Norethisterone Tablets

Norethisterone is a synthetic version of progesterone, a naturally occurring female sex hormone that’s important for regulating your menstrual cycle. Norethisterone 5mg tablets are prescribed for period delay as they can postpone menstruation (your period).

They must be started 3 days before your period is due and are effective for delaying your period for up to 30 days, such as if you have an event or an occasion coming up, like a holiday or wedding.

To delay your period, norethisterone works by keeping your progesterone levels raised to stop your womb lining shedding and causing a period.

Normally, progesterone levels fall during the second half of your menstrual cycle (the luteal phase) if pregnancy has not occurred, resulting in a period. By keeping your levels high, norethisterone stops this from happening at the usual time, and as a result it delays your period.

How effective is norethisterone?

If taken correctly, norethisterone 5mg tablets are an effective way to delay your period. However, their success depends on timing and how much you manage to stick to your medication schedule.

To be effective and work properly, norethisterone tablets must be started 3 days before your period is due and you will need to take 3 pills per day for the whole time you want to delay your period. Missing pills could make it less effective, possibly causing bleeding or spotting.

To delay your period with norethisterone, you will need to:

1. Take 1 tablet 3 times a day, starting 3 days before your period is due.
2. Swallow each tablet whole with water, if needed.
3. Space your doses evenly throughout the day and set an alarm or reminder to help you remember.
4. When you stop taking norethisterone, your period should return within 3 days.

It is important to take norethisterone 5mg tablets exactly as you have been prescribed to make sure they are effective.

Norethisterone tablets are not a type of contraception, so they cannot protect you from becoming pregnant. If you want to avoid becoming pregnant while delaying your period with norethisterone, you’ll need to use an alternative contraceptive method, such as condoms, or consider a long-term birth control method, like the progesterone-only contraceptive pill. You should not take norethisterone alongside the combined pill.

How much norethisterone should I take?

The usual dose for period delay purposes is one 5mg tablet, 3 times a day, making a total daily dose of 15mg. Because norethisterone needs to be taken 3 times a day, it may help to set an alarm or use a pill reminder app to remind you to take your pills. You should spread each dose out evenly across the day, so the medication stays at a steady level in your system to continue delaying your period.

Norethisterone is not recommended to be used regularly to delay your period, so you should not take more than 2 to 3 courses per year. If you have difficulty managing your periods, such as if they’re heavy and painful, speak to your doctor about the different types of long-term contraception that can be taken to either stop your periods (such as taking the combined pill without breaks) or reduce these symptoms.

How long should I take norethisterone for?

Norethisterone 5mg tablets can be taken to delay your period for up to 30 days when prescribed from Asda Online Doctor. Once you stop taking norethisterone, you should get a period within 3 days.

If you need to delay your period for more than 30 days, speak to a doctor for advice.

Like all medications, norethisterone can cause side effects.

Common side effects include:

• menstrual cycle irregularities

Uncommon side effects include:

• breast tenderness

Other side effects include:

• headaches
• dizziness
• shortness of breath
• hives (itchy bumps)
• fainting
• water retention
• loss of sex drive
• depression
• acne
• mood swings
• weight gain
• feeling sick (nausea)
• hair loss
• skin reactions

If you are concerned or would like to know more about norethisterone side effects, you can find more information in the patient information leaflet that comes with the medication or speak to your prescriber.

Norethisterone can slightly increase the risk of developing a blood clot. If you experience any of the following blood clot symptoms, you must call 999 or get to A&E straight away:

Most norethisterone side effects are mild and temporary and will go away on their own once your body gets used to the medication or when you stop taking it. They should resolve within a few days to a few weeks depending on the kind of side effects you experience.

If you are concerned about any side effects or think they may be lasting too long, contact your doctor for advice.

