What Happens if You Take Two Birth Control Pills in a Day?

Taking your birth control at the same time each day can become a habit that’s easy to manage. But life can be unpredictable, and disruptions can happen — maybe you get an unexpected call from a family member, or you lose track of time getting work done.

After an interruption, you return to your routine but can’t quite remember if you already took your pill, so you take another. Later, it becomes clear after you spend some time thinking about it: you’ve taken two doses.

What should you do in this situation? Will there be any side effects? Should you contact your healthcare provider? In this blog, we’ll cover what you need to know. 

Understanding birth control pills and how they work

The birth control pill (also called “the pill”) is a form of hormonal contraception that provides round-the-clock protection. When taken daily, it prevents pregnancy by thickening the cervical mucus to make it hard for the sperm to reach the egg and halting ovulation so eggs aren’t released and therefore can’t be fertilized.

The pill is most effective — 91 to 99% — when taken at the same time every day, without skipping days. It’s recommended that you team it with alternative forms of non-hormonal birth control devices, like condoms, for further protection and to protect against STIs.

Potential side effects of taking a double dose

It’s not uncommon for people to accidentally take an extra birth control pill. Life gets busy, and we get distracted!

You don’t need to be concerned or call your doctor — you most likely won’t experience any side effects. But if you experience pain, nausea, or vaginal bleeding that lasts a few days or any severe symptoms, contact your primary care practitioner.

If you intentionally took more than one pill

If you took more than one birth control pill — perhaps thinking it could act as a substitute for emergency contraception or could end a pregnancy — you likely won’t experience any long-term harm. But birth control pills are not a substitute for emergency contraception, nor can they be used to end a pregnancy. If you’re concerned about a pregnancy, it’s best to speak to your primary care provider. 

Birth control pills have a low toxicity, so they won’t make you severely ill. However, people can have allergic reactions — call 911 if you experience difficulty breathing, tightness in the throat, facial swelling, hives, or loss of consciousness.

If you need more information on emergency contraception or ways to end a pregnancy, contact a primary care provider or your local health centre. If you’re among the 6.5 million Canadians who don’t have a primary care provider, consider speaking to a Canadian-licensed doctor or nurse practitioner on Maple. Over secure text, video, or audio call, they can treat you or direct you to the right specialty. Primary care providers on Maple are available for you 24/7/365 and in minutes. 

What to do the next day

You accidentally took two pills yesterday: Now what? Should you skip today’s dose to get back on track? No — it’s important to important to continue taking the pill every day, at the same time so it’s most effective. You’ll finish the pack a day earlier, but that’s fine — you’ll just move onto a new pack one day earlier.

Impact on contraceptive effectiveness

Taking two birth control pills in one day will not make them less effective. But one factor that can have a big impact on the effectiveness of birth control is the time you take it. 

If you have progesterone-only birth control pills, you must take them at the same time each day, or at least within a 3-hour window for them to be effective. If you’re taking a combination pill (the more common type of birth control pill), which contains both progesterone and estrogen, you only need to worry about taking the pill each day — you’ll be protected no matter what time you take it. 

Consulting a healthcare provider

If you accidentally took two birth control pills in one day, you don’t need to consult a healthcare provider. As mentioned, you’ll likely experience no symptoms.

However, if you took more than one birth control pill intentionally, whether in an attempt to end a pregnancy or emergency contraception, consider contacting a sexual health clinic to learn about effective options for you. 

If you experience rare symptoms after ingesting the pills, such as pain, vomiting, bleeding, or symptoms of an allergic reaction such as; difficulty breathing, tightness in the throat, facial swelling, hives, or loss of consciousness, seek emergency care.

If you have mild symptoms that are lingering, seek medical care via a family doctor or walk-in clinic. You could also reach out to your local health centre, or try telemedicine. Maple has a range of doctors — from primary care providers to psychiatrists — who can offer you the support and care you need, whether you’d like a new birth control prescription or need help soothing anxious thoughts.

Tips for staying organized with pill consumption

While taking two birth control pills in one day likely won’t cause any symptoms, you’ll probably want to make sure it doesn’t happen again (why waste pills?). Here are a few helpful tips that can help you not only remember to take your pill every day but also not accidentally double-up:

• Take your pill at the same time every day, such as with breakfast or before brushing your teeth in the morning
• Every time you take your pill, flip the pack over so you know it’s been taken (just remember to flip it back before you go to bed so you can start fresh the next day)
• Use a calendar app or a medication journal to mark off when you take a pill, which can help prevent you from accidentally taking two
• Set an alarm on your phone to remind yourself to take it at a specific time. This can be particularly helpful with progestin-only birth control pills since they’re most effective when taken at the same time every day.
• Get a pillbox labelled with the days of the week — even if birth control pills are the only pills you take. The box will have a compartment for each day, which you can fill at the start of each week to prevent you from taking double doses.

It’s normal to feel concerned after realizing you’ve taken two doses, but know that you’re not alone in facing these kinds of situations. Life’s distractions are inevitable, and occasional slip-ups happen.

The important thing is to stay informed about what to do next and reach out to your healthcare provider if you have any concerns. They can guide you through any potential side effects and offer reassurance. Remember, your health is a priority, and support is always available when you need it.

The information presented here is for educational purposes and is not meant to replace the advice from your medical professional. Virtual care is not meant for medical emergencies. If you are experiencing an emergency like chest pain or difficulties breathing, for example, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.