Norethisterone
Description
Norethisterone is composed of a synthetic hormone (chemical messenger) that mimics progesterone (a female hormone crucial for maintaining the menstrual cycle and pregnancy). It is used to treat a range of menstrual problems such as painful, heavy or irregular periods, endometriosis (abnormal growth of uterus/womb lining), etc.
Norethisterone is also used as a contraceptive to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Higher doses of this medicine are sometimes used to treat breast cancer.
Norethisterone is available on prescription as a tablet and injection form.
Norethisterone shows side effects like headache, nausea, stomach pain, vaginal spotting, dizziness, and breast tenderness. Inform your doctor if any of these side effects worsen or persist for a long time.
Norethisterone can be taken with or without food. It is recommended that you take it at the same time every day. Your doctor will decide the dosage of this medicine based on the indication you are taking it for.
Norethisterone is not recommended for use if you have jaundice, migraine, heart problems or a history of a heart attack or angina (chest pain). Inform your doctor if you have any kidney problems, diabetes, or any other medical conditions. Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy. This drug may not be safe for breastfeeding mothers; nevertheless, consult your doctor before taking this medicine while breastfeeding.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Norethisterone
- Irregular menstrual periods
- Breast pain and tenderness
- Nausea
- Weight gain
- Headache
- Bloating
- Vaginal itching
- Dizziness
- Skin Reactions
- Depressed mood
- Loss of libido
Uses of Norethisterone
What is it prescribed for?
- Menorrhagia
- Contraception
- Premenstrual syndrome
- Endometriosis
- Breast cancer
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe time taken for Norethisterone to show its effect is subject to vary from one person to another. It also varies based on the intended use and levels of other sex hormones in the body.
- Duration of effectThe time duration for which Norethisterone remains effective in the body is subject to vary based on the intended use and quantity consumed.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit forming tendencies were reported for Norethisterone.
- Usage in pregnancy?Norethisterone is not recommended for use if you are pregnant, as it can cause hormonal changes and affect your pregnancy.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Norethisterone is not recommended during breastfeeding as it may affect your infant.
Allergy
Avoid taking Norethisterone if you are allergic to it. Allergic reactions are rare; however, contact a doctor immediately if you experience symptoms like rashes, itching/swelling (particularly of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, and breathing difficulty, etc.
Severe liver disease
Norethisterone is not recommended if you have severe liver problems or liver tumours. The exact reason why this medicine causes liver injury is not known; however, it is believed that high doses or prolonged use of this medicine may increase your liver enzymes and can affect liver function. Thus, it may worsen your condition.
Abnormal vaginal bleeding
Norethisterone is not recommended for use if you have an abnormal vaginal bleeding episode that has not been diagnosed by a doctor. If you have any menstrual abnormalities, consult your doctor first before taking this medicine.
Heart and blood vessel disorder
Norethisterone is not recommended if you have an active or history of stroke (brain damage due to blocked blood flow) or heart attack. This medicine should also be avoided if you have an active or previous blood clotting problem. Norethisterone can lead to an increase in clot formation if taken in higher doses and thus can worsen your condition.
Tranexamic acid
Tranexamic acid is a medicine used to control nose bleeding and heavy menstrual flow. Concomitant use of Norethisterone and Tranexamic acid is contraindicated as it can lead to severe blood clotting which can increase your risk of stroke (brain damage due to blocked blood flow) and heart attack.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Norethisterone is not recommended for use if you are pregnant, as it can cause hormonal changes and affect your pregnancy.
Breast-feeding
Norethisterone is not recommended during breastfeeding as it may affect your infant.
General warnings
Vision abnormalities
Norethisterone may cause blurring of vision and other effects on your eye like proptosis (bulging of the eye), diplopia (double vision), etc. Inform your doctor if you experience any side effects like blurred vision, excessive drying of your eyes. Do not perform activities such as driving vehicles or operating machines if you experience any of these symptoms.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition in which there is an increase in blood sugar levels. Norethisterone may interfere with your blood sugar control.
