# Levonorgestrel (emergency contraception) in Nigeria

- Source: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/levonorgestrel/
- Drug class: Progestogen (emergency contraceptive) (Family Planning)
- Also known as: Postinor, Postinor-2, Postpill, Morning-after pill
- Prescription required: no
- On the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines
- Last updated: September 2026

## Price in Nigeria

As of September 2026, Levonorgestrel (emergency contraception) tablets sells for about ₦1,438 per tablet online in Nigeria (packs ₦1,450–₦3,500) across HealthPlus and MedPlus and NettPharmacy. The online price is roughly unchanged since July 2026. That figure is for Postpill; 10 other levonorgestrel (emergency contraception) brands are NAFDAC-registered and generic versions usually cost less. Open-market prices (e.g. Idumota, Ogbogwu) are often lower.

## What is Levonorgestrel (emergency contraception)?

Levonorgestrel is the active ingredient in emergency contraceptive pills — the 'morning-after pill' — used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or when a regular method has failed, such as a burst condom or missed pills. In Nigeria it is sold over the counter and is extremely widely used, best known by the brand names Postinor-2 (Gedeon Richter) and the locally made Postpill and Lydia Postpill (DKT). It is a single-use, backup method — not a routine form of family planning.

Levonorgestrel works mainly by delaying or preventing the release of an egg (ovulation). If there is no egg to be fertilised, pregnancy cannot start. Importantly, it does not end an existing pregnancy and is not an abortion pill — if you are already pregnant, it will not work and will not harm the pregnancy. Because it acts before fertilisation, timing is everything: the sooner it is taken after unprotected sex, the better it works.

Emergency contraception should be taken as soon as possible, ideally within 72 hours (3 days) of unprotected sex; it still has some effect up to 120 hours (5 days) but becomes less reliable each day. Older packs come as two 0.75mg tablets taken together (or 12 hours apart), while newer packs are a single 1.5mg tablet — both are equivalent. It is a safe, one-off measure, but it is less effective than regular contraception and offers no protection against sexually transmitted infections, so it should not replace condoms or ongoing family planning. Genuine packs carry a NAFDAC registration number.

## What is Levonorgestrel (emergency contraception) used for?

- Preventing pregnancy after unprotected sex
- Backup after a contraceptive failure — a burst or slipped condom, or missed combined pills
- A single emergency measure when no regular method was used
- Reducing the risk of pregnancy when taken as soon as possible, ideally within 72 hours
- A safe over-the-counter option that does not affect an existing pregnancy

## Dosage

Always follow a doctor's or pharmacist's instructions; this is general reference information.

- Adults: Take the emergency contraceptive as soon as possible after unprotected sex. For a single 1.5mg tablet (e.g. Postpill), take one tablet once. For the two-tablet 0.75mg pack (e.g. Postinor-2), take both tablets together, or one tablet followed by the second 12 hours later. It works best within 72 hours (3 days) and can be used up to 120 hours (5 days), becoming less effective the longer you wait. If you vomit within 2-3 hours of taking it, take another dose, as the first may not have been absorbed.
- Children: Emergency contraception can be used by adolescents of reproductive age who need it, following the same dosing. Young people should ideally also be linked to a health worker for advice on ongoing contraception and protection against sexually transmitted infections.
- Elderly: Not applicable — emergency contraception is used by people who can become pregnant.

Emergency contraception is a one-off backup, not a routine method — it is less effective than regular contraception (the pill, injection, implant, or IUD) and should not be relied on repeatedly. Using it more than occasionally is a sign you would benefit from a regular method. It does not protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted infections. Your next period may come earlier or later than usual; if it is more than a week late, take a pregnancy test.

## Side effects

Common: Nausea, and sometimes vomiting; Irregular bleeding or spotting, or a change in the timing of your next period; Tiredness, headache, or dizziness; Breast tenderness; Lower abdominal (period-like) cramps.

Serious (seek medical help immediately): Severe lower abdominal pain 3-5 weeks later, which could signal an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy — seek medical care; Signs of an allergic reaction: rash, swelling of the face or throat, or difficulty breathing; A period that is very late, very light, or unusual — take a pregnancy test and see a health worker if pregnant.

