Can I start Opill right after using emergency contraception (EC) pills?

Opill is a progestin-only birth control pill (also called the mini-pill), that is available over the counter. That means you don’t need a prescription to get it. Opill is now available on Amazon, Opill’s website, and some drugstores, convenience stores, and grocery stores. A store brand version, simply called “norgestrel daily oral contraceptive,” is also available at Walgreens and CVS.

EC pills are birth control you take after sex to prevent pregnancy before it starts. Over-the-counter EC pills, like Plan B, also contain progestin, the same hormone in Opill. You can start Opill right after using EC (although you may want to wait until the next day to reduce nausea), but you’ll need to use a backup method to prevent pregnancy for 48 hours after starting Opill. If you use prescription EC pills (which have the brand name ella), you’ll need to wait 5 days after taking EC to start Opill to avoid making your EC pill less effective.