Comprehensive medication guide to Plan B One-Step including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0 with most ACA-compliant private health insurance plans when prescribed; a prescription from your provider is typically required to trigger insurance coverage. Medicaid coverage varies by state. FSA/HSA eligible without a prescription.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$45–$50 retail for Plan B One-Step brand; generic levonorgestrel EC (My Way, Take Action, Aftera) typically $11–$45; as low as $12.27 with GoodRx or $20.01 with SingleCare discount cards.
Medfinder Findability Score
88/100
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Plan B One-Step is an over-the-counter emergency contraceptive pill — often called the morning-after pill — used to reduce the chance of pregnancy after unprotected sex or after another contraceptive method fails. It contains levonorgestrel 1.5 mg, a synthetic progestin that has been used in hormonal birth control for more than 35 years.
Plan B One-Step is manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals and is available without a prescription or age restriction at most pharmacies, grocery stores, and major retailers nationwide. Multiple FDA-approved generic equivalents — including My Way, Take Action, Aftera, Next Choice One Dose, and EContra EZ — are also available OTC and work identically.
Plan B One-Step is not a form of routine birth control and should not be used as a regular contraceptive method. It does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and will not work if you are already pregnant.
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Plan B One-Step works primarily by delaying or preventing ovulation — the release of an egg from the ovary. It does this by blocking the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge that normally triggers ovulation. Without an egg available to be fertilized, pregnancy cannot occur.
As a secondary mechanism, levonorgestrel thickens the cervical mucus, making it harder for sperm to move through and reach an egg. Plan B One-Step does not terminate an existing pregnancy — the FDA clarified in 2022 that evidence does not support that the drug affects implantation of a fertilized egg.
Efficacy is highest when Plan B is taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex. A clinical trial showed it reduces the expected pregnancy rate from approximately 8% to 1.1% when taken within 72 hours (3 days). It can be taken up to 120 hours after unprotected sex, though effectiveness decreases over time.
1.5 mg — tablet
Single oral tablet taken as soon as possible within 72 hours of unprotected sex; can be taken up to 120 hours with reduced efficacy
Plan B One-Step is not in a national shortage in 2026. The national supply is stable, with multiple manufacturers producing levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive tablets. However, local pharmacy availability can still be a challenge — especially at smaller pharmacies, during demand spikes following social or political events, and in rural areas with limited pharmacy options.
Large-format retailers like Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens, and Costco tend to have more consistent stock than smaller independent pharmacies. Generics (My Way, Take Action, Aftera) are often available even when the Plan B One-Step brand is not. Convenience stores like 7-Eleven and Circle K carry the Morning After Pill® brand.
When every hour counts, medfinder contacts pharmacies near you to find which ones have Plan B One-Step or a generic in stock, then texts you the results — so you don't waste time driving to pharmacies that are out.
Plan B One-Step is available over-the-counter without a prescription — no provider visit is needed. However, a prescription is useful to unlock insurance coverage (most ACA plans cover EC at $0 when prescribed) or to obtain ella (ulipristal acetate), which requires a prescription. Any licensed prescriber can write a prescription for emergency contraception:
OB/GYN (Obstetrician-Gynecologist)
Primary Care Physician (PCP) / Family Medicine Doctor
Nurse Practitioner (NP) / Physician Assistant (PA)
Urgent Care Provider
Planned Parenthood / Family Planning Clinic Provider
Telehealth platforms including Nurx, Hers, Planned Parenthood Direct, and RedBox Rx can provide prescriptions for ella and other EC online, often within minutes of completing a brief health assessment. This is the fastest way to get a prescription without leaving home.
No. Plan B One-Step (levonorgestrel 1.5 mg) is not a controlled substance. It is not scheduled by the DEA and has no abuse potential or dependence risk. There are no federal restrictions on its purchase beyond the standard OTC retail rules.
Because it is not a controlled substance, Plan B One-Step requires no prescription, no ID, and no age verification to purchase. The FDA approved it for OTC sale without age restrictions in June 2013. You can purchase it at any pharmacy counter, off the shelf in the family planning aisle, or online without going through a healthcare provider.
From FDA clinical trials, the most frequently reported side effects (occurring in ≥10% of users):
Heavier menstrual bleeding (31%)
Nausea (14%)
Lower abdominal pain / cramping (13%)
Fatigue (13%)
Headache (10%)
Dizziness (10%)
Serious side effects (seek emergency care):
Severe lower abdominal pain — especially one-sided — may indicate ectopic pregnancy (a medical emergency)
Signs of allergic reaction (rash, hives, difficulty breathing, swelling)
No period within 3 weeks — take a pregnancy test
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ella (ulipristal acetate 30 mg)
Prescription-only EC pill; effective up to 120 hours (5 days); better efficacy at higher BMIs (up to ~35); requires prescription from provider or telehealth platform
Generic levonorgestrel EC (My Way, Take Action, Aftera)
FDA-approved bioequivalents to Plan B One-Step; same 1.5 mg dose; available OTC; typically costs $11–$45
Copper IUD (ParaGard)
Most effective EC option (>99%); inserted within 5 days by a healthcare provider; effective at any weight; provides ongoing contraception for up to 10 years
Levonorgestrel IUD (Mirena, Liletta)
Off-label EC use within 5 days; provider insertion required; provides 3–8 years of ongoing hormonal contraception
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Rifampin (rifampicin)
majorStrong CYP3A4 inducer; significantly reduces levonorgestrel plasma levels and efficacy. If on rifampin, use copper IUD instead.
Carbamazepine / Phenytoin / Phenobarbital
majorAnti-seizure CYP3A4 inducers; significantly reduce levonorgestrel efficacy. Copper IUD recommended for patients on these medications.
Efavirenz (HIV antiretroviral)
majorReduces levonorgestrel AUC by approximately 50%; may substantially reduce EC efficacy.
St. John's Wort
majorHerbal CYP3A4 inducer; clinically significant reduction in progestin blood levels and efficacy.
Griseofulvin (antifungal)
moderateMay reduce effectiveness of progestin-only contraceptives. Note: other antifungals like fluconazole do not have this interaction.
Plan B One-Step is one of the most accessible and widely recognized emergency contraceptives available in 2026. When taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, it reduces pregnancy risk by 75–89%. It is available over-the-counter without a prescription, ID, or age restriction at most pharmacies and major retailers.
Key things to remember: generic equivalents work identically and cost less ($11–$45 vs. $45–$50 brand); Plan B may be less effective at higher BMIs — consider ella or a copper IUD; a prescription from your provider unlocks insurance coverage at $0 for most ACA plans; and buying in advance eliminates the stress of searching when time is critical.
If you can't find Plan B One-Step at your pharmacy, medfinder calls pharmacies in your area and texts you which ones have it in stock — so you can act quickly when every hour matters.
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Our medication guides are researched and written to help patients make informed decisions. All content is reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Learn more about our standards
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