Details

Norethindrone is a form of progesterone, a female hormone. Norethindrone prevents ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary). This medication also causes changes in your cervical mucus and uterine lining, making it harder for sperm to reach the uterus and harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus. Norethindrone is used for birth control (contraception) to prevent pregnancy. Norethindrone is also used to treat menstrual disorders, endometriosis, or abnormal vaginal bleeding caused by a hormone imbalance. Do not use this medication if you are allergic to norethindrone, or if you have a history of a stroke, blood clot, or circulation problems breast cancer abnormal vaginal bleeding or if you have recently had an incomplete miscarriage or abortion. Before using norethindrone, tell your doctor if you have high blood pressure or a history of heart disease migraines kidney disease liver disease or liver cancer a history of depression or mental illness high cholesterol or triglycide (fatty acid) levels in your blood asthma or seizures or epilepsy. Norethindrone should not be used in pregnancy.

Typical Uses

Norethindrone is used to prevent pregnancy. It is often referred to as the "mini-pill" because it does not contain any oestrogen. Norethindrone (a form of progestin) is a hormone that prevents pregnancy by making vaginal fluid thicker to help prevent sperm from reaching an egg (fertilization) and changing the lining of the uterus (womb) to prevent attachment of a fertilized egg. It also stops the release of an egg (ovulation) in about half of a woman's menstrual cycles. Using this medication does not protect you or your partner against sexually transmitted diseases (such as HIV, gonorrhoea, chlamydia).

Side Effects

Stop using this medication and inform your doctor if you have sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body sudden headache, confusion, pain behind the eyes, problems with vision, speech, or balance pain or swelling in one or both legs migraine headache swelling in your hands or feet, rapid weight gain symptoms of depression (sleep problems, weakness, mood changes) severe pelvic pain chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling or nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-coloured stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Drug Interactions

• Norethindrone+acitretin- Using acitretin and norethindrone is not recommended. Acitretin can cause severe, life-threatening birth defects if the mother takes the medication during pregnancy. Never use acitretin if you are pregnant. Both a primary and a secondary form of birth control must be used together and for at least 3 years after stopping therapy.
• Norethindrone+boceprevir- Boceprevir may reduce the blood levels and effects of norethindrone, which may make it less reliable as a form of birth control. You may continue to use norethindrone if desired, but two alternative, non-hormonal methods of birth control should be used during and for two weeks after treatment with boceprevir to avoid unintended pregnancy.
• Norethindrone+dabrafenib- Dabrafenib may reduce the blood levels and effects of norethindrone, which may make it less reliable as a form of birth control. Alternative or additional methods of birth control should be used during treatment with dabrafenib to avoid unintended pregnancy.
• Norethindrone+griseofulvin- Talk to your doctor before using norethindrone together with griseofulvin. Combining these medications may decrease the blood levels and effects of norethindrone. If you are using low-dose oral contraceptives, you may have an increased risk of breakthrough bleeding and unintended pregnancy. Because use of griseofulvin has been associated with birth defects, it is particularly important that you do not become pregnant during treatment.

Mechanism of action

Norethindrone belongs to a class of drugs called progestins. It works as a contraceptive by suppressing ovulation (the formation of female eggs), increasing the thickening of cervical mucus preventing sperm entry, lowering levels of female hormones and modifying the womb lining. It helps relieve womb lining disorders by preventing the lining of the uterus from growing.

Pregnancy Category : X