Skip to main content

Table 2 Pharmacokinetic comparison of different dosage regimens of levonorgestrel

From: A systematic review of effectiveness and safety of different regimens of levonorgestrel oral tablets for emergency contraception

Study (year)

Dose

Pkparameters

Side effects

  

AUC0–12(ng-h/ml)

AUC0–24(ng-h/ml)

AUC0-t(ng-h/ml)

AUC0-∞(ng-h/ml)

Cmax(ng/ml)

tmax(h)

Kel(1/h)

t1/2(h)

 

Gainer et al., (2007) [28]

1.5 mg

28.6

45.0

252.8

262.6

15.4

2.0

----

29.3

----

Johansson et al., (2002) [23]

0.75 mg & 1.5 mg

A:49.9

A:81.3

A:139.5

----

A:7.9

A:1.8

----

A:43.7

Nausea, sleepiness, headache.

B:51.9

B:73.2

B:136.0

 

B:8.4

B:1.4

 

B:32.0

C:88.8

C:130.8

C:290.9

 

C:12.4

C:2.5

 

C:43.3

Kook et al., (2002) [24]

0.75 mg

----

----

111.8

123.1

14.1

1.63

0.030

24.4

Menstrual irregularity

Sambol et al., (2006) [29]

0.75 mg

----

----

----

86.1

6.72

1.43

----

21.2

Headaches, dizziness, nausea, cramps

Tremblay et al., (2001) [25]

0.75 mg

----

----

----

133.02

----

2.27

0.042

21.72

----

  1. AUC0-t: Area under the plasma concentration time curve calculated by the trapezoidal rule from time 0 until the last time point.
  2. AUC0-∞: Area under the plasma concentration time curve corrected for the previous administration and extrapolated to infinity.
  3. A: One tablet of 0.75 mg levonorgestrel at time −12 h and one tablet at time 0.
  4. B: One tablet of 0.75 mg levonorgestrel at time 0.
  5. C: One tablet of 0.75 mg levonorgestrel at time −24 h and one tablet at time 0.