Does Plan B Cause Mood Changes?

Answer

Plan B (levonorgestrel) is an emergency contraceptive pill that contains a high dose of the progestin levonorgestrel. Like all medication, Plan B is associated with several adverse reactions, one of which is mood changes or emotional lability.

Plan B Mood Changes

Plan B contains a high dose of the progestin levonorgestrel. In fact, the dose of levonorgestrel (1.5 mg) contained in Plan B is 10 to 15 times higher than the amount contained in commonly used daily birth control pills, such as Aviane, which contains 0.1 mg of levonorgestrel.

Usual doses of daily birth control pills are known to cause mood changes in many individuals. The high dose of levonorgestrel that is contained in Plan B certainly can as well.

According to available data, high doses of levonorgestrel can cause the following effects on mood:

• Depression or depressed mood (~ 5-6% of individuals)
• General mood changes (~ 5% of individuals)
• Irritability (~ 5% of individuals)

Levonorgestrel can also cause certain neurological effects, which may affect mood. These include:

• Headache (~9-17% of individuals)
• Migraine (~3-5% of individuals)
• Dizziness (9% of individuals)

If any of the above side effects occur, they tend to be self-limiting and resolve in a few days. If you currently take daily hormonal birth control, the side effects may last slightly longer but should not carry over into your next cycle.

Final Words

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