Norethisterone Tablets - 5mg

What is Norethisterone?

Norethisterone is a medicine that is used in birth control pills; it is often prescribed for women to delay a period. Typically, Norethisterone is used to delay a period for a holiday, wedding or another specific event. It should not be taken for this purpose continually.

You need a prescription to buy Norethisterone tablets.

What is Norethisterone used to treat?

Norethisterone is commonly prescribed for women to delay their period. It is also prescribed to help women who suffer from irregular periods, or painful or heavy periods.

It is a synthetic progestogen, which is similar to the natural female sex hormone progesterone.

There is no specific reason you must give a doctor for medication to delay your period, and most women have considered delaying their period for convenience. For example, if you are getting married you may wish to delay your period to stop it from coming on the big day.

Norethisterone tablets are designed to be taken in isolated events. They should not be used to permanently prevent your period from occurring.

Norethisterone as a hormonal replacement therapy

When taken in combination with oestrogen, norethisterone is also used in hormonal replacement therapy (HRT).

Hormone replacement therapy most commonly involves taking a combination of oestrogen and progesterone (combined HRT). Taking oestrogen on its own increases the risk of endometrial cancer.

Why is Norethisterone prescribed for delaying periods?

Clinical trials have shown Norethisterone to be a safe and highly effective period delay medication. 

These tablets can be used safely to delay your period for up to 17 days, although you should not use them to delay periods regularly.

Norethisterone cannot stop a period from occurring if it has already started, it must be taken 3 days before you are expected to start your period.

How does Norethisterone delay periods?

Norethisterone is a synthetic progestogen designed to mimic progesterone, which is a naturally occurring hormone within the body. During a menstrual cycle, the level of progesterone in the body drops, which causes the lining of the womb to shed and a period to commence. Norethisterone tops up the naturally occurring levels of progesterone, which prevents a period from taking place.

Before a woman gets her period, the progesterone levels in her body will normally fall. Taking Norethisterone will sustain the lining of your womb and delay a period until you stop taking the tablets.

Who can take Norethisterone?

Norethisterone may not be suitable for all women to use. Speak to your doctor if you are not sure if this medication is suitable for you.

Do not take Norethisterone if any of the following apply to you:

• You have or have had angina and/or a heart attack
• You have any liver problems
• You are allergic to norethisterone or any of the other ingredients contained in this medicine
• You have or have ever had vaginal bleeding which your doctor could not find the cause of
• You or anyone in your family has had a problem with blood clots, including deep vein thrombosis
• You have ever been pregnant and suffered from jaundice, or an itchy rash called pemphigoid gestationis
• You have severe generalised itching all over your body
• You have been told by your doctor that you have an allergy to certain types of sugar
• You are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or think you might be pregnant
• You have porphyria

This list is not exhaustive. Always refer to the patient information leaflet for a complete list of precautions.

Can you buy Norethisterone over the counter?

Norethisterone tablets are not available to purchase over the counter. This is a prescription medicine that can only be bought when a doctor has prescribed it.

Can you buy Norethisterone online in the UK?

You can buy Norethisterone 5mg tablets online, you will be required to complete an online consultation with a doctor or prescriber due to the prescription-only nature of the treatment.

Norethisterone alternatives

Norethisterone is also contained in Utovlan, which is a branded version of this medication. You can also order Utovlan for effective period delay from our pharmacy after completing an online consultation.

Additionally, Provera can be purchased from Medicine Direct. This medicine contains medroxyprogesterone acetate and can also be used to effectively delay your period ahead of a special occasion.

How to take Norethisterone 5mg tablets

• Start taking Norethisterone three days before you are due to start your period.
• Take one tablet three times a day.
• You will get your period two or three days after you stop taking Norethisterone.
• Swallow Norethisterone tablets whole with a drink of water.
• Norethisterone will not stop a period once it has started. You will need to start taking it before your period is due.

Read the patient information leaflet, which will come with your tablets, for full instructions.

Norethisterone dose

The dose you need to take will depend on why you are taking Norethisterone. Typically, our prescribers will follow NICE guidelines when prescribing Norethisterone.

Below is a table that shows the usual recommended doses for each condition. However, it is most important that you take Norethisterone tablets in the dose your doctor prescribes for you.

Norethisterone Side Effects

The most common side effect of norethisterone is menstrual cycle irregularities.

Speak to your doctor straight away if:

• You get yellowing of the skin or the whites of your eyes turn yellow
• You have a disturbed liver function
• You get constipation or diarrhoea
• You get dry mouth
• You get fluid retention and swelling in your hands and ankles
• You gain weight or bloat
• You suffer fatigue or changes in your sex drive
• You have a change in appetite
• You have hair loss, or an increase in body or facial hair
• You get acne, hives or an itchy skin rash
• You get a decreased tolerance to certain sugars
• You have altered fat levels in your blood
• You have cloudy vision
• You have sugar in your urine
• You have increased levels of insulin between meals and your existing diabetes gets worse
• You get a migraine headache for the very first time
• You get depression, dizziness, confusion, nervousness or difficulty sleeping
• You have an intense feeling of happiness (euphoria)

If your blood pressure gets too high, your doctor may tell you to stop using this medicine.

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it is possible to have a serious allergic reaction to Norethisterone. If this happens, you might require immediate treatment in hospital.

You must either call 999 or go to A&E straight away if you exhibit any of the following symptoms:

• You have tightness in your chest or throat
• You have a skin rash that is red, itchy, swollen, blistered or peeling skin
• You get swelling in your face, throat, lips, tongue or mouth
• You are wheezing
• You are finding it hard to speak or breathe

This list may not be exhaustive. Please, read the patient information leaflet thoroughly for a full list of side effects.

Norethisterone Warnings and Drug Interactions

Make sure your doctor is aware if you are currently taking any of the following:

• Anticancer medications
• Any antibiotic medicines to treat infections
• Any herbal remedies that contain St. John's Wort
• Aminoglutethimide
• Any medicines used to treat HIV
• Any medicines to treat epilepsy
• Ciclosporin, which suppresses the immune system
• Medicines to treat high blood pressure
• Any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for treating pain and inflammation

Norethisterone may interact with other medicines and increase your risk of side effects.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Make sure your doctor is aware if you are currently pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or think you might be pregnant. Hormonal medicines can affect the development of an unborn baby, so pregnant women must not take Norethisterone. You must use some form of contraception while using this medication.

Norethisterone is not a contraceptive pill.

You should also inform your doctor if you are currently breastfeeding, as an alternative period delay medicine may be more suitable for you to use.

Norethisterone Ingredients

The main active ingredient within this medicine is: Norethisterone

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

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