Does Plan B cause mood disturbances?
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
Does Plan B cause mood disturbances?
Yes, Plan B can cause mood disturbances in some individuals. This is because the drug is a contraceptive medication that contains a high amount of Levonorgestrel, a progestin. (1,2)
A high amount of Levonorgestrel is added so that the drug can be used in case of an emergency or as a ‘last minute’ medication. This can affect your mood and cause side effects like: (3)
- Irritability
- Tiredness
- Depression
- Mood swings
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Headache
These side effects can vary from person to person. Some women don’t really experience much after taking this medication. However, women who do experience mood disturbances usually start to get better within a few days.
The side effects don’t usually linger, but if you find them unusual or they don’t fade away within a few days, talk to your healthcare provider. Plan B may also cause other side effects, including nausea, diarrhoea, spotting, etc. However, make sure you keep a close eye on your side effects.
Plan B does not cause major side effects and does not affect your hepatic or urinary systems. If you notice any side effect that is not usual with Plan B, please reach out to your doctor.
What is the incidence of mood disturbances on Plan B?
Research on the incidence of mood disturbances related to Plan B has been limited and inconclusive. Some studies have explored the potential effects of Plan B on mood, but more research is needed to establish a clear link between the medication and mood disturbances.
One possible mechanism through which mood disturbances may occur with Plan B is the hormonal changes it induces in the body. As mentioned earlier, Plan B contains the hormone Levonorgestrel – which is a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone (4).
Progesterone plays a role in regulating mood and emotions, and altering its levels in the body could potentially affect mood. (4)
However, the hormonal changes caused by Plan B are temporary and typically return to normal within a short period. It is important to note that mood disturbances associated with emergency contraception are generally considered to be short-term and not long-term effects.
Furthermore, individual responses to hormonal changes can vary, and not everyone may experience mood disturbances after taking Plan B. The incidence of mood disturbances may also be influenced by factors such as pre-existing mental health conditions, stress levels, and individual sensitivity to hormonal fluctuations.
When to consult your doctor?
If you frequently take Plan B and are experiencing severe and persistent mood swings, it is essential for you to consult a doctor.
While some mood changes can be normal and temporary after taking emergency contraception, experiencing “terrible” mood swings may indicate a more significant issue that needs medical attention. Persistence mood changes can significantly impact a person’s well-being, emotional health, and daily life.
Furthermore, severe and persistent mood swings can be caused by various factors, including hormonal imbalances, underlying mental health conditions, or other medications. A doctor can conduct a thorough evaluation to rule out any other potential causes of mood swings.
Remember, you should always discuss your concerns with your doctor. If you’re looking for a long-term contraceptive method, there are other options that could provide better long-term contraception than Plan B, which is an emergency pill in case you have unprotected sex.
Plan B can be taken twice a week if needed, but again it is not a promising contraceptive method. Taking it frequently can cause side effects in some women.
Final words
To sum up, Plan B can cause mood disturbances in some individuals due to the high amount of Levonorgestrel, a progestin, present in the medication. However, not everyone may experience these side effects, and for those who do, they usually subside within a few days.
It’s important to discuss any severe or persistent mood swings with a healthcare provider to rule out other potential causes and explore alternative contraceptive options for long-term use
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References
1.-
HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION. PLAN B- levonorgestrel tablet. DailyMed [Internet]. Available from: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=fffebd01-3815-425f-8293-1ad909d0d0ab#section-1
2.-
LABEL: PLAN B- levonorgestrel tablet. DailyMed [Internet]. Available from: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/getFile.cfm?setid=fffebd01-3815-425f-8293-1ad909d0d0ab&type=pdf
3.-
National Library of Medicine. Levonorgestrel: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): U.S. National Library of Medicine. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a610021.html
4.-
Vrettakos C, Bajaj T. Levonorgestrel. 2023 May 22. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 30969559. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539737
