Minister dealing with pill after too careless?

Pill after: use too inflationary?

04/04/2015

Since March of this year is the so-called „Pill afterwards“ to buy without a prescription in German pharmacies. But there is concern in politics. The Bavarian health minister Melanie Huml warned against one „careless handling“. The background is the rising sales of emergency contraceptives. Pharmacies reported from „a greater demand“. Worrying is the increasing demand also because the drug „by no means harmless“ be. The pill after that intervenes massively in the hormone balance of the recipients.

So far, requesting women had to undergo a medical consultation before the „Pill afterwards“ was prescribed. In particular, according to the minister „young women get a consultation“. Because as a regular contraceptive is „the preparation is not suitable“. Rather, it is an emergency drug. Breastfeeding women should take a pause for one week after taking it. Furthermore, it should be noted that the effectiveness of the preparations decreases in overweight. So levonorgestrel from 70 pounds of body weight unsafe and will be ineffective from 75 kilograms.

The side effects are undeniable. It can cause side effects such as headache, dizziness, pelvic pain, bleeding, nausea and vomiting. Cycle disorders are not uncommon. Although the drug is similar to a conventional „Birth control pills“, However, the concentrations of the active ingredients are many times higher. Contains substances such as ulipristal acetate and Leonorgestrel. Both ingredients are intended for emergency contraception. If the remedy is consumed regularly, it can lead to the described side effects. (Sb)

Picture: Wilhelmine Wulff