Emerres® – A low cost1-3, bioequivalent alternative to Levonelle 1500®4
- Emerres® is an emergency contraceptive pill which contains 1.5mg levonorgestrel3
- Emerres® contains the same active ingredients and is bioequivalent to Levonelle 1500®, therefore, following appropriate patient assessment and review, it may be prescribed in place of Levonelle 1500®4–6
- Each pack of Emerres® contains a single tablet of emergency contraception3
Clinical studies indicate that Emerres® may prevent 84–85% of expected pregnancies if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sexual intercourse.5
- Emerres® emergency contraception should be offered after sexual intercourse if:
- No form of contraception was used5,7
- Withdrawal method was used7
- Barrier method failed (e.g. condom tore or slipped off, or the diaphragm/cervical cap was incorrectly inserted, became dislodged, was damaged or removed less than 6 hours after intercourse)7
- NICE guideline states:
Offer emergency contraception to all women after sexual intercourse if:
- The woman is using the combined oral contraceptive pill, combined contraceptive patch, contraceptive vaginal ring, progestogen-only pill, or progestogen-only implant when:
- There is a failure to use additional contraceptive precautions when starting the method, and unprotected sexual intercourse (UPSI) or barrier failure occurs during the time that additional precaution is required
- Unprotected sexual intercourse or barrier failure occurs during, or in the 28 days following the use of potent liver enzyme-inducing drugs (such as rifampicin, phenytoin, carbamazepine)
- If vomiting occurs within 3 hours of taking the tablet, another tablet should be taken immediately5
- After using emergency contraception it is recommended that patients use a local barrier method (e.g. condom, diaphragm, spermicide or cervical cap) until the next menstrual period starts5
- The use of Emerres® does not contraindicate the continuation of regular hormonal contraception5
Please refer to the full Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) before prescribing.
References
- Data on File: Contraceptives Cost Saving Data. Feb 2019;
- MIMS. Emerres. Available at: https://www.mims.co.uk/drugs/contraception/emergency-contraceptives/emerres (accessed June 2020);
- MIMS. Levonelle 1500 (Bayer plc). Available at: https://www.mims.co.uk/drugs/contraception/emergency-contraceptives/levonelle-1500 (accessed June 2020);
- MHRA. UK PAR Emerres 1.5mg Tablet. December 2014. Available at: https://mhraproductsproduction.blob.core.windows.net/docs/0f60e25dbc2b59d4f5b28a5320b2664a18da6b7e (accessed June 2020);
- Morningside Healthcare Ltd. Emerres 1.5 mg tablet. May 2020. Summary of Product Characteristics. Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/9569/smpc (accessed June 2020);
- Bayer plc. Levonelle 1500 microgram tablet. Summary of Product Characteristics. November 2018. Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/16887/smpc (accessed June 2020);
- NICE. Contraception – emergency. March 2020. Available at: https://cks.nice.org.uk/contraception-emergency (accessed June 2020).
Levonelle 1500® chosen as a comparator as it is the license reference product for Emerres®.4
