Take Action emergency contraception pill: What to know

Take Action is an emergency birth control pill. It is the generic form of Plan B and is available without a prescription. Its effectiveness depends on how soon a person takes it, among other factors. It may not be suitable for everyone.
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Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
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What is the Take Action Pill?
Take Action is an emergency birth control pill that contains levonorgestrel. This forms part of a class of medications called progestins, which are also used in other birth control pills. The Take Action pill contains more progestin than other birth control pills and does not contain estrogen.
progestins
birth control
estrogen
It comes as a single tablet. Another name for it is the “morning after pill.” It works by preventing the ovary from releasing an egg.
People should take the Take Action pill within 72 hours of having sex without using a barrier method of birth control, such as a condom. While the pill is generally effective within 72 hours, a person should take it as soon as possible after sex in this situation.
within 72 hours
condom
A 2016 paper suggests that emergency contraception may help prevent pregnancy in the event of unprotected sexual intercourse or if another method of contraception fails.
2016 paper
If a person vomits within 2 hours of taking the pill, they may wish to contact a healthcare professional to discuss whether to repeat the dose.
People should not use the Take Action pill if they are already pregnant. Also, before using Take Action, a person should tell a healthcare professional if they are receiving treatment for HIV, tuberculosis, or seizures, as some medications for these conditions can reduce the effectiveness of levonorgestrel.
HIV
tuberculosis
seizures
Some side effects may include:
may include
nausea and vomiting
nausea and vomiting
tiredness
tiredness
breast pain
breast pain
headache
headache
dizziness
dizziness
menstrual changes
How to take the Take Action pill
A person should take the Take Action pill as soon as possible after sex that did not involve a barrier method of birth control. Experts generally consider the pill to be effective for 72 hours after sex in this situation.
72 hours
Have one pill with water, with or without food. If a person vomits within 2 hours of taking this dose, they should contact their doctor for a repeat prescription.
It is worth noting that the Take Action pill and other emergency contraceptive pills do not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
do not
sexually transmitted infections
Where to buy the Take Action pill
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products or services. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
Learn more here
Target
Target’s Take Action pill is available at a cost of $39.99, and the company offers free 2-day shipping. People who have a Shipt membership are eligible for same-day delivery. Alternatively, people can choose to collect the order in person.
Target offer a 90-day return policy if the item is unopened.
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Walmart
Walmart’s Take Action pill is available at a cost of $34.78 for a single dose. People can benefit from free 2-day delivery if they spend $35.
According to the Walmart website, the pill will not harm an existing pregnancy.
The product comes with a 90-day return policy.
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CVS Pharmacy
CVS Pharmacy offers the Take Action pill for $39.99 per pill. A person can order up to four pills at a time.
CVS Pharmacy offers free 1–4-day shipping when a person makes a purchase totaling $35 or more. Those who have a CarePass membership may also benefit from free shipping if the order includes at least one CarePass-eligible item. People can also use the CVS website to check whether the pill is available to buy at a nearby store.
Positive reviews focus on the product’s quality, but many customers report having painful cramps after taking the pill. Some customers also state that they became pregnant after taking the tablet within 30 hours of having sex.
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Blink Health
Blink Health is a company that collaborates with over 35,000 pharmacies across the United States. A person can use Blink Health to collect the Take Action pill from their preferred pharmacy. At the time of writing, a single tablet prescription costs $39.78.
A person can also connect with a Blink Health doctor if they need a prescription medication but do not have a prescription.
The company has a review rating of 1.94 out of 5 and an A+ rating on Better Business Bureau. Customers state that the Blink Health smartphone app is easy to use and that it offers medications at an affordable rate.
Better Business Bureau
Negative reviews mention issues with shipping, and difficulties securing refunds. Some customers also write that they did not hear back from the company’s doctors after filling in the medical history survey.
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Take Action vs. Plan B
Take Action is the generic version of Plan B. The main ingredient in both is levonorgestrel. The table below shows a comparison according to price, dose, and availability.
