Noriday

Noriday is a progesterone-only contraceptive pill (POP, or mini pill) that contains norethisterone, which is a progestogen. This is similar to the female sex hormones your body produces naturally. Noriday works to prevent pregnancy by:

• making the mucus around your cervix thicker, which stops sperm from entering the womb
• stopping the lining of your womb from thickening so a fertilised egg cannot grow in it

In some women Noriday can also prevent ovulation, which is the release of an egg from your ovaries each month.

Noriday does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) or HIV.

Take 1 Noriday pill at the same time every day without a break. If you are more than 3 hours late when you take your pill, you will not be protected from pregnancy.

Your Noriday blister strip contains 28 pills and is marked with the days of the week. To take Noriday you should:

• start with your first pill on the correct day of the week
• take 1 pill a day and follow the direction of the arrows on the blister strip
• when you finish your strip of 28 pills, you will start a new blister strip the next day without a break

You can take your Noriday pill with or without food. Swallow each pill whole with water.

If you take your Noriday pill and have vomiting within 3 hours or diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, you may not be protected from pregnancy.

When do I start taking Noriday?

Start taking Noriday on the first day of your period, which is also the first day of your menstrual cycle. You will be protected straight away.

If you start Noriday after the fifth day of your period, you need to take it once a day for 2 days in a row (48 hours) to be protected. Use condoms during these 2 days to prevent pregnancy.

What do I do if I forget to take Noriday?

If you forget to take your Noriday pill, here is what you should do:

• If you’re less than 3 hours late to take your pill, take it straight away. You will still be protected from pregnancy.
• If you are more than 3 hours late to take your pill, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s the next day, this means you take 2 pills in one day. Your contraceptive protection might be reduced, so use condoms for the next 2 days (48 hours).
• You may need emergency contraception to avoid getting pregnant if you have unprotected sex in the 48 hours after missing your pill. Speak to your doctor, pharmacist or family planning clinic for more information.

What do I do if I take Noriday twice?

If you take Noriday twice, you might feel sick, vomit, or bleed from your vagina.

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you take too many Noriday pills.

Can pregnant or breastfeeding women take Noriday?

You should not take Noriday if you are pregnant. You can do a pregnancy test if you think you might be pregnant and then stop taking Noriday after you find out and get in touch with your doctor.

Noriday can be used safely if you are breastfeeding and can be started any time after giving birth.

What should I watch out for if I want to stop taking Noriday?

When you stop taking Noriday, you may have some withdrawal bleeding. If you don’t want to get pregnant, you need to use another method of contraception such as condoms.

If you want to get pregnant, speak to your doctor before you stop taking Noriday. You may need to stop taking Noriday at least 3 months before you can get pregnant.

You might find Noriday causes side effects, but they can improve or resolve after a few months.

Common side effects of Noriday include:

• bleeding or spotting in between your periods
• having no periods

Less common side effects of Noriday include:

• sore breasts or breast tenderness
• headaches or migraines
• mood changes
• changes in sex drive
• high blood pressure
• feeling or being sick
• weight changes
• skin rash
• irregular periods

Rare side effects of Noriday include:

• blood clots
• allergic reaction including rash or wheezing
• signs of breast cancer such as lumps or changes in the nipples.

If you think you are experiencing any of these side effects when taking Noriday, speak to your doctor.

You can report any side effects using the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

Does the risk of thrombosis increase?

Current evidence suggests there is no significant increased risk of blood clots when taking Noriday.

You can take Noriday for birth control if:

• you are not pregnant
• you do not have severe liver disease, liver tumours or jaundice
• you do not have a history of breast cancer or other types of cancer affected by sex hormones
• you do not have unexplained vaginal bleeding
• you do not have a history of heart attacks or stroke
• you are not allergic to norethisterone or any of the ingredients listed in Noriday

To see if Noriday is suitable for you, read the patient information leaflet in your pill pack or speak to your doctor.

You might take other medicines that interact with Noriday and can affect how it works.

Before you take Noriday, speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you take:

• epilepsy medication such as carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, primidone, topiramate or phenytoin
• any products containing St. John’s wort, a herbal remedy for low mood
• treatment for HIV or hepatitis C, including ritonavir, nevirapine or nelfinavir
• antibiotics such as ampicillin, rifampicin or doxycycline
• antifungal medication such as griseofulvin
• treatment for sleep such as modafinil or phenobarbital
• corticosteroid medication such as prednisolone

To find out more, you can read the patient information leaflet inside your pack of Noriday pills.

The active ingredient in Noriday is norethisterone (350mcg), which is a progestogen.

The other ingredients in Noriday are lactose monohydrate, maize starch, povidone, and magnesium stearate.

If you are allergic to lactose or any other ingredients, please speak to your doctor for advice before taking Noriday.

How should Noriday be stored?

You should store Noriday in its original packaging, below 30°C and away from sunlight and moisture. Keep Noriday out of the sight and reach of children and animals.

How must Noriday be disposed of?

If you want to dispose of your Noriday pills, take them to your local pharmacy. Do not throw away your Noriday pills in the bin or down the drain at home.

What does Noriday look like?

Noriday pills are small, white, and round. Each Noriday pill has SEARLE printed on one side and NY on the other side.

In which pack sizes is Noriday available?

Noriday pills are available in pack sizes of 1 or 3 blister strips. Each blister strip contains 28 pills.

Information on the manufacturer

The company that holds the marketing authorisation of Noriday is Pfizer Limited, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9NJ, UK.

Noriday is manufactured by Pfizer Ltd as detailed above, and Piramel Healthcare UK Limited, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 3YA.