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Ulipristal acetate
INFORMATION ABOUT ULIPRISTAL ACETATE
Ulipristal acetate Uses
Ulipristal acetate is used in the treatment of emergency contraception and Uterine fibroids. It is used for intermittent treatment and pre-operative treatment of moderate to severe symptoms of uterine fibroid in adult women of reproductive age.
How Ulipristal acetate works
Ulipristal acetate is a selective progesterone receptor modulator. It works by modifying the action of progesterone (natural female hormone). It is used either before surgery of fibroids or for intermittent (at regular intervals) treatment of fibroids. It helps reduce their size, stops or controls bleeding and increases your red blood cell count.
Common side effects of Ulipristal acetate
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common
Absence of menstrual periods, Headache, Endometrial hyperplasia
CONTENT DETAILS
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Written By
Dr. Syeda Aafia
MBA, BDS
Reviewed By
Dr. Lalit Kanodia
MBA, MD Pharmacology
Last updated
03 Dec 2024 | 04:38 AM (UTC)
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Medicine brands for Ulipristal acetate
Expert advice for Ulipristal acetate
- Ulipristal acetate is used for the treatment of uterine fibroids and their associated symptoms, such as painful periods, heavy bleeding and pelvic pain.
- It considerably reduces or stops your menstrual bleeding within the first 10 days of treatment. Notify your doctor if you continue to have heavy bleeding despite taking Ulipristal acetate.
- Your periods will usually start again within four weeks of stopping Ulipristal acetate.
- Use a reliable barrier contraceptive method (such as condoms or a diaphragm) to prevent pregnancy while you are taking Ulipristal acetate as it may make hormonal contraceptives (such as pills) less effective.
- Your doctor may get routine blood tests done to assess the functioning of your liver. Inform your doctor if you notice yellowing of skin/eye, dark urine, or stomach pain.
- Ulipristal acetate is used for the treatment of uterine fibroids and their associated symptoms, such as painful periods, heavy bleeding and pelvic pain.
- It considerably reduces or stops your menstrual bleeding within the first 10 days of treatment. Notify your doctor if you continue to have heavy bleeding despite taking Ulipristal acetate.
- Your periods will usually start again within four weeks of stopping Ulipristal acetate.
- Use a reliable barrier contraceptive method (such as condoms or a diaphragm) to prevent pregnancy while you are taking Ulipristal acetate as it may make hormonal contraceptives less effective.
- Your doctor may get routine blood tests done to assess the functioning of your liver. Inform your doctor if you notice yellowing of skin/eye, dark urine, or stomach pain.
Frequently asked questions for Ulipristal acetate
Ulipristal acetate is an oral contraceptive which prevents pregnancy after unprotected sex. It also helps when a contraceptive method has failed. It is an effective medicine considering that the possibility of women becoming pregnant while using this medicine is 2 out of 100.
Ulipristal acetate acts by blocking the receptors of progesterone, which decreases the levels of progesterone and therefore it is helpful in decreasing the size of fibroids. Fibroids are non-cancerous development around the uterus. When given at a certain prescribed dose, Ulipristal acetate inhibits ovulation leading to stopping of periods. As a result, it may benefit women who have heavy bleeding due to fibroids.
No, taking a single tablet of Ulipristal acetate does not stop periods, but it may delay or prepone your periods. In some cases you may have bleeding in between your periods. Consult your doctor if this happens.
No, Ulipristal acetate cannot be used as a regular contraceptive. It is meant for occasional use as an emergency contraceptive. It is important to know that the safety and effectiveness of Ulipristal acetate have not been established for repeated use in one menstrual cycle. Hence, its repeated use is not recommended.
Ulipristal acetate should be taken orally as soon as possible after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure and not later than 120 hours (5 days). It can be taken at anytime of the day and before, during or after food. It can be taken at anytime during your menstrual cycle.
If you vomit immediately after taking Ulipristal acetate or within 3 hours of taking it, take another tablet of Ulipristal acetate. However, if you have vomited after 3 hours of taking the medicine you need not take another tablet.
Ulipristal acetate may make your birth control pills less effective and therefore in addition to birth control pills you should continue using condoms till your next period (menses).
While taking Ulipristal acetate you should be aware of some important points such as it does not work if you are already pregnant and it is not effective if you have unprotected sex after taking the tablet. It is also important to know that Ulipristal acetate does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, syphilis etc.