Brevinor

What is Brevinor?

Brevinor is a monophasic combined oral contraceptive pill, which means it contains artificial versions of the hormones progestogen and oestrogen. Each pill delivers the same level of hormones.

It is taken by women to stop them from getting pregnant.

You need a prescription to buy Brevinor.

What is Brevinor used to treat?

Chiefly, Brevinor is used to prevent women from getting pregnant. When used correctly, it is a 99% effective method of birth control.

It is also sometimes prescribed as a treatment for acne when other first-line treatments have not worked.

Additionally, Brevinor can sometimes be prescribed for excessive body hair growth.

How does Brevinor work?

Brevinor is a combined oral contraceptive pill.

Brevinor works to prevent pregnancy in three different ways:

• It prevents the ovaries from releasing an egg
• It makes the mucus in the cervix thicker, which means that it is much harder for sperm to reach the uterus
• It thins the womb lining, meaning any fertilised egg is far less likely to be able to grow in the womb

This mechanism of action often works to make your periods lighter.

Brevinor will not protect you from catching sexually transmitted infections (STIs). To ensure you are protected from STIs, you will still need to use a condom.

How to take Brevinor

Ideally, you should start taking Brevinor on the first day of your period. Starting your course during the first five days of your menstrual cycle will give you immediate protection from pregnancy.

Take the pill at the same time each day. Swallow it whole with a drink of water; do not crush or chew the pills.

1. There are 21 pills in each pack. Take one pill at the same time each day for 21 days.
2. After 21 days, you will have a break of seven days where you do not take any pills. You will get a normal bleed during this break.
3. At the end of the break, start taking the pill again straight away.

Who can take Brevinor?

Do not take Brevinor if:

• You have had a heart attack or a stroke
• You have a family history of blood clots
• You are allergic to any of the ingredients in Brevinor
• You have high levels of fat in your blood
• You suffer from severe migraines
• You have any unexplained vaginal bleeding
• You have ever had cancer of the breast, cervix, uterus or vagina
• You have a history of liver disease

If you suffered any of the below problems while pregnant, you should not take Brevinor:

• Pruritus
• Pemphigoid gestationis
• Jaundice

Brevinor can increase your risk of blood clots during the first year of taking it.

Tell your doctor if:

• You are due to have an operation
• You are taking any other medication
• You have ever had an allergic reaction to any other medicine in the past
• You are suffering from any illness not listed here

This information is not exhaustive. You should always read the patient information leaflet, which will come with your medication, for a complete list of warnings.

Can you buy Brevinor over the counter?

Brevinor is not available to buy over the counter. You must have been given a prescription by a doctor to purchase this medication.

Can you buy Brevinor online in the UK?

You can buy Brevinor online from Medicine Direct. However, it is a prescription-only medicine (POM), so you will need to complete a confidential online questionnaire for one of our registered prescribers to assess first.

It is important to ensure that you are buying medicine online from a UK fully regulated pharmacy such as Medicine Direct. To learn more about our company, team, medical professionals, and the licenses we hold, visit our about us page.

Brevinor alternatives

Medicine Direct stocks a wide range of alternative contraception pills if Brevinor is not suitable for you.

If you wish to switch from one contraceptive pill to another, however, you should speak to your doctor about doing this first.

Some of the other combined contraceptive pills we stock include the likes of:

• Femodette
• Synphase
• Gedarel
• Noriday
• Femodene

Some women prefer to take a progestogen-only pill (POP), or ‘mini-pill’, such as Cerazette or Norgeston. Both of these pills can be ordered from our pharmacy after completing an online questionnaire.

For more information on different types of contraception that may be suitable for you, we recommend visiting the Contraception Choices website.

How to take Brevinor

Ideally, you should start taking Brevinor on the first day of your period. Starting your course during the first five days of your menstrual cycle will give you immediate protection from pregnancy.

Take the pill at the same time each day. Swallow it whole with a drink of water; do not crush or chew the pills.

1. There are 21 pills in each pack. Take one pill at the same time each day for 21 days.
2. After 21 days, you will have a break of seven days where you do not take any pills. You will get a normal bleed during this break.
3. At the end of the break, start taking the pill again straight away.

Brevinor Side Effects

Like all medicines, Brevinor can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. 

Stop taking this pill and seek medical attention if you get any of the following:

• Coughing up blood
• Swelling or tenderness in your stomach
• Sudden sharp or severe pain in the chest
• Shortness of breath or pain when breathing
• Painful or inflamed veins in your legs
• A migraine attack for the first time
• Problems seeing or speaking
• Sudden unexplained headaches
• Dizziness or fainting

This list is not exhaustive. For comprehensive information on side effects, always read the patient information leaflet, which will come with your medication. 

Warnings and drug interactions

Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicine before taking Brevinor. In particular, tell them if you are taking:

• Carbamazepine
• St. John's Wort
• Oxcarbazepine
• Phenytoin
• Phenobarbital
• Primidone
• Topiramate
• Nelfinavir
• Nevirapine
• Ritonavir
• Rifabutin
• Rifampicin
• Griseofulvin
• Modafinil

The pill can increase your risk of cervical cancer. You should attend regular smear tests while taking this pill.

You may also be at a slightly increased risk of developing breast cancer if you take it in the long term.

The contraceptive pill can cause high blood pressure, so you should have your blood pressure monitored regularly.

Read the patient information leaflet for a complete list of warnings and drug interactions.

Brevinor Ingredients

The main active ingredients within this medicine are: Norethisterone and Ethinylestradiol

For a full list of the inactive ingredients, please read the Summary of Product Characteristics.

FAQ

What type of pill is Brevinor?

Brevinor is a monophasic combined oral contraceptive pill, which means that it contains the same level of hormones in each pill.

When should I start taking Brevinor?

For immediate contraceptive protection, you should begin to take the pill on between day 1 and day 5 of your period. This will mean you are protected after taking the first pill. 

Does Brevinor make your breasts grow?

Breast swelling can occur as a side effect, particularly if you take too many pills. Speak to your doctor if your breasts become swollen or sore.

Can you get pregnant during the seven day break?

As long as you have taken Brevinor correctly, you will not get pregnant if you have sex during the seven pill-free days.

Does Brevinor cause weight gain?

Putting on weight is a side effect associated with the contraceptive pill, including Brevinor. Speak to your doctor if this concerns you.

Does taking Brevinor make you tired?

Tiredness is not a commonly associated side effect of Brevinor.

How effective is Brevinor?

When taken correctly, Brevinor is up to 99% effective at preventing unwanted pregnancy.

How quickly does Brevinor work?

If you start taking Brevinor during the first five days of your period, you will be protected after your first pill.

Is it safe to take Brevinor continuously?

Taking the pill in the long term can increase your risk of some health problems. However, for effective protection against pregnancy, you should keep taking Brevinor if you wish to have sex without using a condom.

Can I skip the seven-day break?

If you wish to skip the seven-day break, you may experience breakthrough bleeding. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist for more information.