Surgery
Inform your doctor about this medicine before you plan the surgery.
You should stop taking Norethisterone at least 4 weeks before a planned surgery as it may interfere in bleeding control.
Use in children
Norethisterone is not recommended for use prior to menarche (beginning of the menstrual cycle in girls).
Other medicines
Norethisterone may potentially interact with a large number of other medicines that you might possibly consume. Hence it is advised to report the use of all other medicines including supplements and herbs to your doctor.
Smoking
The risks of side effects are significantly high if you smoke cigarettes. Inform your doctor about your smoking habits before taking Norethisterone.
Weight Gain
Norethisterone may lead to weight gain, especially when you take it for a long period of time.
Driving or operating machinery
Norethisterone may cause symptoms such as blurred vision, dizziness, drowsiness, etc. If you experience any of these symptoms while taking this medication, it is recommended that you avoid activities that require mental alertness such as driving or operating machines.
Missed Dose
Tablet: Do not miss a dose of Norethisterone. In case you forget to take your medicine, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If your next dose is near, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to compensate for a missed one.
Injection: Since injections are usually administered by healthcare professionals, the chances of missing a dose is very unlikely.
Overdose
Seek emergency medical treatment in case of an overdose of Norethisterone. Symptoms of an overdose may include nausea, vomiting, vaginal bleeding etc.
Injection: As Norethisterone injection is administered by a healthcare professional, it is very unlikely to have an overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Carbamazepine
Clarithromycin
Divalproex
Mycophenolate Mofetil
Phenytoin
Insulin
Aminophylline
Phenobarbital
Griseofulvin
Disease interactions
Depression
Depression is a mood disorder that causes feelings of sadness, anger, and a loss of interest in all activities. Norethisterone should be used with caution if you are diagnosed with depression or other mental health conditions as it may cause hallucinations, aggressiveness, mood swings, suicidal thoughts and other behavioural changes.
Fluid Retention and edema
Norethisterone can cause fluid retention and oedema(collection of fluid underneath your skin) especially when used for a long period.
Retinal thrombosis
Retinal thrombosis is an eye condition where there is the formation of a blood clot in the vein. It is a painless condition that causes blurring of vision or loss of eyesight. This risk is especially high if you have a history of vision problems or have active vision problems while using Norethisterone.
Thromboembolism
Thromboembolism is a condition in which a blood clot gets dislodged from another location in the circulation and causes obstruction in the blood flow. Norethisterone when used in high doses, increases your risk for thromboembolism.
Hyperlipidaemia
Norethisterone should be used with extreme caution if you are diagnosed with hyperlipidemia (increased fat levels in the blood) as it may increase the fat deposits and worsen your condition.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Thyroid function test
Inform your doctor about Norethisterone before thyroid function test as it may interfere with the test results.
Tablet: You can take Norethisterone with or without food. Do not take more or less than what is advised/prescribed by your doctor. Make sure to complete the course of treatment. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.
Injection: Injection is normally administered by qualified healthcare professionals in a clinic or hospital.
You may see spotting or bleeding between your menstrual periods. Inform your doctor if this happens regularly. Inform your doctor if you are experiencing any side effects such as headaches, pain and swelling in your leg or pain while breathing. Your doctor may ask you to discontinue the medicine.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Norethisterone works by imitating the effect of progesterone (female hormone) in your body. It helps in regulating the growth and shedding of the uterine lining (which happens in the normal menstrual cycle), thereby treating irregular menstrual periods. Norethisterone also prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation (release of an egg during menstruation).
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Contraceptives, Progestins
Schedule
Schedule H
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Medicines.org.uk. 2021. Norethisterone 5mg Tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 14 July 2021].
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. DailyMed - AYGESTIN- norethindrone acetate tablet. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 28 July 2021].
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Information on this page was last updated on 9 Sep 2021
Disclaimer
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