Thread: Can Next Choice side effects continue 2 months after taking it?

I had contraceptive failure over 10 days ago and noticed that after taking Next Choice I had abdominal cramping and swelling, breast tenderness and swelling, bleeding/spotting on the 10th day, pimples on my face, diarrhea, tender joints and moodiness as if I suffered from severe PMS. I feel that it has a very high hormone content. I know this because I am NOT on any birth control other than condoms and don't take hormones. I had just finished my cycle, so my hormones were balanced as I never have issues post menstrual cycle. Also, my normally svelte waist is puffy around the tummy and I'm gaseous. My partner and I are very careful and this was just a hiccup but OMG. I will NEVER use this as a back up again. The experience has been terrible.
I called the information line on the package and spoke with "Lorraine" who told me that she'd never heard of these side effects except for the diarrhea and breast tenderness. She also said that It can take a long time for the side effects to subside. I went online and researched that it's supposed to be in your system only for 24-48 hours and then you're good. Not the case with me. I am not a fan and would have to be in desperate need to use this product again.

This is just my experience and opinion but I believe that it has very high hormone levels and 2 months into it seems extreme but I'm 1/2 a month in and a bit scared.

Originally Posted by crr526

I've been on birth control for a year, never miss a pill until one time in July, 2010. I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend and freaked out so I took Next Choice the very next day. I was told I really didn't need to but I did anyway just to be safe. I didn't have any of the side effects it listed, and my period came normal and to-the-tee on time. Then, in Aug., about a week and a half after my period in July, I experienced maybe 2 days out of that month feeling dizzy, a rapid heart rate and some VERY slight bleeding. I can't even call it bleeding though because it never spotted or was never visible when I wiped, only when I inserted a finger, and even then it blended mostly with my own natural discharge. It was so unnoticeable at times, but this would occur when I felt the dizziness, and seemed to only come and go within an hour I'd say. So, these symptoms happened about twice last month. I got my period, again, normal and to-the-tee on time this August and have been taking my birth control pills religiously (So, therefore, I can't be pregnant).

It's September, I've had two normal periods since taking Next Choice, but again about a week and a half after my period, I had one of those dizzy feeling days off and on, my heart rate skyrocketed off and on throughout the day, and a slight pink/clear/white of blood in my discharge (again, not enough to call spotting because I would never even notice it if I didn't insert a finger and dig around for it.)

I'm scaring myself to death, because I almost 100% positive I can't be pregnant because I dont have these symptoms occuring more than twice between periods, AND my periods the last two months have been totally normal.

I emailed a healthcare provider last month about the possibility of being pregnant after taking Next Choice, having a normal period the first month and then feeling the dizziness in Aug and she said that its nearly impossible for me to be pregnant since I got my period as normal. THEN, I emailed her again this month (probably not knowing it was me again) about having the same symptoms this month again, but having another normal period in Aug, and she said it could be the Contraceptive OR a pregnancy. (???) So basically the woman is contradicting herself. I just want answers/opinions/related stories on this.

ARE THERE REALLLY LONG_TERM EFFECTS WITH NEXT CHOICE/PLAN B? And I mean effects as in nothing having to do with irregular periods....but the dizziness/nauseas/slight discolored discharge side effects?

Can this be the Next Choice affecting my hormones/menstrual cycle?

I took Next Choice one week ago and I'm up at 4 am today with nausea. I called the manufacturer's number and the only info they had regarding the side effects were the same as what's included in the packaging (contrary to their statement). I'm still optimistic regarding it's effectiveness. I took it within 1 hour of the accident and I'm not on any birth control. I'll update this in a week when I'm supposed to start my period. Regardless, if this works, I would take this small discomfort over an abortion any day. And it's a of a lot cheaper than the procedure or actually having a baby.