Norinyl-1 Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Norinyl-1 Tablet is a combined oral contraceptive containing mestranol (an estrogen) and norethisterone (a progestogen). It is used to prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation and changing cervical mucus to reduce sperm penetration. It is taken once daily following a 28-day cycle, and it does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.

What is Norinyl-1 Tablet

Norinyl-1 is a combined oral contraceptive pill that contains two hormones, an estrogen (mestranol) and a progestogen (norethisterone), which work together to prevent pregnancy.

Norinyl-1 Tablet uses

• Prevents pregnancy in females of reproductive potential.
• Suppresses ovulation as its principal contraceptive mechanism.
• Changes cervical mucus to reduce sperm penetration.
• Provides combined estrogen-progestogen hormonal contraception.

Benefits of Norinyl-1 Tablet

• Provides effective pregnancy prevention when used correctly.
• Combines estrogen and progestogen in one tablet.
• Offers a once-daily oral contraceptive regimen.
• Uses a predictable 28-day treatment cycle.

How Norinyl-1 Tablet works

Norinyl-1 prevents pregnancy by stopping the release of an egg from the ovary each month. It also thickens the mucus at the entrance to the womb to block sperm and changes the lining of the womb, which adds to its contraceptive effect.

Norinyl-1 Tablet dosage

Swallow the tablet with a glass of water. It can be taken with or without food. Take it every day, regardless of how often you have sex, and take it at the same time each day to help it work best and to help you remember.

Take the first tablet on the first day of your period (the day bleeding starts). Take the tablet marked for the correct day of the week, following the arrows around the strip. After finishing the active tablets, inactive tablets (if using a 28-day pack) or a 7-day tablet-free break (if using a 21-day pack) follow before starting the next strip.

If switching from another oral contraceptive, follow the specific switching instructions from your doctor or pharmacist. If you have vomiting or severe diarrhea, keep taking your tablets as normal but use an extra non-hormonal method of contraception, such as condoms, during the illness and for seven days afterward. Do not take two tablets at once to make up for a missed dose.

If breastfeeding, this combined pill is generally not recommended because the estrogen may reduce milk supply; ask your doctor about other options. Always have a new strip ready so you don't run out.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet — 1 mg/50 mcg

Side effects of Norinyl-1 Tablet

Common

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headaches
• Breast tenderness
• Bloating
• Fluid retention (swelling of ankles or feet)
• Mood changes
• Anxiety
• Acne
• Weight changes
• Breakthrough bleeding or spotting between periods
• Stomach upset
• Changes in appetite
• Depression
• Change in sex drive
• Irregular vaginal bleeding
• Leg cramps
• Back ache
• Headache including migraines
• Nervousness, dizziness
• Hair growth or loss of scalp hair
• Vaginal thrush, vaginal irritation

Serious

• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Pulmonary embolism
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• High blood pressure
• Liver problems
• Vision changes
• Severe allergic reaction (swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat, difficulty breathing, hives)
• Breast lumps
• Jaundice or yellowing of skin or eyes
• Severe headaches of sudden onset
• Chest pain or pain in arm, jaw, back, or neck
• Severe pain, swelling or discoloration in a leg
• Sudden loss of coordination or slurred speech

Warnings and precautions

• Do not take Norinyl-1 if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking it, tell your doctor right away.
• If you are breastfeeding, you should not take this combined pill because the estrogen may reduce your milk supply. Ask your doctor about another type of contraceptive.
• Tell your doctor before starting this medicine if you have kidney disease, so they can decide if it is suitable for you.
• Do not take this medicine if you have severe liver disease, liver tumors, or certain rare liver conditions. Tell your doctor right away if you notice signs of liver problems such as yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or stomach pain.
• No major direct interaction with alcohol has been established, although vomiting may interfere with oral contraceptive absorption.
• This medicine is not known to affect your ability to drive or use machines.
• Smoking while taking this medicine greatly increases the risk of serious heart and blood vessel problems, especially in women over 35.
• Do not take this medicine if you have had blood clots in the legs, lungs, brain, or elsewhere, or if you or a close family member has a history of blood clot problems.
• Do not take this medicine together with certain hepatitis C medicines containing ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir, as this can affect liver function.
• The risk of a blood clot is higher during the first year of use or when restarting the pill after a break of four weeks or more.
• Tell your doctor at least four weeks before any planned surgery or hospital stay, as you may need to stop taking this medicine temporarily.
• This medicine does not protect against sexually transmitted infections. Use a condom as well if you are concerned about STIs.

Storage

• Keep your tablets in a safe place away from the sight and reach of children.
• A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
• Keep your Norinyl-1 tablets in a dry place, at a temperature below 25°C.
• Do not keep your tablets in the refrigerator.
• Do not store Norinyl-1 or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
• Do not leave it in the car on hot days or on window sills.
• Keep the blister in the outer carton to protect it from light.
• Do not use after the expiry date.
• Do not throw away medicines via wastewater or household waste; ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines you no longer need.

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction, such as sudden wheezing, trouble breathing, chest pain, fever, swelling, rash, or itching over your whole body.
• Stop taking the medicine and contact your doctor immediately if you cough up blood, have stomach swelling or tenderness, sudden severe chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, or painful swollen veins in your legs — these may be signs of a blood clot.
• Seek urgent care if you have a first-ever migraine, worsening migraines with vision changes, sudden severe headaches, dizziness or fainting, or problems with sight or speech.
• Get medical help right away if you have pain in the chest, groin, or legs (especially the calves), trouble breathing, sudden severe headache, slurred speech, sudden shortness of breath, or sudden loss of coordination.
• Check with your doctor right away if you have upper stomach pain or tenderness, dark urine, pale stools, or yellowing of the skin or eyes, as these could be signs of a serious liver problem.
• Contact your doctor if you miss a period, as you may be pregnant.

Alternatives

• Levonorgestrel
• Microgynon 30
• Norimin