Opill (norgestrel) is a prescription drug that’s used to help prevent pregnancy. The drug comes as an oral tablet. It’s usually taken once per day.

Opill is a progestin-only birth control pill, also called a minipill. It’s used to help prevent pregnancy in females* of any age who can become pregnant.

The active ingredient in Opill is norgestrel. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)

Opill belongs to a group of drugs called progestins. This article describes the dosage of Opill, as well as its strength and how to take it. To learn more about Opill, see this in-depth article.

Note: Opill has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but is not yet available for purchase. The drug’s manufacturer expects it to be available by early 2024. Opill will be available over the counter (OTC), meaning you’ll be able to purchase it without a prescription. To learn more, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or visit the Opill website.

* We use the term “female” in this article to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. To learn more about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

This section describes the usual dosage of Opill. Keep reading to learn more.

What is Opill’s form?

Opill is available as an oral tablet.

What strength does Opill come in?

Opill comes in one strength of 0.075 milligrams (mg).

What is the usual dosage of Opill?

The information below describes the commonly recommended dosage of the medication.

Dosage for pregnancy prevention

Opill is taken once per day to help prevent pregnancy in females* who can become pregnant. This includes adult females and adolescent females who’ve had a menstrual period.

For 48 hours after your first dose of Opill, you’ll need to use a barrier method of birth control (such as condoms) during sexual activity. This is because it takes about 48 hours for Opill to start working for pregnancy prevention. Using a barrier method will help prevent pregnancy during this time.

* We use the term “female” in this article to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. To learn more about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.

Is Opill taken long term?

Yes, Opill may be taken long term for birth control. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective, you can take the drug long term.

Opill comes as an oral tablet. You can take Opill with or without food. You can take Opill at any time of day, but it’s important to take your dose at the same time every day. This helps the drug work effectively at preventing pregnancy.

It’s not known whether you can cut, chew, or crush Opill tablets. If you have difficulty swallowing tablets, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication. You can also talk with your pharmacist or doctor to discuss options to help you take Opill regularly.

For information on the expiration, storage, and disposal of Opill, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

A few situations are considered a missed dose of Opill. For example, it may mean that you:

  • took your daily dose more than 3 hours later than usual
  • completely forgot to take a dose
  • have severe vomiting or diarrhea within 4 hours of taking a dose

If you miss a dose of Opill, take your missed dose as soon as you remember. In some cases, this may mean taking two doses in one day. For example, if you miss taking your evening dose of Opill and remember the next morning. You’ll take the missed dose in the morning and then take your regular evening dose.

If you miss a dose of Opill, you should use a barrier method of birth control (such as condoms) during sexual activity for 48 hours after taking a missed dose. This will help prevent pregnancy until Opill starts to work again.

If you have questions about what to do about a missed dose of Opill, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

If you need help remembering to take your dose of Opill on time, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone.

Do not take more Opill than your doctor recommends, as this can lead to harmful effects.

Symptoms of overdose

Symptoms caused by an overdose can include:

What to do in case you take too much Opill

Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve taken too much Opill. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room.

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about Opill’s dosage.

Is Opill’s dosage similar to the dosage of Pimtrea?

The forms and how often you take each drug are similar, but there are also differences between Opill and Pimtrea.

Opill is a progestin-only type of birth control pill, also called a minipill. Pimtrea is a combination birth control pill that contains both a progestin (desogestrel) and an estrogen (ethinyl estradiol).

Opill and Pimtrea both come as oral tablets taken once per day, but their dose in milligrams (mg) differs.

Both drugs are currently available by prescription only, but Opill will soon be available over the counter as well.

To learn more about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor.

How long does it take for Opill to start working?

Opill starts to help prevent pregnancy 48 hours after your first dose. For 48 hours after you first start taking Opill, you’ll need to use a barrier method of birth control (such as condoms) during sexual activity. This will help prevent pregnancy until Opill starts to work.

If you have other questions about what to expect from your Opill treatment, talk with your doctor.

The sections above describe the usual dosage provided by the manufacturer. If you have questions about Opill’s dosage, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Remember, you should not change your dosage of Opill without your doctor’s recommendation.

Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor:

  • How does Opill’s dosage compare with the dosage of Yaz?
  • Would I need a lower dosage of Opill if I have heart problems?
  • Can I take other medications at the same time of day as Opill?

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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.