There are no data on overdosage of levonorgestrel tablets, although the common adverse event of nausea and associated vomiting may be anticipated.
Next Choice™ is contraindicated for use in the case of known or suspected pregnancy.
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.
A double-blind, controlled clinical trial in 1,955 evaluable women compared the efficacy and safety of levonorgestrel tablets (one 0.75 mg tablet of levonorgestrel taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse, and one tablet taken 12 hours later) to the Yuzpe regimen (two tablets each containing 0.25 mg levonorgestrel and 0.05 mg ethinyl estradiol, taken within 72 hours of intercourse, and two tablets taken 12 hours later).
The most common adverse events ( > 10%) in the clinical trial for women receiving levonorgestrel tablets included menstrual changes (26%), nausea (23%), abdominal pain (18%), fatigue (17%), headache (17%), dizziness (11%), and breast tenderness (11%). Table 1 lists those adverse events that were reported in ≥ 5% of levonorgestrel tablets users.
Table 1: Adverse Events in ≥ 5% of Women, by % Frequency
| Most Common Adverse Events | Levonorgestrel N=977 (%) |
| Nausea | 23.1 |
| Abdominal Pain | 17.6 |
| Fatigue | 16.9 |
| Headache | 16.8 |
| Heavier Menstrual Bleeding | 13.8 |
| Lighter Menstrual Bleeding | 12.5 |
| Dizziness | 11.2 |
| Breast Tenderness | 10.7 |
| Other complaints | 9.7 |
| Vomiting | 5.6 |
| Diarrhea | 5.0 |
The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of Next Choice™. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Gastrointestinal DisordersAbdominal Pain, Nausea, Vomiting
General Disorders and Administration Site ConditionsFatigue
Nervous System DisordersDizziness, Headache
Reproductive System and Breast DisordersDysmenorrhea, Irregular Menstruation, Oligomenorrhea, Pelvic Pain
Next Choice™ is a progestin-only emergency contraceptive indicated for prevention of pregnancy following unprotected intercourse or a known or suspected contraceptive failure. To obtain optimal efficacy, the first tablet should be taken as soon as possible within 72 hours of intercourse. The second tablet should be taken 12 hours later.
Next Choice™ is available only by prescription for women younger than age 17 years, and available over the counter for women 17 years and older.
Next Choice™ is not indicated for routine use as a contraceptive.
No specific investigation of the absolute bioavailability of levonorgestrel tablets in humans has been conducted. However, literature indicates that levonorgestrel is rapidly and completely absorbed after oral administration (bioavailability about 100%) and is not subject to first pass metabolism.
After a single dose of levonorgestrel tablets (0.75 mg) administered to 16 women under fasting conditions, the mean maximum serum concentration of levonorgestrel was 14.1 ng/mL at an average of 1.6 hours. See Table 2.
Table 2: Pharmacokinetic Parameter Values Following Single
Dose Administration of Levonorgestrel Tablets 0.75 mg to Healthy Female Volunteers
under Fasting Conditions
| Mean (± SD) | ||||||
| Cmax (ng/mL) |
Tmax (h)* |
CL (L/h) |
Vd (L) |
t½ (n) |
AUCinf (ng·hr/mL) |
|
| Levonorgestrel | 14.1 (7.7) | 1.6 (0.7) | 7.7 (2.7) | 260.0 | 24.4 (5.3) | 123.1 (50.1) |
| Cmax = maximum concentration Tmax = time to maximum concentration CL = clearance Vd = volume of distribution t½ = elimination half life AUCinf= area under the drug concentration curve from time 0 to infinity |
Effect of Food: The effect of food on the rate and the extent of levonorgestrel absorption following single oral administration of levonorgestrel has not been evaluated.
DistributionThe apparent volume of distribution of levonorgestrel is reported to be approximately 1.8 L/kg. It is about 97.5 to 99% protein-bound, principally to sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and, to a lesser extent, serum albumin.
