Britain ups dosage for morning-after pill

THE dosage of the controversial morning-after pill is to be changed in a bid to further reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, the Department of Health in Britain announced yesterday.

Levonelle, which is available on prescription in Ireland, will now be given as two pills taken together rather than 12 hours apart.

It is hoped this will result in fewer unwanted pregnancies due to women forgetting to take the second dose.

The emergency contraceptive has caused controversy because some think it leads women to believe they can use it instead of normal contraception, such as the Pill or condoms.

It also sparked outrage in Britain after reports that it was being handed out to schoolgirls in efforts to cut teenage pregnancies.

Yesterday’s announcement follows a large-scale study by the World Health Organisation, which found that a single dose was both safe and effective.

The Committee on Safety of Medicines backed the change in dose.

The new packs are expected to become available to patients before the end of the year.

Health Minister Lord Warner said: “The evidence shows that the new dose is safe and effective.

“There are clear benefits to patients in making this change.

“Single dose will improve compliance and hence reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies.”