Emergency contraceptive pills like Plan B are more effective when taken together with a common anti-inflammatory drug called piroxicam, a new study finds.
Combining piroxicam, typically used to treat arthritis, with levonorgestrel prevented roughly 30% more pregnancies than the emergency contraceptive taken by itself, according to research from the University of Hong Kong. The study was published Wednesday in The Lancet.
“I’m really excited about this,” Kelly Cleland, the executive director of the American Society for Emergency Contraception, said in an interview. “I think there’s a lot of potential for this to help provide a more effective emergency contraceptive option, which we really need.” The study took place at the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong between 2018 and 2022. More than 800 women received levonorgestrel either with a placebo or with piroxicam within 72 hours of unprotected sex. There was only one pregnancy reported among the group that took the combination treatment and seven reported among the placebo group. Both groups experienced similar side effects: fatigue, nausea and lower abdominal pain.
Some evidence has also suggested the pill may not be as reliable for people who weigh more than 165 pounds, which is slightly less than the average American woman. Certain medications may also lessen its effects.
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