What to do if you get norethisterone side effects

Mild norethisterone side effects can usually be managed at home by:

• taking over-the-counter painkillers, like paracetamol, to manage pain
• drinking plenty of clear fluids if you are feeling or being sick to avoid dehydration
• getting plenty of rest until the side effects have passed

If you experience any signs of a blood clot or an allergic reaction, stop taking norethisterone and call 999 or get someone to take you to A&E. These include:

• wheezing
• difficulty breathing
• swelling of the face and tongue
• feeling faint
• swelling of the hands
• intense itchy skin rash

Norethisterone 5mg tablets are not suitable for everyone.

Do not take norethisterone if you:

• are allergic to norethisterone or any similar hormone medications or any of the other ingredients in the tablets
• are, or think you might be pregnant
• currently have or have ever had vaginal bleeding and your doctor could not find a cause
• or any member of your family have had blood clots including deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• have had a pregnancy where you have had jaundice or an itchy rash known as pemphigoid gestationis
• have liver problems
• have ever had a heart attack or angina
• have pruritus (general itching all over the body)
• have an inherited rare blood disorder known as porphyria

You should also let your doctor know if you have any of the following health conditions before taking norethisterone:

• epilepsy
• migraine headaches
• asthma
• heart problems
• kidney problems

Norethisterone and other medications

Tell your doctor before taking norethisterone if you are taking or plan to take any prescribed, over-the-counter, or herbal medications.

Some medications can interfere with the way norethisterone works, so you must tell your doctor if you are taking:

• epilepsy medications, such as phenytoin or carbamazepine
• antibiotics like tetracyclines, rifampicin, or co-trimoxazole
• antiviral medications, including ritonavir or nelfinavir
• herbal remedies that contain St John’s wort
• a type of medication used to treat Cushing’s syndrome called aminoglutethimide
• ciclosporin
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) to treat pain and inflammation
• high blood pressure medications

Norethisterone is available with a prescription from reputable online doctor services, pharmacies, and may be available on the NHS. However, norethisterone is not available over-the-counter because a doctor must approve your suitability for it before prescribing it to you.

Can I buy norethisterone online?

Yes, you can request norethisterone online from Asda Online Doctor by:

1. Completing a short online health assessment for one of our doctors to review.
2. Placing your order.
3. If approved, your order will be dispatched and sent to your home address in discreet packaging or you can choose to collect it from your local Asda Pharmacy up to 4 hours after a doctor’s approval.
4. If your order isn’t approved, one of our doctors will contact you via your account with alternative treatment options.

Can I buy norethisterone over the counter?

No, norethisterone is a prescription-only medication and is not available over-the-counter.

Can I get norethisterone on the NHS?

Yes, norethisterone may be available on the NHS, but you will need to make an appointment with your doctor to find out if it is safe and suitable for you to take.

Norethisterone is not the only period delay medication available. If norethisterone 5mg tablets are not right for you or you want to see what else is available, alternative period delay tablets at Asda Online Doctor include:

1. Utovlan – a branded version of norethisterone which works in exactly the same way and contains norethisterone as its active ingredient. However, if norethisterone is not suitable for you, Utovlan will not be either.
2. Provera – a prescription-only tablet that is available ‘off-label’ for period delay and contains the active ingredient, medroxyprogesterone acetate. This is also a progesterone and works in the same way as norethisterone.

If you are taking the combined oral contraceptive pill, it is possible to delay your period by taking 2 strips back-to-back without your usual break. However, some people experience breakthrough bleeding when they do this. If you are not sure how to delay your period with the combined pill, speak to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse who will be able to help you.

Norethisterone vs Utovlan

Norethisterone and Utovlan are essentially the same medication because they both:

✓ contain norethisterone as their active ingredient in the same dose

✓ work in exactly the same way to delay your period

Utovlan is the branded version of generic norethisterone. So, the only difference between them is their name, price, packaging, and non-active ingredients.

Norethisterone vs Provera

Norethisterone and Provera are both medications that contain synthetic progesterone and can be used to delay periods, but they contain different active ingredients. Norethisterone is licensed for period delay in the UK.

Provera, on the other hand, contains the active ingredient medroxyprogesterone acetate and is usually prescribed for endometriosis, heavy periods, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, Provera can be prescribed ‘off-label’ to delay your period. It may be more effective or suitable for you if you cannot take norethisterone.