Plan B vs Xalatan: side-by-side comparison
Plan B (Hormones et contraception) and Xalatan (Ophtalmologie et traitements oculaires) belong to different therapeutic classes and are rarely interchangeable. This page compares the medications' purposes, mechanisms and the situations where each is used.
| Property | Plan B | Xalatan |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Levonorgestrel | Latanoprost |
| Manufacturer | Foundation Consumer Healthcare | Pfizer |
| Class | Hormones et contraception | Ophtalmologie et traitements oculaires |
| Strengths | 1.5mg | 0.005% |
| Forms | tablet | ophthalmic solution |
What's the same
Plan B and Xalatan are used in very different patients, and the points in common are limited. The main shared element is that both meet regulatory standards for efficacy and safety and benefit from pharmacist oversight.
Key differences
Plan B belongs to Hormones et contraception while Xalatan belongs to Ophtalmologie et traitements oculaires. Indications, mechanisms and target populations differ. The comparison is most useful when a clinician has mentioned both medications and the patient wants to understand where each fits.
Mechanism and action
Plan B: Le mécanisme principal de Plan B est le retard ou le blocage de l'ovulation lorsqu'il est pris avant le pic de LH. Xalatan: Le latanoprost est un promédicament de type ester, hydrolysé par les estérases cornéennes en son acide libre actif, qui se lie sélectivement au récepteur FP des prostaglandines.
When Plan B is preferred
Plan B est indiqué en contraception d'urgence après un rapport non protégé ou un échec de contraception avéré ou suspecté, chez la femme en âge de procréer.
When Xalatan is preferred
Xalatan est autorisé chez l'adulte et l'enfant dans la réduction de la pression intraoculaire élevée en cas de glaucome chronique à angle ouvert ou d'hypertonie oculaire.
Questions fréquentes
Is Plan B or Xalatan better? ▾
Plan B and Xalatan are not interchangeable — they treat different conditions. Asking which is "better" is meaningful only when a clinician has weighed both for the same specific clinical scenario.
Can I switch from Plan B to Xalatan? ▾
Switching between Plan B and Xalatan is rarely an appropriate decision since they belong to different classes and treat different conditions. The real question is usually whether the diagnosis calls for one medication or the other — which the prescriber resolves.
Do Plan B and Xalatan have the same side effects? ▾
No — they belong to different classes and have distinct side-effect profiles. Each medication has its own prescribing information.
More Plan B comparisons
Les informations publiées sur ce site sont fournies à titre documentaire et pédagogique. Elles ne remplacent pas l'avis d'un professionnel de santé qualifié.