emergency Contraceptive
Ella (ulipristal) is a prescription emergency contraceptive medication, sometimes called the "morning after pill." It's used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or if your birth control fails, like a missed pill or broken condom. Ella (ulipristal) works best when you take the tablet as soon as possible, within 5 days after unprotected sex. It isn't regular birth control and won't stop a pregnancy that's already started. Common side effects include headache, nausea, and stomach pain.
What is Ella (ulipristal)?
What is Ella (ulipristal) used for?
How Ella (ulipristal) works
Ella (ulipristal) is a progestin agonist / antagonist. This means it can both block and act like the natural hormone progesterone in your body. The medication mainly works by delaying or preventing ovulation, which keeps an egg from being released so fertilization doesn’t happen. It might also thin the lining of the uterus, making it harder for a fertilized egg to implant.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Ella |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Emergency contraception |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
More on Ella (ulipristal) essentials
Side effects of Ella (ulipristal)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Headache (18%)
- Nausea (12%)
- Stomach pain (12%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Menstrual cramps
- Tiredness
- Dizziness
Ella (ulipristal) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Ectopic pregnancy: severe, unexplainable pelvic pain along with unusual vaginal bleeding
More on Ella (ulipristal) side effects
The following Ella (ulipristal) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common
Dizziness
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$45.89
GoodRx discount
$45.73
Pros and cons of Ella (ulipristal)
Pros
- Single pill that's taken as a one-time dose
- Works up to 5 days after unprotected sex
- Most effective emergency contraception pill available
- Most side effects are mild
Cons
- Requires a prescription
- Won't end a pregnancy that's already started
- Can interact with some hormonal birth control pills
- Might not work as well for those with a larger body size
Pharmacist tips for Ella (ulipristal)
- You can take Ella (ulipristal) with or without food at any time.
- You must take Ella (ulipristal) within 5 days after unprotected sex. The sooner you take it, the better it works to prevent pregnancy.
- If you vomit within 3 hours of taking Ella (ulipristal), call your prescriber right away. You might need to take another dose for it to work.
- Don't take Ella (ulipristal) more than once during the same menstrual cycle. It isn’t known if taking it more often is safe.
- After taking Ella (ulipristal), use a reliable barrier method like condoms until your next period. This will help continue to prevent pregnancy.
- Don’t take hormonal birth control within 5 days of taking Ella (ulipristal). Doing so can make the medication work less well.
- After Ella (ulipristal), your next period might come a few days early or late. If it’s more than 7 days late, take a home pregnancy test to check if you're pregnant.
- Ella (ulipristal) doesn't protect you from HIV or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). You’ll still need protection like condoms to reduce this risk.
Risks and warnings for Ella (ulipristal)
Ella (ulipristal) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Don't take if already pregnant
Ella (ulipristal) only works to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. It won't work if you're already pregnant. If you are considering ending a pregnancy, talk with your OB-GYN provider since Ella (ulipristal) isn't a safe or effective option for that.
Ectopic pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy happens when a fertilized egg grows outside your uterus. This can be life-threatening and sometimes need to be treated with surgery. Ella (ulipristal) doesn't cause an ectopic pregnancy, but it's still possible to have one after taking it. If you experience unexplained or severe pelvic pain along with unusual vaginal bleeding after taking Ella (ulipristal), let your OB-GYN provider know.
Not for use regularly
It isn't known if Ella (ulipristal) is safe to take more than once in the same menstrual cycle. Don't use it as your regular birth control. If you need birth control, your OB-GYN provider can help you pick one that works best for you. After taking Ella (ulipristal), make sure to use a barrier method like condoms your next period.
Interactions with other medications
Tell your prescriber and pharmacist about all the medications you take. Some medications like rifampin, can interact with Ella (ulipristal) and make it not work as well. This can raise your risk of pregnancy.
Fertility after use
After you take Ella (ulipristal), you can get pregnant again once the medication wears off after a few days. To be safe, use a reliable barrier method like condoms until your next period. If you want to start hormonal birth control, wait at least 5 days after taking Ella (ulipristal), and keep using condoms until your next period.
