Opill (norgestrel)

Opill generic

Opill is available only as a brand-name medication. It’s not currently available in a generic version.

A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. Generics typically cost less than brand-name drugs.

Opill uses

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves over-the-counter (OTC) drugs such as Opill to treat certain conditions. Because Opill is available OTC, your doctor does not need to give you a prescription for it. However, they may recommend that you take the drug for a certain purpose.

Note: The drug’s manufacturer expects Opill to be available in early 2024.

Opill for pregnancy prevention

Opill is approved to help prevent pregnancy in females* who can become pregnant. Females are typically able to become pregnant after their first period, which often happens around 12 years of age.

Opill is the first daily birth control pill to be available OTC in the United States.

Opill isn’t an emergency contraceptive.† And it doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). To help prevent STIs, you can take Opill in combination with a barrier method of birth control, such as condoms.

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the term “female” in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.
† A medication taken within 72 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse to help prevent pregnancy.

Opill and children

Opill is approved for pregnancy prevention in females of any age who can become pregnant. Females are typically able to become pregnant after their first period. This often happens around 12 years of age. Doctors may recommend Opill to help prevent pregnancy in adolescents who have periods.

To learn more, see “Opill for pregnancy prevention” above.

If you have questions about taking Opill, talk with your doctor.

Opill cost

Opill is available over the counter (OTC),* meaning your doctor does not need to give you a prescription for it. However, some OTC drugs may cost less if a doctor prescribes them and a pharmacy charges your insurance for them.

As with all medications, the cost of Opill can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.

Financial and insurance assistance. If you need financial support to pay for Opill, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.

To learn more about saving money on any prescription medications you take, check out this article.

Generic version. Opill isn’t available in a generic version. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

* The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Opill for use as an OTC birth control pill. However, it’s not yet available. The drug’s manufacturer expects Opill to be available in early 2024.

Opill side effects

Opill can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Opill. These lists do not include all possible side effects.

For more information about the possible side effects of Opill, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to manage any side effects that may bother you or cause concern.

Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of drugs it has approved. If you would like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Opill, you can do so through MedWatch.

Mild side effects

Below is a partial list of mild side effects of Opill. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or view Opill’s label information.

Mild side effects of Opill can include:

• abdominal pain, bloating, or cramps
• dizziness
• headache
• increased appetite
• nausea
• bleeding, spotting, or changes in periods, including stopped periods
• mild allergic reaction*

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* For more information about allergic reaction and Opill, see “Allergic reaction” below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Opill aren’t common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Serious side effects and their symptoms can include:

• Migraine episodes. Symptoms can include:
  • headache
  • nausea
  • sensitivity to light
• Liver disease. Symptoms can include:
  • dark urine
  • jaundice
  • loss of appetite
• Ectopic pregnancy (when a fertilized egg implants outside your uterus). Symptoms can include:
  • abdominal pain
  • missed period(s)
  • unusual vaginal bleeding
• Severe allergic reaction.*

* For details about allergic reaction and Opill, see “Allergic reaction” below.

ALLERGIC REACTION

As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking Opill. This side effect was reported in the label information for this drug. However, it isn’t known how common this side effect was in clinical trials of Opill.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:

• swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
• swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat
• trouble breathing

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Opill, as the reaction could become severe. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

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Opill dosage

The following information describes the dosage of Opill that’s commonly taken or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage found on the drug’s label. If you have questions about the best dosage to fit your needs, talk with your doctor.

Drug form and strength

Opill comes as an oral tablet. It’s available in one strength: 0.075 milligrams (mg).

Dosage for pregnancy prevention

Opill is approved for pregnancy prevention. For this use, the typical dosage is one tablet (0.075 mg) once per day.

For 48 hours after your first dose of Opill, you’ll need to use a barrier method of birth control during sexual activity. (Condoms are an example of a barrier method.) This is because it takes about 48 hours for Opill to start working for pregnancy prevention. Using a barrier method will help prevent pregnancy during this time.

If you have questions about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Children’s dosage

Opill is approved for pregnancy prevention in females* who can become pregnant. Females are typically able to become pregnant after their first period, which often happens around 12 years of age.

Opill’s dosage for adolescents who have periods is the same as the dosage for adults. For more information, see the “Dosage for pregnancy prevention” section above.

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the term “female” in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.

About taking Opill

Below you’ll find information about key dosage issues.

