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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be so angry at this pharmacist

110 replies

buddhasbelly · 26/09/2015 22:40

From my other thread under my other username (which I now see no point in hiding - ahtilnextweek) I am pregnant with an unwanted pregnancy.

After my first hospital appointment I was told that things weren't large enough to begin a termination.

I then was told that the morning after pill I took "Levonelle" is far less effective (on an aggregate scale) than the new alternative offered aka you take the new pill £30 after possibility of sex it has a 95% chance of no pregnancy, you take levonelle, the odds very much decrease hour by hour (as instructed by the midwife scanning me). The midwife scanning me was astounded I was not given this info (the picture painted to me was dont pay the money it isn't needed). In reality it could have (I stress could have) prevented an unwanted pregnancy.

I am angry. I am frustrated and if I am told again that I have posted in the 'wrong' place then please take account of the situation. I do not feel there is a right or wrong wherever you post.

OP posts:

elQuintoConyo · 26/09/2015 22:42

No advice but

(Sorry about lack of advice, I'm a bit shit in that area )

hiddenhome2 · 26/09/2015 22:44

The morning after pill isn't a form of contraception. It's not guaranteed. You've just been unlucky. What if the 'new alternative' wasn't available at all?

Prettyeyedpiratesmile · 26/09/2015 22:44

Original poster

buddhasbelly · 26/09/2015 22:49

thank you, am currently crying. Does anyone know that levonelle's effectiveness dreceases after sex (it wasn't unprotected as per my last thread) and that we are far better taking the new pill? My pharmacist said there was no difference but the midwife said there greatly was (she drew graphs on the tissue stuff that goes on the bed things you lie on, one was levonelle effectiveness, the other was other drug).

It worries me that this is the advice some pharmacists are giving out. It might not have made a difference to me but it might make a difference to someone and it has just made me so angry.

OP posts:

Original poster

buddhasbelly · 26/09/2015 22:50

hidden if one drug has an X% effectiveness and you learn another has a Y% effectiveness it changes your situation condsiderable. I had already been careful was just unlucky and followed up with what i thought was the best care possible.

OP posts:

tibbawyrots · 26/09/2015 22:50

Original poster

buddhasbelly · 26/09/2015 22:52

oh and hidden "what if" is a situation I am now in which you deem now and void which makes your response null and void, if nothing helpful please go away

OP posts:

Feckingfeckfeck · 26/09/2015 22:52

I took it in my early teens, they said basically every 12 hours the percentage decreases and after 72 hours it's not likely to work at all.

Original poster

buddhasbelly · 26/09/2015 22:53

that should say null and void. apologies my head is in a very fragile state.

OP posts:

YetAnotherUserName · 26/09/2015 22:54

What's the new alternative called please? I used Levonelle recently after my contraceptive failed, the booklet that came with it clearly stated that its efficacy tails off as time goes on

I'm sorry that the morning after pill didn't work for you

Original poster

buddhasbelly · 26/09/2015 22:54

feckingfeck she said "you're well within the 72hrs so this should work" that was her exact words. By this point it was approx 18hrs

OP posts:

SlowlyGoingINSAINIA · 26/09/2015 22:56

I've had Levonelle several about 5 times, it has worked every time. If there was another MAP that was more effective then of course I would have wanted to take that one.

YANBU and I'm so sorry this is happening for you

Original poster

buddhasbelly · 26/09/2015 22:56

the pharmacist literally did not give me this info, she reassured me of the timeline, sorry i cannot remember the new drugs name (because i didn't take it) so I saw no reason paying for a drug when there was one there for me (which stated the same results)

OP posts:

Original poster

buddhasbelly · 26/09/2015 22:59

Part of me wants to go and tell her after next week, just to get her to sort out her advice, the midwife was furious at what I was told but the private/national link up meant she wasn't going to do anything herself (this midwife already volunteers at a clinic as she told me)

OP posts:

hiddenhome2 · 26/09/2015 23:00

You'll have to complain to the pharmacist then.

BlueJug · 26/09/2015 23:02

Oh poor you, that is horrible. I would be angry too. I took the MAP - twice. Both times lucky, (though maybe I wasn't actually pregnant - but there was more than a chance I was). I feel for you and you have a right to be angry. Unfortunately it won't help you - you need to focus on what happens next. Good luck OP.

Sidge · 26/09/2015 23:02

Levonelle is the first line emergency contraception pill within 72 hours of unprotected sex. You can also have an IUD (coil) inserted.

After 72 hours and up to 120 hours you can be offered EllaOne or a coil.

After 120 hours since unprotected sex there is no medication or procedure that can reliably reduce the risk of pregnancy.

It's not about one being more effective than another, it's about what's on offer depending on the timeline. If you were within 72 hours then levonelle is the first EC of choice. It states quite explicitly in the literature it comes with (and should have been explained by the dispensing nurse, doctor or pharmacist) that it doesn't guarantee pregnancy won't occur, it just reduces the likelihood.

Boredofthinkingofnewnames · 26/09/2015 23:05

Shit situation but are you complaining about the advice or the price? I paid £30 for levonelle five years ago. I was aware that it is most effective after x amount of time and you can't take it at all after 5 days. What is the new pill?

Original poster

buddhasbelly · 26/09/2015 23:07

Sidge i was told by the midwife that ellaone - thank you for reminding me of the name - its effectiveness does not deteriorate in comparison to levonelle..

My mw def said that ellaone was more effective the longer after the indicent you take it.

OP posts:

bringmelaughter · 26/09/2015 23:08

In addition to Sidge's comments, Ellaone also has more interactions with other medication and more situations where it shouldn't be used so isn't always the right choice for someone.

Original poster

buddhasbelly · 26/09/2015 23:08

i am not complaining at the price - i was told the "free" pill was the same as the £30 pill and it turns out they're not. This is where my quarral lies.

OP posts:

Original poster

buddhasbelly · 26/09/2015 23:09

i was on no other meds no external situations, the pharmacist pressed to me that leveonelle was free and to take that instead.

OP posts:

Micah · 26/09/2015 23:10

The other map is Ellaone.

Which pill is best for you depends on a lot of factors, such as where you are in your cycle, are you asthmatic. It will also depend on availability.

As far as I can see from Google, Ellaone is only "thought" to be more effective. They can't prove effectiveness of the map as it's impossible to tell whether it has prevented pregnancy, or you wouldn't have got pregnant anyway.

I'm not sure the midwife did you any favours telling you all this as I doubt it's made that much difference. If you want to see the pharmacist, calm down, go ask for a meeting with her and her manager, ask why she didn't give ellaone, and if she hasn't a good reason, ask her manager to provide training.

The other thing I'd query with your midwife is the "too early for termination" thing. I thought it was always the earlier the better for terminations. I certainly know people who've had them at five weeks, as soon as they confirmed pregnancy.

OwenMeanysArmadillo · 26/09/2015 23:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lorelei9 · 26/09/2015 23:20

OP, I'm sorry you're in such a horrible situation

re what you were told, I'm also concerned about the midwife saying it's too early for a termination. How far along are you? It's usually the earlier the better.

I don't pretend to know the difference between the drugs but I had a quick google and wondered the same thing - is it a case of "not known" just yet and the midwife gave info that's not 100% confirmed?

If you want to raise the query with the pharmacist to be sure that no one else ends up in your position and you feel able to have a calm chat then do - but I'd concentrate on getting your situation sorted. I am honestly worried about the advice the midwife has given you.

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