Ella

Ella is an emergency contraceptive containing ulipristal acetate 30 mg. It helps prevent pregnancy when taken within 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure. CD Pharmacy provides comprehensive guidance on Ella, including how it works, when to take it, its effectiveness, possible side effects, and important safety precautions.

What is Ella?

Here are the key details about Ella:

• This oral emergency contraceptive tablet prevents an unintended pregnancy from taking place after an unprotected intercourse.
• Even if you miss a birth control pill dose or encounter a broken / leaking condom, etc. you can depend on this morning-after pill.
• While it is highly effective, the medicine serves as a backup emergency method to avoid a pregnancy occurrence.
• It should not be used as a replacement to regular contraception methods.

Benefits of Ella

Learn about the benefits of using this emergency contraceptive pill:

• This medication offers five days of effectiveness i.e. 120-hour window for protection against a pregnancy compared to traditional pills that stay effective only for 72 hours.
• The tablet works more successfully when taken within 24 hours of an unprotected intercourse.
• It easily delays ovulation and release of the mature egg by preventing the Luteinizing Hormone (LH) level surge.
• You only need one dose to stay away from pregnancy. No multiple doses required.

How Does Ella Work?

Know the action mechanism of Ella morning-after pill:

• The active ingredient is a synthetic selective progesterone receptor modulation (SPRM), ulipristal acetate.
• It binds to the progesterone receptors. This temporarily stops the progesterone hormone from causing ovulation (deters egg release), and thickening the uterine lining to hold the embryo.
• As the endometrium becomes thinner and ovulation suppresses, the ovarian follicle does not mature enough.
• The pill also does not let LH to increase, disrupting fertility up to 120 hours. So, if you take this medicine in the mentioned duration after an unprotected intercourse, the pregnancy does not happen.

Dosage of Ella

Here are the dosage guidelines for Ella:

• The content in Ella is 30 mg of ulipristal acetate. Since the medicine contains a higher dose, on intake, it triggers certain activities to stop a pregnancy from taking place.
• So, take this tablet orally with water, right after an unprotected intercourse as soon as possible – best if ingested in 24 hours, but not exceeding 120 hours (5 days) later.
• Make sure to not use this medicine before the intercourse occurs.
• It may take 1-2 hours for the medicine to begin working after consumption.
• If you vomit the medicine in 3 hours, take a replacement dose or contact a doctor for guidance.

How to Store Ella?

To keep the medicine safe and protected, let the pill stay in its original pack. Store in room temperature of 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C). Keep out of the reach of children and pets. Also, keep the pack in a cool, dry place away from moist and humid areas, or those prone to excessive heat.

Side Effects of Ella

Common Side Effects:

• Muscle aches
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Abdominal discomfort
• Dizziness
• Tiredness or fatigue
• Breast tenderness
• Lethargy
• Pelvic cramping
• Changes in the timing of the next menstrual period (earlier or later than expected)

Rare but Serious Side Effects:

• Severe allergic reaction (such as swelling, rash, or difficulty breathing)
• Sharp, severe, or persistent pelvic or lower abdominal pain, which may indicate an ectopic pregnancy
• Fainting spells
• Extreme or persistent dizziness

Interactions of Ella

Here are the things to avoid with this oral emergency contraception method:

• Barbiturates and anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, etc. These may make Ella less effective, raising the risk of pregnancy.
• Anti-mycobacterials such as Rifampin, Rifabutin, and others. These also make the medicine less effective.
• Do not take emergency contraceptives containing levonorgestrel when using Ella, as using these combinedly may render both ineffective.
• Antacids such as ranitidine, omeprazole, etc. as these delay the onset of Ella.
• Herbal supplements such as St. John’s Wort or other strong CYP3A4 inducers.

Precautions of Ella

Keep a watchout for these precautions that you must follow:

• Ella is not a regular birth control medicine but only for emergency contraception needs.
• You must not delay taking this tablet. Use the pill within 120 hours of the unprotected activity.
• Do not take this medicine until unprotected intercourse occurs.
• The next menstrual period hasn’t occurred even after a week of using Ella, take a pregnancy test.
• This medication cannot end an existing pregnancy.
• If you want to continue with hormonal birth control like contraceptive pills, vaginal rings, patches, etc. after Ella, wait for 5 days before resuming the course.
• If you take this pill during breastfeeding, the medicine contents may pass into the breast milk. So, discard the breast milk for 24 hours after consuming Ella to avert the risk for the infant.