When to see a doctor: See a health worker if your period is more than a week late (to rule out pregnancy), if you have severe or one-sided lower abdominal pain in the weeks afterwards (a possible ectopic pregnancy), or if you find yourself needing emergency contraception often — that is a signal to start a reliable regular method. Also seek advice if there is any chance you were exposed to a sexually transmitted infection, as the morning-after pill does not protect against them.

## Warnings

Do not take if: Do not use if you are allergic to levonorgestrel; It will not work if you are already pregnant — but it does not harm an existing pregnancy; It is not intended as a regular, repeated method of contraception; It does not protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted infections.

Interactions: Some medicines reduce how well emergency contraception works, including certain anti-epileptics (carbamazepine, phenytoin), rifampicin (a TB medicine), and the herbal remedy St John's Wort — a copper IUD or a higher dose may be advised if you take these; Efavirenz-based HIV treatment can reduce its effectiveness; It does not make regular contraceptive pills less effective, but if you are starting or continuing regular pills, use condoms as backup for the next 7 days.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Levonorgestrel emergency contraception does not end or harm an existing pregnancy — if you are already pregnant it simply will not work. It is considered safe while breastfeeding; a common precaution is to breastfeed just before taking the dose. After using emergency contraception, consider starting or restarting a regular contraceptive method, and use condoms in the meantime.

## Brands in Nigeria

Well-known NAFDAC-registered brands: Postinor-2 (Gedeon Richter, made in Hungary); Postpill (DKT International, made in India); Lydia Postpill (DKT International, made in Nigeria); Natnaw (Unosource Pharma Nigeria Limited, made in India).
Full searchable brand list: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/levonorgestrel/brands/

## How to verify it is genuine

1. Check the NAFDAC registration number on the pack — genuine emergency contraceptive brands sold in Nigeria must carry a valid NAFDAC number
2. Verify the NAFDAC number using the NAFDAC Green Book or the NAFDAC mobile app, especially for imported Postinor-2
3. Buy from licensed pharmacies and registered patent medicine stores, or through recognised social-marketing brands like Postpill (DKT)
4. Check the expiry date and that the blister and carton are sealed, intact, and untampered
5. Be wary of unusually cheap or loose tablets sold without a proper pack, as emergency contraceptives are commonly counterfeited
6. If in doubt, ask the pharmacist to confirm the brand and show you the sealed pack

Verify any NAFDAC number free (no login): https://ogbogwu.com/nafdac-checker/

## FAQs

### How soon after sex should I take the morning-after pill?

As soon as possible. Emergency contraception works best within 72 hours (3 days) of unprotected sex, and the sooner you take it, the better it works. It still offers some protection up to 120 hours (5 days), but its effectiveness drops with each passing day. Do not wait for a 'convenient' time — take it as soon as you can. If you vomit within about 2-3 hours of taking it, take another dose, because the first may not have been absorbed.

### Is the morning-after pill the same as an abortion pill?

No. They are completely different. Emergency contraception (levonorgestrel, e.g. Postinor-2 or Postpill) works mainly by delaying ovulation so that an egg is not released and fertilisation does not happen — it prevents pregnancy from starting and has no effect on an existing pregnancy. An abortion pill (such as mifepristone with misoprostol) is used to end an established pregnancy and is a different medicine used under medical guidance. If you are already pregnant, the morning-after pill will not work and will not harm the pregnancy.

### Can I use Postinor as my regular family planning method?

No — it is meant only for emergencies. Emergency contraception is less effective than regular methods and is not designed for repeated use; relying on it every time is both less reliable and more disruptive to your cycle than a proper method. If you find you need it often, that is a clear sign to start a regular, more effective method such as the combined pill, the injection (Depo-Provera), an implant, or an IUD. A pharmacist or family-planning clinic can help you choose. Remember too that only condoms protect against sexually transmitted infections.

## Sources

- NAFDAC Greenbook (official register of approved products in Nigeria)
- WHO Model List of Essential Medicines
- British National Formulary (BNF)
- Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health)