Norethindrone Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Norethindrone Tablet is a progestin-only oral contraceptive, also called a POP or minipill, used to prevent pregnancy. Depending on the brand or product, it may also treat menstrual disorders, endometriosis, or abnormal vaginal bleeding caused by hormone imbalance. It contains only one hormone, a progestin, unlike combined birth control pills which contain both estrogen and progestin.

What is Norethindrone Tablet

Norethindrone is a progestin-only birth control pill (POP or minipill) used to prevent pregnancy. It contains only one hormone, a progestin, unlike combined birth control pills which have both estrogen and progestin.

Norethindrone Tablet uses

• Prevention of pregnancy (birth control)
• Treatment of menstrual disorders, endometriosis, or abnormal vaginal bleeding caused by hormone imbalance (depending on the brand/product)

Benefits of Norethindrone Tablet

• Helps manage abnormal uterine bleeding
• Can treat secondary amenorrhea
• Helps manage endometriosis symptoms
• Certain formulations can provide contraception
• Can help regulate hormone-related menstrual problems

How Norethindrone Tablet works

Norethindrone prevents pregnancy in several ways: it stops the ovaries from releasing an egg in about half of users, it thickens the mucus at the entrance to the womb so sperm cannot easily reach the egg, and it changes the lining of the uterus and the movement of the egg through the fallopian tubes.

Norethindrone Tablet dosage

Take one tablet every day at the same time, with no breaks between pill packs. Start the next pack the day after you finish the last pack. Swallow the tablets whole, taking them in order from the pack.

If you are more than 3 hours late taking a pill, the medicine may not work as well, so use a backup method like condoms or spermicide for the next 48 hours. If you vomit soon after taking a pill, use a backup birth control method for 48 hours.

If switching from combined birth control pills, take your first dose the day after finishing the last active pill from that pack, skipping the inactive pills. Talk to your doctor about timing if you are breastfeeding or switching from another birth control method.

Available forms and strengths

• Oral tablet

Side effects of Norethindrone Tablet

Common

• Irregular or changed menstrual bleeding, spotting between periods
• Headache
• Breast tenderness or pain
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Stomach pain, bloating, vomiting
• Weight gain
• Acne or extra hair growth (rare)
• Hair loss
• Mood changes, trouble sleeping
• Vaginal itching or discharge

Serious

• Severe allergic reaction (hives, trouble breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat)
• Sudden or severe pain in the lower stomach area (possible ectopic pregnancy or ovarian cyst)
• Prolonged heavy bleeding or missed periods
• Sudden vision loss, bulging eyes, or severe headache
• Signs of a blood clot: sudden numbness or weakness, vision or speech problems, chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling or redness in an arm or leg
• Liver problems: loss of appetite, stomach pain, dark urine, yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice)
• New or worsening migraine headaches that keep coming back or are severe
• A breast lump

Warnings and precautions

• Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking it, stop the medicine and contact your doctor right away.
• Small amounts of the hormone pass into breast milk. This usually does not affect milk quality or amount, but rare cases of reduced milk supply have been reported. Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding before starting this medicine.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease before taking this medicine.
• Do not take this medicine if you have liver tumors (benign or cancerous) or acute liver disease.
• No known interaction between this medicine and alcohol has been reported.
• Smoking while taking this medicine greatly increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Women who take this medicine are strongly advised not to smoke.
• This medicine does not protect against HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases such as Chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, and syphilis.
• There is a slightly higher chance of ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the womb) if you become pregnant while using this medicine, compared to some other birth control methods.
• This medicine can cause ovarian cysts, which are small fluid-filled sacs in the ovary. They usually go away without treatment but rarely may twist or rupture and need surgery.
• Diarrhea or vomiting may lower the amount of hormone your body absorbs, making the medicine less effective.

Storage

• Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) (USP Controlled Room Temperature)
• Keep out of reach of children

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away if you have sudden or severe pain in your lower stomach or abdomen, as this could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy or ovarian cyst.
• Call your doctor right away if you have trouble breathing, chest pain, vision changes, or trouble speaking.
• Call your doctor right away if you get a new headache or worsening migraine that is recurrent, persistent, or severe — this means you should stop the medicine and get checked.
• Call your doctor right away if you have prolonged bleeding, no periods (amenorrhea), or severe abdominal pain.
• If you miss two periods in a row, contact your doctor because you might be pregnant.
• Stop taking the medicine and call your doctor right away if you think you might be pregnant.

Alternatives

• Medroxyprogesterone
• Drospirenone
• Combined hormonal contraceptives