Online pharmacies offer both Plan B and Take Action. However, a person who orders from an online pharmacy will need to factor in shipping times. Given that the effectiveness of the morning-after pill decreases the longer a person waits to take it after sex, a person may consider buying the medication directly from their local pharmacy.
Medications that are available in generic forms are generally cheaper than brand-name medications.
Sexual health and reproductive rights advocacy group Planned Parenthood states that Plan B costs between $40 and $50. The generic drug is generally available at a lower price.
Planned Parenthood
Plan B and Take Action are available over the counter (OTC). Medicaid and certain health insurance policies may be able to cover the cost of the prescription.However, Planned Parenthood states that certain institutions with religious affiliations may deny their employees access to birth control via their health insurance.
Medicaid
health insurance
Planned Parenthood
Take Action pill warnings
The Take Action pill comes with these warnings:
It is not suitable as a routine form of birth control.
It cannot terminate the pregnancy if the fertilized egg has already attached to the uterus.
Its main ingredient is levonorgestrel, which may slow breast milk production.
A person must not take a second dose before consulting their doctor.
A person needs emergency medical attention if they experience one or more of these side effects: hivesstomach achebreast pain and tendernessheadaches and dizziness
hives
hives
stomach ache
breast pain and tenderness
breast pain
headaches and dizziness
headaches
dizziness
Who should not use the Take Action pill?
The active ingredient in the pill is levonorgestrel, which can interact with certain other medications, making them less effective. People should not take medications that contain levonorgestrel if they are receiving treatment for:
seizures
HIV
HIV
tuberculosis
tuberculosis
Also, anyone with an allergy to levonorgestrel or any other ingredient in the Take Action pill should not take it.
And the Take Action pill is not suitable for anyone younger than 17.
Drugs that may interact with Take Action
The Take Action pill can interact with medications that treat seizures, HIV, and tuberculosis.
Other specific drugs that may interact with Take Action include:
avacopan
avacopan
insulin lispro
insulin lispro
miconazole
miconazole
People can find a full list of possible drug interactions here.
here
Frequently asked questions
Below are some frequently asked questions about Take Action.
According to Planned Parenthood, there are various brands of emergency contraception pills containing levonorgestrel, and they all have the same effect.
Planned Parenthood
Additionally, Planned Parenthood claims that people can lower their chance of getting pregnant by 75–89% if they take Plan B, Take Action, or other morning-after pills containing levonorgestrel within 72 hours of having sex without using a barrier method.
75–89%
People can take these pills to reduce the chance of getting pregnant after having sex without a barrier method or in the case of contraceptive failure, such as missing a pill or if an intrauterine device has fallen out.
That said, a person should aim to take the pill within the recommended time frame to ensure that it is as effective as possible.
There is debate about whether or not a person’s weight affects how effective emergency contraceptive pills are.
A 2015 study found that the effectiveness of levonorgestrel emergency contraception was significantly lower in people with a higher body weight and body mass index (BMI).
2015 study
body mass index (BMI)
Planned Parenthood states that levonorgestrel pills may be less effective if a person weighs 155 lb (70 kilograms) or more.
Planned Parenthood
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) write that emergency contraceptive pills may be less effective in people with a BMI of 30 or higher. However, the CDC also states that there are no safety concerns despite this.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) writes that the use of levonorgestrel emergency birth control should not depend on a person’s weight.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
It should also be noted that no contraception is 100% effective.
Summary
Take Action is the generic form of Plan B, which is a type of emergency contraceptive pill. A person can take this pill to prevent pregnancy after having sex without using a barrier method of birth control, or if they experienced contraception failure.
Emergency contraception, such as Take Action, should not be a routine form of birth control.
The Take Action pill can cause some side effects. People should let a doctor know if they are taking any prescription medications, as these can reduce the effectiveness of the pill.
Overall, Take Action can be highly effective if a person takes it within 72 hours of having sexual intercourse. Taking the pill as soon as possible increases the likelihood of its efficacy.
Several online companies offer Take Action, and some also provide free and fast delivery. That said, individuals who need the contraceptive pill urgently may wish to consider purchasing it from their local pharmacy to avoid lengthy shipping times.