Although progesterone is primarily produced in the ovaries, a small amount also comes from the adrenal glands. For the sake of child-bearing, women need to have a sufficient amount of progesterone. Yes, having a low level of progesterone can lead to miscarriages and uterine fibroid tumours. That’s not all; low levels of progesterone can also affect women by making their menstrual periods become irregular. When this happens, the best way to treat this irregularity is by relying on synthetic progestins, such as Norethisterone tablets.
What exactly are Norethisterone tablets? Can these synthetic progestin medications stop menstrual periods? What are the essentials of Norethisterone? These and many more are the progestin questions you’ll find answers to as you read on.
What exactly are Norethisterone tablets?
As earlier mentioned, Norethisterone tablets are synthetic progestins that function almost the same way as your natural progesterone. During your monthly menstrual cycle, it’s normal for the level of your progesterone to fluctuate. As the natural progesterone level increases, your womb lining becomes flourishing, ready to help you make pregnancy by receiving a fertilised egg.
- If your pregnancy comes, the progesterone level will remain high. This is important to help keep your womb healthy for the 9-month/duration of your pregnancy.
- However, once the pregnancy fails to come, the level automatically goes down. In this case, instead of your womb flourishing, it’ll shed as a period.
Stopping your menstrual period with Norethisterone
Do you know that you can always stop your menstrual period by taking Norethisterone tablets? It’s pretty simple; with this synthetic progestin, your womb lining’s shedding and growth can easily be manipulated or regulated.
For instance, you can always take Norethisterone a few days before your menstrual period begins. In this case, the medication will manipulate your system and trick your body into believing you’re pregnant. This makes your body stay away from having a menstrual period until you stop using the medication.
Endometriosis is a disorder that occurs when tissue that normally lines your uterus grows outside your uterus. If you currently have this disorder, taking Norethisterone tablets daily and correctly can also stop your periods. The treatment will also cause the patches of the endometriosis tissue to shrink.
Everything you should know about Norethisterone
- Norethisterone is known as Norethindrone in the United States.
- Norethisterone tablets (5mg) are marketed under two brand names; Utovlan and Primolut N.
- These tablets can either be taken daily or a few days in a month, depending on your condition.
- Norethisterone tablets (5mg) are not suitable for birth control. It’s also not advisable for pregnant women to use Norethisterone.
- When using your Norethisterone treatment option, you need to use condoms if you’re interested in avoiding pregnancy.
- It’s worth noting that Norethisterone tablets have side effects, such as headaches, spotting between periods, and feeling sick.
- Norethisterone has no side effects with alcohol. As such, it’s completely safe to take alcohol even when on treatment with this medication.
Norethisterone is not for everyone
According to manufacturer, taking Norethisterone 5mg tablets is certainly not for you if:
- You are experiencing pregnancy symptoms or are pregnant.
- Avoid these tablets if you currently experience unusual vaginal bleeding, which your doctor is yet to investigate.
- Breastfeeding mothers should never take this medication.
- Having a deep blood clot in your leg or lungs is another reason to avoid this tablet.
- You should avoid Norethisterone 5mg tablets if your family history has a lot to do with genital or breast cancer. The only exception here is if your doctor prescribes you Norethisterone to treat breast cancer.
- Did you recently experience a stroke, angina, or a heart attack caused by a blood clot? If yes, then you should stay away from Norethisterone.
- You should also avoid this medication if you have liver disease or any related family history of this cancerous disease.
What is the best way to take Norethisterone?
Your doctor’s advice is important when taking Norethisterone. Depending on your condition, your doctor may advise you to use the tablets on specific days during your menstrual cycle. You may also be advised to use these period delay tablets continuously. Lastly, it doesn’t matter whether or not you’ve eaten, you can always take the tablets.
Here’s how Norethisterone can postpone your period
To postpone your menstrual period, you need to take Norethisterone tablets three days before your period. A 5mg tablet three times daily for 14 days is advised for the best results. Once you stop this treatment, you can expect your period to surface two to three days after.
Norethisterone is used to treat heavy menstrual periods.
For menorrhagia or heavy menstrual periods, taking Norethisterone for some days in each month is often advised by doctors. You doctor may also ask you to continue the treatment for 3 to 6 months.
Do you currently experience continuous, heavy bleeding? If yes, you certainly need to visit your doctor. In most cases, your doctor will advise you to take a 5mg Norethisterone tablet, three times a day for ten days. This treatment option should help you stop the bleeding within 3 days. However, if the bleeding fails to stop, you need to visit your doctor.
For painful menstrual cycle treatments
Dysmenorrhea is a common occurrence that many women experience during their menstrual cycles in the United Kingdom today. This occurrence is characterised by severe pain and frequent menstrual cramps.
With Norethisterone tablets, you can always treat dysmenorrhea. All you need is to take a 5mg tablet three times daily on days 5 to 24 of your mental cycle. You’ll have to repeat this treatment option for roughly 3 to 4 months to completely treat your painful menstrual cycle.
For breast cancer treatment
Your doctor’s advice is strictly important when buying Norethisterone 5mg tablets for breast cancer. In most cases, your doctor will place you on high doses of this medication.
For endometriosis treatment
As earlier mentioned, endometriosis is a disorder that occurs when tissue that normally lines your uterus grows outside your uterus. If care is not taken, this disorder can decrease your quality of life and cause other public health, economic, and social implications.
With Norethisterone tablets (5mg), you can easily treat endometriosis. All you need is to take two 5mg tablets, two times daily. For effective results, consider starting your treatment on day 5 of your mental cycle. Repeat this treatment monthly for four to six months.
What happens if you forget to take your medication?
You should always try as much as possible not to forget to use your tablets at the right time. However, once this happens, the best advice is to use your Norethisterone tablets as soon as you remember. If your next dose is in some minutes, you may have to wait for the next dose to continue the treatment. On no condition should you take a double dose when you miss your dose. This is very dangerous to your health.
Does Norethisterone have side effects?
Like other medicines, Norethisterone 5mg tablets have a few side effects on different people. and their potential side effects can have a variety of effects on people. Check below to see the different side effects:
Common side effects
In the UK, between 1-in-10 & 1-in-100 women experience these side effects after taking Norethisterone:
- Changes in menstrual period, such as spotting or period cessation.
- Headache
- Nauseas
Should you be concerned?
You certainly need to visit your doctor if you experience the following side effects:
- Acute headaches or migraines
- Stabbing pains
- Swelling in one leg,
- Breathing pain
- coughing, especially with blood
- Breath difficult
- Sudden chest pain
- Unexpected numbness – this could affect one side of your body
- Unexpected changes in your hearing or vision
- Yellowing skin
- White eyes
Combining Norethisterone with other medications
Before you go ahead to combine these menstrual cycle tablets with other medications, ensure to seek your doctor’s advice. However, pain relievers, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, and aspirin, can safely be used with Norethisterone 5mg tablets.
Interactions between Norethisterone medications
Norethisterone is very effective when used alone. However, when you combine certain drugs, which you can see below, with it, the effectiveness may drop.
- Antiepileptic drugs, such as carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, primidone, phenytoin, and topiramate.
- Antifungal agent, such as Grifofulvin
- Modafinil
- Ulipristal
- Tuberculosis antibiotics, such as rifabutin or rifampicin.
- HIV drugs, such as efavirenz, ritonavir, and nevirapine.
- Herbal remedy (Hypericum perforatum) such as St. John’s wort.