When to take. You should take Opill once per day, at any time of day. But it’s important to take the drug within 3 hours of the same time each day. Doing so helps keep a steady level of the drug in your body. This helps Opill work effectively.

If you miss a dose. A “missed dose” of Opill can describe several situations, including:

• forgetting a daily dose completely
• taking a daily dose more than 3 hours later than your typical time
• having severe diarrhea or vomiting within 4 hours after taking a dose

If you miss a dose of Opill, take your missed dose as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at the typical time. This could mean taking two doses in a day. For example, you may have missed an evening dose but didn’t remember until the following morning. In this case, you can take your missed dose that morning and your typical dose in the evening.

However, for 48 hours after a missed dose, you should use a barrier method of birth control during sexual activity. (Condoms are an example of a barrier method.) This is because it takes about 48 hours for Opill to start working again after a missed dose. Using a barrier method will help prevent pregnancy during this time.

If you have questions about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Taking Opill with food. You can take Opill with food or without it.

Crushing, splitting, or chewing Opill. The label information for Opill hasn’t stated whether the tablets can be crushed, split, or chewed. If you have trouble swallowing tablets, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also see suggestions for swallowing tablets in this article.

Length of treatment. Opill can be taken as a long-term form of birth control. If you have questions about whether Opill is safe and effective for long-term treatment, talk with your doctor.

Overdose

Do not take more Opill than the drug’s labeling information recommends. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

What to do in case you take too much Opill

If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor. You can also call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. However, if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Opill interactions

Opill can interact with several other medications and certain supplements. The drug isn’t known to interact with any foods.

Before taking Opill, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

Interactions with medications and supplements

Below is a list of medications and supplements that can interact with Opill. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Opill. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Alcohol interaction

Alcohol isn’t known to interact with Opill. It’s likely safe to consume alcohol while taking Opill. If you have questions about how much alcohol is safe to drink while taking Opill, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Similar drugs

Other drugs are available that can help prevent pregnancy. Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Opill, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.

Keep in mind that Opill is the only over-the-counter (OTC) birth control pill available in the United States.* With OTC drugs, your doctor does not need to give you a prescription for it. However, similar birth control pills require a prescription.

The active drug in Opill is norgestrel (a type of hormone called a progestin). The following birth control pills are similar to Opill in that they only contain a progestin:

• drospirenone (Slynd)
• medroxyprogesterone (Provera)
• norethindrone (Camila, Errin, others)

* The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Opill for use as an OTC birth control pill. However, it’s not yet available. The drug’s manufacturer expects Opill to be available in early 2024.

Things to consider when taking Opill

If you can become pregnant, consider the following information about pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Opill and pregnancy

Opill is taken to help prevent pregnancy. The drug should not be taken during pregnancy. Doing so increases the risk of an ectopic pregnancy. (With this condition, a fertilized egg doesn’t implant inside the uterus as it typically would.)

If you think you’ve become pregnant while taking Opill, talk with your doctor right away. They’ll likely perform a pregnancy test. If you’re pregnant, your doctor can recommend whether it’s safe to continue the pregnancy.

Opill and breastfeeding

In general, Opill is considered safe to take while breastfeeding. However, you should still ask your doctor whether they feel it’s safe to do so.

Common questions about Opill

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Opill.

How does Opill work?

Opill works to help prevent pregnancy by thickening cervical mucus so that sperm cannot enter the uterus.

With pregnancy, an egg is fertilized by sperm. Eggs are released from an ovary each month during ovulation. After fertilization, the egg travels through the fallopian tubes to the uterus. Pregnancy results when a fertilized egg implants in the lining of the uterus.

If you have other questions about how Opill works, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Can Opill cause long-term side effects?

Yes, in some cases, Opill may cause long-term changes in periods. These changes, including not having periods, may occur for as long as you’re taking the drug.

Keep in mind that stopped periods can be a sign of pregnancy. If you think you’ve become pregnant while taking Opill, talk with your doctor right away. They’ll likely perform a pregnancy test. If you’re pregnant, your doctor can recommend next steps.

If you have other questions about long-term side effects from Opill, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. For a list of possible negative effects of Opill, see the “Opill side effects” section above.

Is Opill an effective form of birth control?

Yes, Opill has been found to be effective in pregnancy prevention.

Opill is most effective when it’s taken exactly as recommended. The closer you follow the directions for taking Opill, the better the drug will work to help prevent pregnancy. For details about how to take the drug, see the “Opill dosage” section above.

For more information on Opill’s effectiveness, see the drug’s label information.