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Ulipristal

Pronounced

"UE-li-PRIS-tal"

Common brand names:

Ella

Uses

Ulipristal is used by women to prevent pregnancy after birth control failure (such as a broken condom) or unprotected sex. This medication is an emergency contraceptive and should not be used as a regular form of birth control.

Using this medication will not stop an existing pregnancy or protect you or your partner against sexually transmitted diseases (such as HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia).

This medication may not work well in women who are overweight (for example, body mass index greater than 30) or if you are using certain other medications. This effect can result in pregnancy. Talk to your doctor for more details and to see if this medication is right for you (see also Drug Interactions section).

How to Use This Medication

Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from your pharmacist before you start taking ulipristal. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Take 1 tablet by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor as soon as possible after unprotected sex. This medication works best when it is taken within 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex.

If you vomit within 3 hours of taking this medication, contact your doctor to ask if you need to repeat the dose.

After you take this medication, the time when your period comes and how much you bleed may change. Tell your doctor right away if your period is more than 7 days late. You may need to take a pregnancy test.

After using this medication, you should use a barrier-type birth control (such as condoms, diaphragm) every time you have sex until you have your period. If you use or wish to use hormonal birth control, wait at least 5 days after using this medication before starting hormonal birth control (since these medications may interact and make both drugs work less well). After starting hormonal birth control, continue to use a barrier-type birth control every time you have sex until you have your period. If needed, talk to your doctor about reliable forms of birth control.

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Drug information is selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First DataBank, Inc. This is a summary and does not contain all possible information about this product. For complete information about this product or your specific health needs, ask your healthcare professional. Always seek the advice of your healthcare professional if you have any questions about this product or your medical condition. This information is not intended as individual medical advice and does not substitute for the knowledge and judgment of your healthcare professional. This information does not contain any assurances that this product is safe, effective or appropriate for you.

This information is intended only for residents of the United States. Products sold under the same brand names in other countries may contain different ingredients.

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Information expires December 2025.