This article was medically reviewed by Erik Kramer, DO, MPH. Dr. Erik Kramer is a Board-Certified Primary Care Physician at the University of Colorado. With over 15 years of experience, his clinical interests include obesity and weight management, diabetes care, and preventive care, as well as embracing a holistic approach to primary care. He received his Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) from the Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency at Central Maine Medical Center. Dr. Kramer is a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine.
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Norethisterone is a synthetic form of progesterone that is typically used to delay period bleeding, although it can also be taken to regulate chaotic menstrual cycles or treat endometriosis. It’s also sometimes used to treat thickened endometrium, allowing the lining to slough off after you take the medication. If you’re taking the drug to delay your period, it’s very important to follow the correct dosage schedule to get the desired results. Norethisterone often produces some side effects, although most of them aren’t anything to worry about.
Steps
Following the Right Dosage Schedule
See your doctor to get a prescription for norethisterone. A doctor will be able to make sure that it’s safe for you to take norethisterone with other medications or given any medical issues you might have. Most people take norethisterone to delay their periods, but it can also be taken for other medical conditions. These may include:[1]- Heavy bleeding during periods
- Premenstrual tension
- Endometriosis
- Breast cancer
Warning: It’s important to note that norethisterone will not act as a contraceptive (i.e., it’s not like birth control pills that delay periods). You will need to use contraception in order to avoid getting pregnant while on norethisterone.
Don’t take norethisterone if you have certain health conditions. Though norethisterone is safe for most people with periods, there are certain conditions when you shouldn’t take it. Don’t take norethisterone if you:[2]- are or might be pregnant
- have a history of blot clots, including deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism
- have ever had a heart attack or stroke
- have liver problems including liver masses (both benign and malignant)
- have porphyria (a rare blood disease)
- had jaundice during a pregnancy in the past
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Begin taking your prescription 3-4 days before your period begins. Estimate when you expect your period to begin and take your first dose of norethisterone about half a week before then. This is very important; if you start taking the drug too late, you may still have your period even while taking norethisterone.[3]- This drug mimics progesterone and artificially keeps your hormone levels steady. This keeps your uterus from shedding its lining and beginning your period.
Take your prescribed dosage every day as explained by your doctor. Most people are told to take one 5 mg tablet twice a day or every 12 hours. People taking norethisterone for more serious medical conditions may need to be on a higher dosage; your doctor will tell you if you need to take more than 15 mg per day.[4]- For example, someone taking norethisterone for breast cancer may need to take 8-12 tablets a day.[5]
- If you forget to take 1 of your tablets, take it as soon as you remember and carry on with the rest of your doses as normal.
Look for your period 2-3 days after you stop taking norethisterone. Talk to your doctor if your period doesn’t start within 3 days of ending your prescription. This may be a sign of pregnancy or a serious medical condition.[6]- There are a variety of other factors, such as stress, low body weight, or side effects to other medications, that could cause the absence of menstruation. Missing a period isn’t by itself something to worry about, but you should still see your doctor to find out what’s causing it.
Note that your dosage schedule may vary depending on your situation. If you’re taking norethisterone to delay your period, you’ll begin taking the medication 3 days before your period normally begins and continue taking it until you’re ready to have your period begin. However, if you’re taking the drug to treat a different medical condition, your doctor may have you take it for much longer or for a wider timeframe around your period.[7]- For example, people taking norethisterone for heavy bleeding usually take it for 8-10 days. Meanwhile, if you have endometriosis, you may take it for 6 months.
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Recognizing Common Side Effects
Expect some nausea or headaches while taking norethisterone. These are some of the most commonly reported side effects of the drug. Although these aren’t terribly serious effects, tell your doctor if you start to experience them. They may be able to switch up your dosage or prescribe you another medication to treat these side effects.[8]- You may also begin to feel bloated or experience some weight gain due to fluid retention. These side effects tend to disappear once you stop taking norethisterone, so you shouldn’t be too concerned about them.
Note that some users may experience depression-like symptoms. You may go through mood swings or begin to feel increasingly depressed, angry, or euphoric. Norethisterone may also lower your sex drive while you’re taking it.[9]- Talk to your doctor if you experience these symptoms, especially if they begin to interfere with your ordinary life.
- If you begin to experience changes in your mood, you may want to tell the people around you that this is a side effect of norethisterone. This may help them to be more understanding of the change in your behavior.
Warning: Although depression-like symptoms are common among users, these can be very serious and sometimes even life-threatening. Make sure to tell your doctor about these symptoms if they appear and stop taking the drug if need be.
Look for some spotting between periods and breast tenderness. Tenderness in the breasts is another very common side effect of norethisterone, but isn’t usually anything to worry about. You may experience some bleeding and spotting in between your periods when you first take the pill, but this should dissipate over time.[10]- You may also experience unusual discharges either from your cervix or from your breasts while on norethisterone.
Be on the lookout for jaundice, migraines, or high blood pressure. Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin, or migraines may be signs that the norethisterone is having an unusually serious effect on your body. Seek medical assistance right away if you begin to experience these symptoms or if your blood pressure dramatically increases while on the drug.[11]- Your doctor will probably recommend that you stop taking norethisterone if you begin to experience these symptoms.
- Note that this applies mostly to people who begin to experience migraines for the first time while taking norethisterone.
Stop taking norethisterone if you have trouble breathing or feel faint. These could be signs of an allergic reaction to the drug or the presence of a blood clot in your lungs. Seek medical attention immediately if you begin to have difficulty breathing, feel faint, feel a sharp pain in your chest, or experiencing swelling in your hands or face.[12]- You should also seek medical attention if you experience the symptoms of a stroke, such as an unusually long headache, difficulty speaking, or numbness in any part of your body.
- These are the most serious side effects of norethisterone, but don’t be too afraid: they’re also the least common.
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Expert Q&A
References
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a604034.html
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/norethindrone-oral-route/before-using/drg-20137986
- ↑ https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.1494.pdf
- ↑ hhttps://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a604034.html
- ↑ https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.1494.pdf
- ↑ https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/a8713/norethisterone/
- ↑ https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.1494.pdf
- ↑ https://www.drugs.com/mtm/norethindrone.html
- ↑ https://thefemedic.com/menstruation/should-i-take-norethisterone-asked-women-about-experiences/
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