Emergency Contraception

Contraceptive failure or having unprotected sex can be a stressful situation. The risk of pregnancy can be reduced by taking the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP). The ECP is most effective the sooner it is taken. As getting to the Doctor is not always possible or practical our accredited ECP pharmacists are available to provide you with a consultation and are able to dispense the ECP if it is appropriate for you.

The ECP’s effectiveness

The emergency contraceptive pill will be most effective if you take it as soon as possible after unprotected sex. Taking the ECP within 24 hours is best, but it can prevent pregnancy if taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex.

The ECP has been shown to prevent:

95% of expected pregnancies when taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex
85% if taken within 25 - 48 hours
58% if taken within 49 - 72 hours

It’s important to note that the ECP does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If you have any concerns speak with your Unichem Pharmacist, doctor or family planning clinic.

Possible side effects

You may experience the following side effects but they should resolve within a few days:

Breast tenderness
Dizziness
Headache
Nausea
Tiredness
Vomiting

If vomiting occurs within three hours of taking the ECP, another dose should be taken immediately.

Your next period will probably come at the expected time, but it may be early or late, and it could be heavier than usual.

You should make an appointment to see your doctor immediately if:

Your next period is unusually light or heavy, more than 5 days late or, if you’re taking oral contraceptives and there is no bleeding in the pill-free interval
If you have any lower abdominal pain

Some precautions to take

Contraception

It’s recommended that you use a barrier contraceptive (condoms) until your next period.

If you use a contraceptive pill, keep taking the hormonal pills as normal and use additional barrier protection for seven days. If you have less than seven hormonal pills left in the packet, you should continue with the next pack and omit the seven day break or placebo (sugar) tablets.

Pregnancy

The emergency contraceptive pill is generally safe to take while breastfeeding, but check with your Pharmacist or doctor if you are concerned.

Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)

Causes of swallowing difficulties

Swallowing difficulties can happen at any age. There are a wide range of causes for them, including:

some medicines, such as antipsychotics
heartburn and acid reflux
cancer, such as mouth or throat cancers
nervous system or brain disorders
muscle disorders
blockages or structural issues with your mouth, throat or oesophagus.

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties may include:

coughing or choking when eating or drinking
bringing food back up, may be through your nose
the feeling that food is stuck in your throat
having issues chewing your food
problems with dribbling.

Swallowing difficulties can cause weight loss, dehydration and chest infections.

Diagnosing swallowing difficulties

Let your healthcare provider know if you have swallowing difficulties. They will ask you about your symptoms and check if any other health conditions you have may be the cause.

Your healthcare provider may refer you to a specialist for tests. These may include a:

gastroscopy—a camera is passed down through your mouth to look at your throat and stomach
swallowing study—your throat and stomach are x-rayed as you swallow small amounts of food.

Treating swallowing difficulties

How your swallowing difficulties are treated depends on the cause and how severe it is. Treatments may include:

medicines to treat acid reflux
swallowing therapy with a speech and language therapist
making changes to what you eat and drink, such as softer foods and using thickener in drinks
using special spoons, plates and cups
surgery to widen your oesophagus.
using special medication lubricants eg Gloup to help make it easier to swallow tablets etc. For more information click here.

Self care for swallowing difficulties

As well as seeing your healthcare provider, the following tips may help you to get food or liquids into your stomach.

Sit upright in a chair—at a table is best.
Have regular small meals instead of the main large meals.
Eat or drink small mouthfuls at a time.
If your voice is gurgly when you eat or drink, give a small cough to make sure your airway is clear.
Wet food will be easier to swallow as dry food can catch in your throat.
If your food has 2 consistencies, such as fruit in juice and cereal in milk, try to mix it into 1 consistency, or eat the solid and liquid portions separately.
Concentrate on eating and avoid talking.
Hot, ice-cold or fizzy liquids are easier to swallow than room temperature liquids.
If you are told to have thickened liquids, avoid ice-cream and jelly as they thin before swallowing.
Drink from the top half of you cup to avoid tipping your head back.

Have a look at our range of Gloup medication lubricants here which can help with difficulties swallowing tablets...

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