MetabolismFollowing absorption, levonorgestrel is conjugated at the 17β-0H position to form sulfate conjugates and, to a lesser extent, glucuronide conjugates in plasma. Significant amounts of conjugated and unconjugated 3α, 5β-tetrahydro levonorgestrel are also present in plasma, along with much smaller amounts of 3α, 5α-tetrahydro levonorgestrel and 16β hydroxy levonorgestrel. Levonorgestrel and its phase I metabolites are excreted primarily as glucuronide conjugates. Metabolic clearance rates may differ among individuals by several-fold, and this may account in part for the wide variation observed in levonorgestrel concentrations among users.
ExcretionAbout 45% of levonorgestrel and its metabolites are excreted in the urine and about 32% are excreted in feces, mostly as glucuronide conjugates.
Many studies have found no harmful effects on fetal development associated with long-term use of contraceptive doses of oral progestins. The few studies of infant growth and development that have been conducted with progestin-only pills have not demonstrated significant adverse effects.
Each Next Choice™ tablet is supplied as a peach, round, bevel edged, flat faced tablet containing 0.75 mg of levonorgestrel and is embossed with "475" on one side and "WATSON" on the other side.
Next Choice™ (levonorgestrel) tablets, 0.75 mg, are available for a single course of treatment in PVC/aluminum foil blister packages of two tablets each. Each tablet is peach, round, bevel edged, and flat faced and embossed with "475" on one side and "WATSON" on the other side.
Available as: Unit-of-use NDC 52544-275-36
Store Next Choice™ tablets at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) .
Manufactured by: Watson Laboratories, Inc. Corona, CA 92880 USA. Distributed by: Watson Pharma, Inc. Corona, CA 92880 USA. Phone: 1-866-9WATSON (1-866-992-8766) www.mynextchoice.com. Issued: August 2009
Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
PRECAUTIONS Ectopic PregnancyEctopic pregnancies account for approximately 2% of all reported pregnancies. Up to 10% of pregnancies reported in clinical studies of routine use of progestin-only contraceptives are ectopic.
A history of ectopic pregnancy is not a contraindication to use of this emergency contraceptive method. Healthcare providers, however, should consider the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy in women who become pregnant or complain of lower abdominal pain after taking Next Choice™. A follow-up physical or pelvic examination is recommended if there is any doubt concerning the general health or pregnancy status of any woman after taking Next Choice™.
Existing PregnancyNext Choice™ is not effective in terminating an existing pregnancy.
Effects on MensesSome women may experience spotting a few days after taking Next Choice™. Menstrual bleeding patterns are often irregular among women using progestin-only oral contraceptives and women using levonorgestrel for postcoital and emergency contraception. If there is a delay in the onset of expected menses beyond 1 week, consider the possibility of pregnancy.
STI/HIVNext Choice™ does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Physical Examination and Follow-upA physical examination is not required prior to prescribing Next Choice™. A follow-up physical or pelvic examination is recommended if there is any doubt concerning the general health or pregnancy status of any woman after taking Next Choice™.
Fertility Following DiscontinuationA rapid return of fertility is likely following treatment with Next Choice™ for emergency contraception; therefore, routine contraception should be continued or initiated as soon as possible following use of Next Choice™ to ensure ongoing prevention of pregnancy.
Presence of FD&C Yellow #6Next Choice™ contains FD&C Yellow #6 as a color additive.
Patient Counseling Information Information for PatientsCarcinogenicity: There is no evidence of increased risk of cancer with short-term use of progestins. There was no increase in tumorgenicity following administration of levonorgestrel to rats for 2 years at approximately 5 µg/day, to dogs for 7 years at up to 0.125 mg/kg/day, or to rhesus monkeys for 10 years at up to 250 µg/kg/day. In another 7 year dog study, administration of levonorgestrel at 0.5 mg/kg/day did increase the number of mammary adenomas in treated dogs compared to controls. There were no malignancies.
Genotoxicity: Levonorgestrel was not found to be mutagenic or genotoxic in the Ames Assay, in vitro mammalian culture assays utilizing mouse lymphoma cells and Chinese hamster ovary cells, and in an in vivo micronucleus assay in mice.
Fertility: There are no irreversible effects on fertility following cessation of exposures to levonorgestrel or progestins in general.
