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:

References

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].
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].
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].

Can Plan B make your period late or cause bleeding?

Yes, Plan B (levonorgestrel) may lead to a delayed period or induce bleeding outside the typical menstrual cycle, as it contains a synthetic hormone. In order to prevent pregnancy, Plan B, similar to other contraceptive pills, needs to modify your hormonal levels, which can result in these menstrual alterations. It's worth noting that Plan B is linked to a higher likelihood of menstrual changes compared to regular birth control pills, due to its increased dosage. Continue reading

What are the signs that Plan B didn't work?

If you have had to take Plan B as an emergency contraceptive, you may be wondering if it has worked. While research shows it has an efficacy rate of 89% when used correctly, how easy is it to tell if it has worked for you? The easiest way to know that it hasn’t worked are a missed period and a positive pregnancy test. Continue reading

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