Using a Morning after Pill? Consider your weight!

The title seems to be the message sent by this story which came across the AP wire a short time ago. This is disturbing on so many levels, I'm not sure where to begin, so I'll just start with laying out what this is about here.

PARIS (AP) — A French contraceptive maker said Tuesday its morning-after pill is ineffective when taken by women who weigh more than 80 kilograms (176 pounds).

The decision by HRA Pharma follows a publication of results of a study of levonorgestrel, one of the active ingredients in its Norlevo emergency contraceptive, said Frederique Welgryn, HRA Pharma's head of women's health.

It's important to note this isn't about all Morning After Pills, as there is more than one type and variant on the market with the same general term applied. This one though? Well, how rude is it to find your weight makes birth control ineffective?

That's a 'little mistake' which should never have happened. People believe drug makers, generally speaking, for a product working as advertised. Birth Control seems to top my personal list of items people NEED to work as advertised, eh?

The new warning also says that the drug's efficacy is reduced in women who weigh more than 75 kilograms (165 pounds), and it is ineffective in women who weigh more than 80 kilograms.

Dr. Diana Mansour, a spokeswoman for Britain's Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, said in overweight and obese women the drug probably gets absorbed into their fat more quickly and doesn't have enough time to work in their bodies.

Source

It's a lengthy article and I'd recommend anyone with more than a passing interest to go read the entire thing. I think it shows the need for each individual to do their own work in learning about things which really matter in life, and where failure just isn't a realistic option.

RXList page for basic data on this medication

Is that little tidbit of information included in the warnings on the packaging? If not.... it should be.... and an appropriate dose for those weighing more than they specified should be made available.

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


Sounds like a dosage problem.

They probably just need to adjust dosage depending on weight.

176 lbs isn't that huge so they definitely need to work out the kinks.

If I was those women I'd just take two lol.

Talk about a HUGE mistake!! The "Morning After Pill" is generally supposed to be an "emergency" contraceptive - in other words if you are afraid other measures didn't work, or you know they were not in place, then you can choose this pill to ensure no pregnancy occurs. Except...wait...oops!!!! One minor detail...did we mention you have to weigh a certain amount for this to work?? I'm SURE we put it in the tiny fine print, which you of course read! What? You didn't see it?? Ahaha...how silly of you. Welp! Enjoy that new baby!!

Wow. I wonder how many women or teens thought they were safe only to find out that their extra precaution and responsible behavior (even if it is after the fact) were for naught.

Thanks for the thread, Wrabbit!

- AB

You would think that they would just have different doses much like they do on bottles of tylenol for example. Or maybe you can't up the dose without doing damage to the user. Either way I wonder how long before this turns into a debate on whether or not you should be allowed to use the morning after pill.

So those who are over one seventy six might experience a little moaning after taking the morning after pill.