Irregular period
After you take Ella (ulipristal), your period might come a few days earlier or later than usual. In studies, periods were delayed by about 2.5 days on average but went back to normal the next month. If your period is late by more than a week, take a home pregnancy test to rule out pregnancy.
Sexually transmitted infections
Ella (ulipristal) doesn't protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). You’ll still need to use condoms or other barrier methods to lower your risk of getting or spreading an STI.
Ella (ulipristal) dosage
The average cost for 1 tablet of 30mg of Ella (ulipristal) is $0.00 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 100.00% off the average retail price of $45.89. 
Tablet
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30mg | 1 tablet | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Typical dosage for Ella (ulipristal)
The typical dose is to take 30 mg (one tablet) by mouth as soon as possible within 5 days of unprotected sex.
More on Ella (ulipristal) dosage
Interactions between Ella (ulipristal) and other drugs
Ella (ulipristal) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Ella (ulipristal). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
More on Ella (ulipristal) interactions
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Amobarbital
- Apalutamide
- Aprepitant
- Aprobarbital
- Armodafinil
- Artemether
- Barbital
- Bexarotene
- Brigatinib
- Butabarbital
- Butalbital
- Carbamazepine
- Cenobamate
- Clobazam
- Dabrafenib
- Darunavir
- Desogestrel
- Dexamethasone
- Dienogest
- Drospirenone
- Efavirenz
- Elagolix
- Elvitegravir
- Encorafenib
- Enzalutamide
- Eslicarbazepine Acetate
- Estradiol
- Ethinyl Estradiol
- Ethynodiol
- Etonogestrel
- Etravirine
- Fosaprepitant
- Fosphenytoin
- Gestodene
- Griseofulvin
- Hexobarbital
- Isotretinoin
- Ivosidenib
- Lesinurad
- Levonorgestrel
- Lorlatinib
- Lumacaftor
- Medroxyprogesterone
- Mephobarbital
- Mestranol
- Methohexital
- Mitotane
- Modafinil
- Mycophenolic Acid
- Nafcillin
- Nevirapine
- Nilotinib
- Nomegestrol
- Norelgestromin
- Norethindrone
- Norgestimate
- Norgestrel
- Pentobarbital
- Phenobarbital
- Phenylbutazone
- Phenytoin
- Pitolisant
- Prednisone
- Primidone
- Quinidine
- Red Clover
- Rifabutin
- Rifampin
- Rifapentine
- Secobarbital
- Segesterone
- St John's Wort
- Sugammadex
- Tazemetostat
- Thiopental
- Topiramate
- Vinblastine
How much does Ella (ulipristal) cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Ella (brand)
$0.00
0
Ella (ulipristal) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Ella (ulipristal) will not be safe for you to take.
- Use while already pregnant
What are alternatives to Ella (ulipristal)?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Ella (ulipristal). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
News about Ella (ulipristal)
6 Ella Interactions You Should Consider
Certain medications and supplements may lower the efficacy of ella, the morning after contraception pill. Here are six ulipristal interactions to know about.
7 Ella Side Effects You Should Know About
Ella emergency contraception may cause changes to your next period, nausea, and cramps. Here’s what other side effects may occur and when to see a provider.
What to Do If You Notice Your Condom Broke During Sex
Even when used properly, condoms can still break during sex. Here’s how you can tell if a condom broke and what steps you should take to protect yourself.
Ella vs. Plan B for Emergency Contraception
Emergency contraception pills can prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. Which morning after pill should you take? Compare effects of Plan B and Ella.
How Much is Plan B? Plan B Pill Costs and More
Plan B, also known as the morning after pill, is an emergency contraceptive that can be taken after having unprotected sex to prevent an unplanned pregnancy. Let’s look at how much the Plan B pill costs, where to get it, how effective it is, and more.
How Effective Is Plan B in People With Overweight?
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Ella (ulipristal) images
