How does Norethisterone work?

Taking Norethisterone at various points during the cycle can manipulate or regulate the womb lining's growth and shedding. Taking Norethisterone a few days before your period is due, for example, will trick your body into thinking you're pregnant, resulting in no period until you stop taking the Norethisterone.

If you have endometriosis, taking Norethisterone on a daily basis has the same effect and prevents the abnormal tissue from changing on a monthly basis. Your periods are likely to stop during treatment, and the patches of endometrial tissue may have shrunk after you stop taking Norethisterone.

• In the United States, Norethisterone is known as norethindrone.
• Norethisterone 5mg tablets are marketed under the brand names Primolut N and Utovlan.
• Depending on what you're taking it for, your doctor may instruct you to take Norethisterone every day or just a few days per month.
• Norethisterone 5mg tablets are not a form of birth control.
• If you are pregnant, do not use Norethisterone.
• To avoid pregnancy while taking Norethisterone, use a non-hormonal method of contraception such as condoms.
• Headaches, feeling sick, and changes to your period, such as spotting between periods, are the most common side effects.
• It is safe to consume alcohol while taking Norethisterone.

If you have any of the following symptoms, you should not take Norethisterone 5mg tablets:

• If you are pregnant or suspect you might be.
• If you are a breastfeeding mother.
• If you are experiencing unusual vaginal bleeding that has not been investigated by your doctor.
• If you have a family history of genital or breast cancer (unless you have been prescribed Norethisterone to treat breast cancer).
• If you've recently experienced angina, a heart attack, or a stroke caused by a blood clot.
• Do you have a blood clot in your leg or lungs? (thromboembolism, eg deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism).
• If you have liver disease or a family history of liver cancer.

Depending on the reason for your use, you may take Norethisterone on specific days during your menstrual cycle or continuously. Always follow your doctor's advice regarding period delay tablets. The tablets can be taken with or without food.

Three days before your period, begin taking Norethisterone. For up to 14 days, take one 5mg tablet three times a day. Your period should arrive two to three days after you stop taking the pills.

If you are experiencing continuous, heavy bleeding, your doctor may advise you to take one 5mg tablet three times a day for ten days in order to stop the bleeding. Your bleeding should stop within three days, but continue to take the tablets for the full ten days. If the bleeding does not stop, you should consult a doctor. You should have your period two to four days after you stop taking the pills.

If you have heavy periods (menorrhagia), your doctor may advise you to take Norethisterone for a few days each month. For example, from day 5 to day 26, take 5mg three times a day. (Day one corresponds to the first day of your period.) You may be asked to do this for three to six months by your doctor.

On days 5 to 24 of your monthly cycle, take one 5mg tablet three times a day. (Day one corresponds to the first day of your period.) Typically, your doctor will instruct you to do this for three or four months.

Starting on day five of your cycle, you'll be instructed to take two 5mg tablets twice a day, every day, for four to six months. During treatment, your bleeding should stop; if you continue to bleed, your doctor may increase your dose.

Breast cancer is sometimes treated with high doses of Norethisterone. Follow your doctor's advice.

If you forget to take a Norethisterone dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless your next dose is approaching. In this case, simply skip the missed dose and take your next dose when it is due. Do not take a double dose to compensate for a missed dose.

Medicines and their potential side effects can have a variety of effects on people. The following are some of the possible side effects of Norethisterone 5mg tablets. Just because a side effect is mentioned here doesn't mean that everyone who takes Norethisterone will have that or any other side effect.

The following are common side effects that affect between 1 in 10 and 1 in 100 women:

• Changes in your period, such as breakthrough bleeding or spotting, or the cessation of periods
• Headache
• Feeling nauseas 

If you experience severe headaches or migraines, stabbing pains or swelling in one leg, pain when breathing or coughing, coughing up blood, breathlessness, sudden chest pain, sudden numbness affecting one side or part of the body, sudden changes in your vision or hearing, or yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes, stop taking Norethisterone and see a doctor right away (jaundice).

Before you begin taking Norethisterone, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are currently taking any medications, including those obtained without a prescription and herbal remedies. It is safe to combine pain relievers like paracetamol, ibuprofen, and aspirin with Norethisterone.

Some medications may reduce the effectiveness of Norethisterone. These are some examples:

• Certain antiepileptic drugs, including carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, perampanel, phenobarbital, primidone, phenytoin, and topiramate.
• Some HIV medications, such as efavirenz, nevirapine, and ritonavir.
• Grifofulvin is an antifungal agent.
• Modafinil.
• Rifabutin or rifampicin are antibiotics used to treat tuberculosis.
• St. John's wort is a herbal remedy (Hypericum perforatum).
• Ulipristal