Yes, you can take Plan B if you've been drinking: alcohol is not on the label's list of things that make it work less well, and the label says to take it as soon as possible within 72 hours. Don't wait until you feel sober. The thing to watch is vomiting. If you throw up within 2 hours of the pill, the label says to call a healthcare professional about whether to take another dose.
Does alcohol make Plan B less effective?
The Plan B One-Step Drug Facts label does not list alcohol as an interaction, and neither does the MedlinePlus page on levonorgestrel, the hormone in Plan B. Having a drink before or after the pill is not a reason to skip it.
The label and MedlinePlus do name some medicines that may make levonorgestrel work less well. Ask a pharmacist first if you take any of these:
- Efavirenz, an HIV medicine
- Rifampin, a tuberculosis medicine
- Seizure medicines (MedlinePlus also says to mention herbal products, especially St. John's wort)
Should I wait until I'm sober to take it?
No. The label says to take Plan B as soon as possible within 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected sex, because the sooner you take it, the better it works. Nothing on the label tells you to wait until you've stopped drinking.
If you are past 3 days, Plan B is not your only option. CDC says emergency contraception pills can be used within 5 days, and that ulipristal (ella) works better than levonorgestrel 3 to 5 days after sex. A copper IUD placed within 5 days is the most effective option, per the NHS.
What if I throw up after taking Plan B?
Drinking can make you vomit, and nausea and vomiting are also listed side effects of Plan B. If the pill comes back up soon after you take it, it may not have been absorbed.
Sources give slightly different time windows, so here is what each one says:
- Plan B label: if you vomit within 2 hours, call a healthcare professional to ask whether to repeat the dose.
- MedlinePlus: if you vomit less than 2 hours after the dose, call your doctor. You may need another dose.
- CDC clinician guidance: if you vomit within 3 hours, another dose should be taken as soon as possible, and anti-nausea medicine can be considered.
- If you vomit later than that, for example with a hangover the next morning, none of these sources tell you to take another dose.
What if drinking meant I missed my birth control?
CDC lists sex without protection, and the STIs and unplanned pregnancies that can follow, among the short-term risks of drinking too much. If a condom was forgotten or broke while you were drinking, Plan B is an option for that sex.
Plan B is not meant for regular birth control, and the label says it does not protect against HIV or other STIs. After Plan B, CDC says you can start or restart your regular birth control right away, but use condoms or skip sex for the next 7 days.
When should you get care?
In an emergency, call 911Call a doctor or pharmacist today if you vomited within 2 hours of taking Plan B, or if you take efavirenz, rifampin, or a seizure medicine.
Get care right away for severe lower belly pain 3 to 5 weeks after taking Plan B.
If you think you were sexually assaulted, or can't remember whether you agreed to sex, go to an emergency room. CDC says survivors should be offered emergency contraception, and HIV prevention medicine needs to start within 72 hours.
Call 911 if someone who has been drinking is confused, has slowed breathing, is hard to wake, or is vomiting and only partly alert. Lay them on their side in case they throw up and check on them often. Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.
How our AI doctor decides when to send you to care ›When should I take a pregnancy test?
Changes to your next period, such as heavier or lighter bleeding or spotting, are listed effects of Plan B.
CDC says to take a pregnancy test if you don't get a period within 3 weeks. MedlinePlus says to call your doctor if your period is more than a week late.
Common questions
Can I take Plan B if I've been drinking?
Yes. Alcohol is not listed as an interaction on the Plan B label or on MedlinePlus. Take it as soon as possible within 72 hours, since it works better the sooner you take it.
Can I drink after taking Plan B?
The label doesn't warn against it. The main risk is that heavy drinking can make you throw up. If you vomit within 2 hours of the pill, the label says to call a healthcare professional about taking another dose.
I threw up the next morning from a hangover. Did Plan B still work?
None of the sources tell you to take another dose if you vomit more than 2 to 3 hours after the pill. The label uses a 2-hour window and CDC uses 3 hours. If you're unsure of the timing, ask a pharmacist.
Does alcohol cause Plan B side effects to be worse?
The label doesn't say. Plan B can cause nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, and tiredness, and drinking can cause some of the same things, so it can be hard to tell which is which.
Do I need Plan B if I was drunk and can't remember if we used a condom?
If there's a chance you had unprotected sex, Plan B is sold without a prescription for exactly this, and it works best taken as soon as possible within 72 hours. If you can't remember whether you agreed to sex, go to an emergency room, where you can also get STI and HIV prevention care.
Pymander is not a replacement for a physician and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911.