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Our Bureau

Mumbai, Aug 20 The “morning after pill” used in emergency contraception will now be available in India from the Mumbai-based Cipla under the brandname I-pill. Cipla is looking to generate awareness on this product to promote better spacing of children while planning a family, besides safeguarding against unintended pregnancies.

Priced at Rs 75 for a tablet, this single pill emergency contraception (EC) will be sold over the counter, offering greater convenience and stronger dosage when compared to other products in the market, said Dr Jaideep Gogtay, Cipla’s Medical Director. I-pill is the generic version of levonorgesprel, sold globally as Levonelle One step by Schering AG.

Currently, EC pills in the market are half the dosage i.e. 0.75 mg and two tablets need to be taken. The convenience with I-pill is that the single pill has double the dosage and when taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex or contraceptive failure, it decreases chances of pregnancy by 90 per cent, he said.

Side-effects associated with other EC medicines, such as nausea, will be seen with this medicine too, he said. Addressing concerns of misue, he indicated that the medicine was allowed to be an OTC product because it had no serious side-effects. But to encourage responsibility in the use of the medicine, the company has started a toll-free helpline (1800-22-9898) and Web site to share information on the product.

Reproductive health and gynaecology products have been part of Cipla’s basket of products, but I-pill is being supported by a national advertising campaign to create greater awareness on the availability of such drugs, he said.

More Stories on : Announcements | New Products & Services | Health | Pharmaceuticals | Cipla Ltd

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