What To Do If You Accidentally Take Two Birth Control Pills
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses what to do if you accidentally take two birth control pills in one day.
I accidentally took two pills in one day. I thought I missed a pill but in reality, I did not and now I am supposed to take my last active pill tonight but I do not have it. What do I do?
Jul 16, 2022- Accidentally taking two birth control pills will not increase your risk of pregnancy, though you may experience side effects like nausea or spotting from the extra hormones.
- Take your next pill as scheduled the next day to get back on track, and try to replace the missing pill at the end of your pack using a spare pack, pharmacy refill, or doctor's samples.
- If you can't replace the missing pill, you'll finish your pack one day early and may experience earlier bleeding or spotting, but your cycle should return to normal after one or two cycles of consistent use.
Taking two birth control pills by accident is a fairly common mistake and is easy to rectify. When this does happen, be sure to get right back on schedule and take your next pill, the next day, as scheduled (even though you are now one day ahead).
When you take an extra birth control pill, it is important to be aware that you may experience side effects from the extra dose of hormones, such as:
- Nausea
- Spotting
However, you will not be at an increased risk of pregnancy.
Correcting Days After Taking Two Pills At Once
The most important thing here, is, as mentioned, to be sure to take your next dose as scheduled. However, when you accidentally take two birth control pills on the same day, you will be one pill "short" at the end of your pack.
The easiest remedy to this situation is to simply take a replacement dose from another, or "spare" pack of birth control pills. However, this isn't always an option as many individuals don't have an extra pack to take a replacement dose from.
You could potentially go to your pharmacy to see if your insurance will pay for an extra pack of birth control pills, but most likely you will have to pay out of pocket as the insurance company may see the fill as "too soon". Additionally, you could reach out to your doctor to see if they have "samples" or other recommendations to replace your missing dose.
If you are unable to take a replacement pill, you will then be finishing your birth control pack one day sooner than usual, and therefore, starting your next pack one day sooner than usual.
When starting your next pack after missing the last day of your last pack, it is not recommended to "miss" your first dose in order to start your pack on your usual day. This can increase your risk of pregnancy.
However, some individuals may still choose to do this and if you choose this route, be sure to follow directions for "What To Do When You Miss Pills" in the package insert of your birth control pill product for missing pills in the first week. You'll generally want to use backup birth control for the first week in these cases.
Additional Information
If you can't take a birth control pill to replace your missing last day, you may experience menses, spotting, or bleeding earlier than usual, since you are finishing your pills one day sooner. Your cycle should return to normal after 1 to 2 cycles of consistent birth control pill use.
Lastly, most sources state that missing your last dose of active pills does not increase the risk of pregnancy, but this could vary by birth control pill product. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, you may want to use backup contraception for your placebo week and 7 consecutive days of active pills once you start your pack again.
References & sources
- An overview of oral contraceptives: mechanism of action and clinical use — PubMed
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Hormones
- Chemical substances in your body that regulate various functions, including reproduction and menstrual cycles.
- Nausea
- A feeling of sickness or queasiness in the stomach.
- Spotting
- Light vaginal bleeding or blood staining that occurs between regular periods.
- Menses
- The monthly menstrual period when the uterine lining sheds.
- Active pills
- The birth control pills in a pack that contain hormones to prevent pregnancy.
- Placebo week
- The final week of a birth control pill pack containing pills with no active hormones, which typically triggers menstruation.
- Backup contraception
- An additional form of birth control used in addition to your primary method, such as condoms.
- Pregnancy risk
- The likelihood or chance of becoming pregnant.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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