Use In Specific Populations PregnancyMany studies have found no harmful effects on fetal development associated with long-term use of contraceptive doses of oral progestins. The few studies of infant growth and development that have been conducted with progestin-only pills have not demonstrated significant adverse effects.
Nursing MothersIn general, no adverse effects of progestin-only pills have been found on breastfeeding performance or on the health, growth or development of the infant. However, isolated post-marketing cases of decreased milk production have been reported. Small amounts of progestins pass into the breast milk of nursing mothers taking progestin-only pills for long-term contraception, resulting in detectable steroid levels in infant plasma.
Pediatric UseSafety and efficacy of progestin-only pills for long-term contraception have been established in women of reproductive age. Safety and efficacy are expected to be the same for postpubertal adolescents less than 17 years and for users 17 years and older. Use of Next Choice™ emergency contraception before menarche is not indicated.
Geriatric UseThis product is not intended for use in postmenopausal women.
RaceNo formal studies have evaluated the effect of race. However, clinical trials demonstrated a higher pregnancy rate in Chinese women with both levonorgestrel tablets and the Yuzpe regimen (another form of emergency contraception). The reason for this apparent increase in the pregnancy rate with emergency contraceptives in Chinese women is unknown.
Hepatic ImpairmentNo formal studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of hepatic disease on the disposition of levonorgestrel tablets.
Renal ImpairmentNo formal studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of renal disease on the disposition of levonorgestrel tablets.
Take one levonorgestrel tablet orally as soon as possible within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse or a known or suspected contraceptive failure. Efficacy is better if the tablet is taken as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse. The second tablet should be taken 12 hours after the first dose. Next Choice™ can be used at any time during the menstrual cycle.
If vomiting occurs within two hours of taking either dose of medication, consideration should be given to repeating the dose.
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.
A double-blind, controlled clinical trial in 1,955 evaluable women compared the efficacy and safety of levonorgestrel tablets (one 0.75 mg tablet of levonorgestrel taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse, and one tablet taken 12 hours later) to the Yuzpe regimen (two tablets each containing 0.25 mg levonorgestrel and 0.05 mg ethinyl estradiol, taken within 72 hours of intercourse, and two tablets taken 12 hours later).
The most common adverse events ( > 10%) in the clinical trial for women receiving levonorgestrel tablets included menstrual changes (26%), nausea (23%), abdominal pain (18%), fatigue (17%), headache (17%), dizziness (11%), and breast tenderness (11%). Table 1 lists those adverse events that were reported in ≥ 5% of levonorgestrel tablets users.
Table 1: Adverse Events in ≥ 5% of Women, by % Frequency
| Most Common Adverse Events | Levonorgestrel N=977 (%) |
| Nausea | 23.1 |
| Abdominal Pain | 17.6 |
| Fatigue | 16.9 |
| Headache | 16.8 |
| Heavier Menstrual Bleeding | 13.8 |
| Lighter Menstrual Bleeding | 12.5 |
| Dizziness | 11.2 |
| Breast Tenderness | 10.7 |
| Other complaints | 9.7 |
| Vomiting | 5.6 |
| Diarrhea | 5.0 |
The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of Next Choice™. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Gastrointestinal DisordersAbdominal Pain, Nausea, Vomiting
General Disorders and Administration Site ConditionsFatigue
Nervous System DisordersDizziness, Headache
Reproductive System and Breast DisordersDysmenorrhea, Irregular Menstruation, Oligomenorrhea, Pelvic Pain
DRUG INTERACTIONSDrugs or herbal products that induce enzymes, including CYP3A4, that metabolize progestins may decrease the plasma concentrations of progestins, and may decrease the effectiveness of progestin-only pills. Some drugs or herbal products that may decrease the effectiveness of progestin-only pills include:
Significant changes (increase or decrease) in the plasma levels of the progestin have been noted in some cases of coadministration with HIV protease inhibitors or with non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
Consult the labeling of all concurrently used drugs to obtain further information about interactions with progestin-only pills or the potential for enzyme alterations.
Drug Abuse And DependenceLevonorgestrel is not a controlled substance. There is no information about dependence associated with the use of Next Choice™.
